If you ski long enough, you’ll see it happen. Maybe it’s you, maybe it’s the poor soul two chairs ahead, but sooner or later a ski takes the fast way down. The first time I saw it, the guy just sat there looking like he’d lost a child. His bright red ski cartwheeled into the trees and the whole lift line started cheering.
It’s funny when it’s someone else. It’s less funny when it’s you. Here’s what to do if your ski bails off the lift and how to keep it from happening in the first place.
Step One: Don’t Panic
You’re fine. Your ski’s fine. Trying to grab it mid-air or leaning way out is how people get themselves hurt. Just sit back and hang on. Gravity’s already handled the rest.
Step Two: Tell Someone
If you can, wave at the lift operator when you get to the top. Or shout down to ski patrol if you see them below. Every resort has a system for this. They’d rather send a patroller down to grab your ski than pick you up after you try to hike under the lift on your own.
Step Three: Shuffle at the Top
Unload like normal, then step out of your remaining ski. Carry it, and shuffle like an uncoordinated penguin until you reach a safe spot to wait. Yes, you’ll look ridiculous. Yes, your friends will take photos. Own it.
Step Four: Let Patrol Do Their Thing
Don’t hike down into the lift line. That’s dangerous and almost always against resort rules. Patrol has the access and the gear to get down there safely. Sometimes they’ll even load your ski on the next chair up to you, which feels like a VIP delivery.
Bonus Scenarios
Buried in powder: if it landed in a tight tree run, patrol might need a bit to find it. Be patient.
On a groomer: lucky you, it’ll probably be scooped up quick.
On someone’s head: hopefully not, but yes, skis have landed on people before. This is why you don’t dangle them off your boots mid-ride.
How to Prevent It
Most dropped skis come from fiddling around. People knock at their bindings, clear snow off boots, or let their skis dangle sideways and suddenly one’s gone. A few ways to keep yours on:
Keep your tips up and relaxed. Don’t twist or cross skis under the bar.
Stop kicking snow off boots mid-ride. That’s how bindings pop open.
Check your bindings before loading. If a boot isn’t fully clicked in, the lift ride will expose it.
If you ride with kids, help them. Kids’ boots sometimes don’t click all the way, so give bindings a stomp before you load.
A Quick (Sad) Story
Back when I worked with ski patrol, we had a case that still sits with me. A skier, who happened to be a local orthopaedic surgeon, dropped a ski off a chairlift and decided to climb down under the line to get it himself. It was a rocky stretch, and he slipped. He didn’t make it.
It’s rare, but it’s the reason patrol always tells people to stay put and let them handle it. No piece of gear is worth your life.
Final Thoughts
Dropping a ski off the chairlift isn’t the end of the world. It’s embarrassing, sure, and it might cost you a few runs while you wait for patrol, but it’s not a tragedy. Don’t panic, don’t do anything reckless, and take it as a reminder to chill on the lift. Worst case, you’ve got a funny story for après.
