by C. M. Erickson

Created on: December 13, 2010

Tow ropes are a cruelty usually reserved for bunny slopes.  They can be frustrating to master, and have undoubtedly been the reason more than a few people have given up learning to ski altogether. However, keeping a few tips in mind will greatly increase your success at the tow rope, and keep you on track to your black diamond skiing dreams.

TOW ROPE

A tow rope is a long rope that has been bound together to form a permanent loop, then set on a crank elevated waist-high in the air. Some ropes keep going no matter what, but other tow ropes allow the operator to stop it if someone falls or gets into trouble. By its very nature, two ropes are short, and thus are usually reserved for the bunny slope.

GETTING ON THE TOW ROPE

To ride a tow rope, you must get your skis or snowboard parallel with the rope’s direction of travel. Flex your knees a bit, and try to feel balanced. Put your hands LOOSELY around the rope with your thumbs facing up and elbows near your side, letting the rope ride through your hands and next to your side. When you feel ready, squeeze the rope firmly. You may feel a jerk, but that is why you flexed your knees – it should absorb that jerk.

RIDING THE ROPE

Relax. Counter-intuitive, right? However, relaxing is the key to riding the rope. Keep your knees flexed, and toes pointed in the way you want to go. Do not let your hands travel too far in front of you. This does require some upper-body strength. Do not let your upper body get too far in front or too far behind your hips and legs. Breathe, relax, and keep an eye out for anyone who might fall in front of you.

IF THE ROPE STOPS WHILE YOU ARE RIDING IT

If the rope stops, focus on staying balanced, and try to get your body into the same position it was in to get on the rope. You will feel the same jerk as the rope takes off again. You can let the rope ride between your hands for just a second or two if you need to, but do not let it go to long – there is someone on the rope behind you.

IF YOU FALL

Do not panic. You are just the 200th person to fall on the rope that day. Try to roll or scoot out of the way, AWAY from the rope. If you get out of the way fast enough, the rope will not have to stop, and you will do all of your bunny slope buddies a favor. Collect yourself, stand up like you were taught, and ski or snowboard back down to the bottom to try again. If your instructor is waiting for you at the top, you might just have to walk up. Snowboarders will have to take their board off, but skiers can walk up the slope like a duck – feet splayed out, like a reverse “snow plow.”

GETTING OFF THE TOW ROPE

If you make it to the top without falling, you must now get off the rope. Stay relaxed. Most tow ropes end at a wide flat area, or even a slight downhill. There is usually a line in the snow letting you know to let go at that point. Try to keep balanced, point your toes in the direction you want to travel, and gently let go of the rope. Let the rope’s momentum carry you forward and out of the way. If you glide to a stop, make sure you continue to get out of the way of the person behind you.  Hanging out at the top of the lift just makes it harder for the next person coming up, and could potentially cause a crash.

While tow ropes can be difficult to master, keeping these tips in mind will make your day on the bunny slope go by much faster and with far fewer headaches.

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