Lodge Etiquette

[ski diva]

Thought I'd post about this, since it was a topic at my dinner table last night at the Eastern Ski Writers Association meeting: people who leave their junk (erps, I mean stuff) all over the tables in the lodge to "claim" a spot for the day. Some resorts have resorted to banning large items, like coolers, offering free day storage so this won't be a problem. I think this makes a lot of sense. IMHO, people who "claim" a table are just plain rude! Same with people who leave a big mess behind them.

What do you think? Is there any other behavior in the lodge you'd rather not see?

 

[Jilly]

I couldn't agree more. At Tremblant its just not allowed. The upper -main floor lodge will not allow any bags of any type, bascially like the sign says - NO BOX LUNCH. The lower area has been set aside for bags. They puts hooks high up on the outer walls for pack etc. There are also lockers that can be rented for the day. There is no base lodge per se at Tremblant. The Chalet de Voyageurs is technically the base lodge, but the lodge-restaurant is used by staff, so most people don't leave anything there. They have a service for your stuff and you rent a basket or locker for the day. Usually "bus people" use that base lodge. Most people I know that drive leave their stuff in the car.
At home its a different problem and we see exactly what SkiDiva is talking about. Our local hill changed ownership last year and they have done many improvements over the summer. I think the lodge and seating is being looked at now. They always used picnic tables from the provinical park nearby (they didn't need them in the winter). There would so much stuff under them, you couldn't sit down anyways. The food was the pits so everyone brought their own stuff. So hopefully the new management will correct things and make it better.

 

[abc]

I simply ignore the stuff on or off the table when I need a spot! I'm a New Yorker, after all. ;)

At lunch hours, when tables are at a premium, if a table has bags but no body, I simply move the bags to one corner and take the table instead. I would even invite other couples/small groups if I can't occupy the whole table.

Half the time, the owner of those "stuff" never show up during the entire lunch time we were there. Isn't that rude to occupy a table when you don't need it? It's clear as daylight!

But imagine the expression on their face when they came in and only saw the table was full of people and their stuff sitting at the corner? ;) Worthless!!!

 

[SnowHot]

At Crystal, they have a few places, with a few options of how/where you leave your stuff.

Bags/gear/coolers/picnic baskets, are not allowed to be left unattended in any area except one. That area is set up for families/groups, with outlets for crock pots, and such.

Picnics can be eaten in the Clipper Cafeteria, but can not be left unattended. That is the main cafeteria, which means, if someone is going to be rude and try to leave stuff where they aren't supposed to, this is the place. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. If we need the table, we just move the stuff and say, "neener neener!"

All other areas are nicer, restaurants. This is where we usually eat when we feel like being grown ups. ;)

 

[ski diva]

Just thought I'd add another bit of behavior in the lodge that drives me nuts (boy, aren't I a grouch!?). It's when guys strip down to their skivvies to change in public. When I was at Jay with the other Divas in March, one of us (who shall remain nameless but she knows who she is ) barked at a young man who had taken off his pants, "Excuse me! That is so totally inappropriate!"

I applaud her!

 

[ISki]

This lodge behavior drives me NUTS: I remove my ski jacket to eat lunch and hang it over the back of a chair, usually the chair I am sitting in but if it is not busy, a separate chair. I kid you not, every single person who walks by HAS to put their dang hand down on my jacket. Why? WHY? Why can't people walk by without having to touch my jacket. Are they tired? Wobbly? Unable to take a step in ski boots without grabing a chair? Now I see people walking just fine without the assistance of chairs with jackets on them in the parking lot. Or the ticket area. Or the rest room. But as soon as I put my jacket down, everyone has to touch base with it. AGH!

About lodge bags...It would be nice to have hooks or shelves on a wall for all the bags. We do have daily pay lockers but they are expensive. I agree that a bag left on a table is rude. What's this about men striping to their u/w? Have never seen that here!

 

[abc]

I'm sorry, I don't seem to share all the irritations...

But then, I've not witness half of those behaviors in my skiing. No man striping down, no other skiers putting their hands on my jacket, etc.

 

[SnowHot]

I'm sorry, I don't seem to share all the irritations...

But then, I've not witness half of those behaviors in my skiing. No man striping down, no other skiers putting their hands on my jacket, etc.

I have to admit that I'm of the same mind.
The occasional pile of stuff on a table is about the only thing that is annoying to me.
Even then, its not something that bugs me unless the resort is packed, and then the resort employees have usually moved the stuff from the areas its not allowed.

If a man were strip, I may get out some singles and .............oh never mind ;)

 

[Jilly]

We had a problem with the teenage ski race team and changing in public. They would stand on top of the picnic tables and strip down to the boxers, then but on whatever they were wearing home. It finally came to the attention of the coaches by a visiting team of snobby Toronto people. They didn't want their kids influence by these "small town, country kids" (who had just beaten the pants off them skiing, but!). All in all it needed to be stopped. And it was the girls, not the boys doing it mostly! I sometimes wonder now, that those kids are in university or college now, what they think. They thought that they owned the place back then!

 

[Quiver Queen]

Sorry, SnowHot, but when guys strip down right next to where I'm drinking my coffee or eating my lunch, I feel like losing my lunch! And it certainly doesn't help when they're grossly overweight, damp with sweat, and generously hirsuite, but the better looking ones also have no business letting the wanger hang in a crowded public and family-oriented place. Boo, hiss!

 

[Pequenita]

Huh. I guess my first question is, what exactly do you all mean when you write "skivvies"? The long underwear? The stuff (if any) that's under the long underwear?

Maybe it's because I don't have kids, but I never would have thought that the quick changing of a shirt for the drive home would cause this much consternation. I'll change into a dry shirt and into my jeans, in the lodge, or parking lot, when my drive "home" is more than 15-30 minutes. Why do I strip down to a jog-bra in the lodge? Because first, it's not like I'm showing more skin than a bikini and second, more importantly, I like to have a dry shirt on for a 2-hour+ drive. Sometimes, there's a day use area, but more often, it's just a table in the lodge or when I'm standing by my car. Why not a restroom? Because the floors are usually wet from melted snow, and you'll inevitably get some part of a pant wet or drop another article of clothing if you try to change in a stall.

I've never noticed anyone strip down to long underwear bottoms during lunch, but I'm not bothered by people stripping down to the tops during lunch. I'm sure people have placed a hand on my jacket when walking through a narrow aisle, but it doesn't bother me unless it falls off.

 

[Sheena]

Hmmm, the only thing that REALLY bothers me is when it is really crowded in the lodge, and there will be a mom or grandma sitting at three empty tables, covered with coolers, bags, etc., and when I try and take a chair,she freaks and tells me that her family is coming for lunch soon and they will need all the space. Usually, it is not worth the fight, and try to find another empty table. 99% of the time, I am done and walking out before anyone has even ever approached the table.

A couple of times, I have just sat down at one of the three tables the one woman is occupying, and tell her that if her family comes before I am done, I will get up. Never had to get up, not once. The whole practice of holding multiple tables during a busy lunch hour is really annoying to me. :yell:

As for the undressing in public, I must admit that I too am guilty of that. Usually, I just change my shirt, and the only thing I am showing is my sports bra. I also take off my snow pants and throw a pair of jeans on over my long underwear. When I was in High School, I was part of a local race team. We would all dress and undress on the bus in front of one another. I guess I have never considered it a big deal.

Last weekend, I was going to dinner after a bike ride in Park City. We had parked our car in the parking lot near the skate park. I did not think twice about changing my shirt (stripping down to my sports bra). I also brought a jean skirt, which I pulled on over my shorts, and then took my shorts off.

 

[Pequenita]

Last weekend, I was going to dinner after a bike ride in Park City. We had parked our car in the parking lot near the skate park. I did not think twice about changing my shirt (stripping down to my sports bra). I also brought a jean skirt, which I pulled on over my shorts, and then took my shorts off.

Yeah, I'm this person, too, at hiking trailheads. As Sheena and I are about the same age, I wonder if the "strip to sports bra and change in public" thing is a US generation Title IX (I just made that up) antic.

 

[Marigee]

Yeah, I'm this person, too, at hiking trailheads. As Sheena and I are about the same age, I wonder if the "strip to sports bra and change in public" thing is a US generation Title IX (I just made that up) antic.

That thought occurred to me too!

I don't mind the stripping down thing per se - but I think it has its time and place - and the lunchroom probably isn't it!

 

[Jilly]

If I looked good in a sport bra maybe, but instead I balance and hop on my hikers in the washroom stall instead. The race team kids hop up on top of the picnic tables, so they don't get their feet wet and strip down to their boxers, for all to see and its usually the girls. I can't say as I've seen much at Tremblant, since the base lodge area is usually dry and you can use the washroom stalls. As for changing in the parking lot - well that's a little different. You can sort of shelter behind open car doors!!

 

[ski diva]

The sports bras don't bother me, either. It's the guys stripping down to their underwear (and I don't mean long underwear) that I don't find appropriate.

 

[abc]

The sports bras don't bother me, either. It's the guys stripping down to their underwear (and I don't mean long underwear) that I don't find appropriate.

No, it's NOT appropriate.

But no, I've NEVER seen that! I guess skiing weekends, I see mostly family skiers and perhaps the guys (dads) behave themselves a little better?

I don't have ANY problem with people changing in parking lots, behind car doors or otherwise. As long as they make an vague attempt to be "discrete", I accept that as enough politeness. I do the same in cars myself.

This past weekend, I was soooooo hot even my bra was soaking wet (literally dripping with sweat) after my ride! I took "it" off, sheltered by car door (and put on a new one)! No one would see anything since I turn my back at the crowd. And no one was paying any attention. But had anyone looked, they would "know" what I was doing. And I'm fine with that "knowledge".

 

[Bumblebee]

To summarise, can I have a complete list of lodges & resorts where I can find these semi-naked men? ;)

 

[num]

Yeah, I'm this person, too, at hiking trailheads. As Sheena and I are about the same age, I wonder if the "strip to sports bra and change in public" thing is a US generation Title IX (I just made that up) antic.

Yep, I'm a strip down to the sports bra type as well. Never done it in a lodge, though, I usually do it outside, by the car, etc. I also do the pull the new clothing item on over/under the original one and remove the original (pants under a skirt or a skirt over shorts, etc) right afterwards.

Never seen a guy in his underwear at a lodge or outside or any such thing though. Nothing but boxers? Or *gasp* tighty whities?

 

[first lift last call]

I seem to recall a time when we all used to go dancing straight after skiing and the guys would strip to their boxers and dance on the bar in them and their ski boots. Fortunately, we are all far too old for those antics now...