Lift Line Etiquette: What to Do With Your Ski Poles

For a beginner skier, the actual act of skiing down a hill is often less intimidating than the chaotic maze at the bottom: the lift line.

One of the most frequently asked questions from anxious beginners on forums like Reddit is: “What am I supposed to do with my ski poles in the lift line?” Between shuffling forward, scanning tickets, and boarding the chair, poles can feel like awkward, dangerous appendages.

Here is everything you need to know about managing your ski poles from the back of the line to the top of the mountain.

1. While Waiting in the Line

The most important rule of the lift line is to protect others’ equipment and shins.

• Keep them close: Keep your poles close to your body and point them downwards. Do not let them drag far behind you, and never swing them around.
• Do not rest your poles on others’ skis: This is a terrible faux pas. The sharp tips of your poles can easily scratch the top sheet of someone’s expensive new skis. Always plant your pole tips directly into the snow.
• Shuffling forward: To move forward in a flat line, use your poles to gently push yourself along on your skis. Alternatively, you can use the “skating” method, pushing off the inside edges of your skis, requiring minimal pole usage.

2. Approaching the RFID Gates / Scanners

As you get closer to the gates where the lift attendant checks your pass, it is time to transition.

• Take your straps off: NEVER put your wrists through your pole straps while riding the chairlift. If a pole catches on a branch or part of the lift structure while moving, a strap wrapped around your wrist can easily cause a dislocated shoulder or broken arm. Take your wrists out of the straps as you approach the front of the line.
• Consolidate: Many skiers find it easier to grab both poles in one hand. This frees up your other hand to tap your RFID pass, adjust your jacket, or grab the chairlift safety bar.

3. Boarding the Chairlift

This is the moment beginners fear most, but pole management here is actually very simple once you know the trick.

• The One-Hand Hold: As you slide to the “Load Here” line, hold both poles in one hand (usually your dominant hand, or the hand on the outside of the chair). Hold them firmly around the grips, with the pointy ends aimed straight down at the snow.
• Look back: Use your free hand to look back and grab the chair as it approaches, guiding yourself into the seat.
• Hold them vertical: As you sit, keep your poles roughly vertical and resting on your lap or held between your legs. Do not lay them horizontally across your lap, as you risk poking the stranger sitting next to you!

What happens if I drop a pole?

It happens to everyone—even professionals. If you drop a pole while boarding the chairlift, DO NOT attempt to dive or reach wildly for it.

Simply board the chairlift safely, ride to the top, and let the lift attendant at the top know. The bottom attendant will usually toss the pole onto the next empty chair, and you can grab it safely when it arrives at the summit.

Mastering pole management in the lift line is one of the quickest ways to transition from looking like a flustered beginner to a confident, seasoned skier. Keep them pointed down, take those straps off, and enjoy the ride up!