For those of us (ahem) over a certain age.

[ski diva]

Something very funny, courtesy of my friend, Brave Ski Mom.

 

[badger]

Putting the footrest down at Telluride! very cute video.

 

[BeSki]

Excellent! But hey, don't those guys look a little YOUNG?!

 

[VickiK]

Awesome. I'll be sharing that with non-ski diva ski buds.

 

[mustski]

I also love "the footrest."

 

[mustski]

On another note - my local mountain doesn't allow instructors to call it a safety bar. They call it the "comfort" bar. The reason is that "safety bar" implies a certain level of danger inherent in riding the chair. It they would add foot rests, they could call it the "foot rest bar." Hmmm. I need to send them this video.

 

[ski diva]

On another note - my local mountain doesn't allow instructors to call it a safety bar. They call it the "comfort" bar. The reason is that "safety bar" implies a certain level of danger inherent in riding the chair. It they would add foot rests, they could call it the "foot rest bar." Hmmm. I need to send them this video.

Now that's just silly.

 

[Perty]

Love the vid. Agree they still look a wee bit youthful still! The whole footrest optional thing is definitely a north american thing though...Never seen even the coolest ski bum with the baggiest ski trousers opt out in the Alps....

 

[surfsnowgirl]

Love it. I will praise the footrest though. One of the chair lifts at our home ski place has a foot rest and my do I appreciate this thing after 6-7 hours of skiing.

 

[bounceswoosh]

Love the vid. Agree they still look a wee bit youthful still! The whole footrest optional thing is definitely a north american thing though...Never seen even the coolest ski bum with the baggiest ski trousers opt out in the Alps....

It's because we all had to give up our ten gallon hats and take the six-shooters off our hips, but we still want to be outlaws .... Seriously, though, the American self-image has a lot to do with being rugged individualists. I really do think that's part of it. And I'm susceptible to it. Most of the people I ski with, me included, don't bother with the bar. If my legs are aching and there's a footrest, I'll use it. Same if there's wind, especially if we're stopped. But DH wants the bar down, and when we were at Crested Butte last winter, some <anatomical term> called DH a <female anatomical term> for asking to put the bar down. I didn't quite hear him at the time; if I had, he might have ended up with some nasty bruises.

 

[pinto]

It's because we all had to give up our ten gallon hats and take the six-shooters off our hips, but we still want to be outlaws .... Seriously, though, the American self-image has a lot to do with being rugged individualists. I really do think that's part of it. And I'm susceptible to it. Most of the people I ski with, me included, don't bother with the bar. If my legs are aching and there's a footrest, I'll use it. Same if there's wind, especially if we're stopped. But DH wants the bar down, and when we were at Crested Butte last winter, some <anatomical term> called DH a <female anatomical term> for asking to put the bar down. I didn't quite hear him at the time; if I had, he might have ended up with some nasty bruises.

Hmmm. I never really thought it was supposed to be cool or rebellious to not use the bar, but I guess that is evidence to the contrary. I just think it's a pain, most of the time; I skied for many years without one, so it didn't seem to be that important. I agree, though, when it's really windy or the seat is slick, I like to have the option. Otherwise meh.