Magic carpet
A magic carpet is a conveyor belt set into the snow. You step on with your skis or board on, stand still, and it carries you slowly up a gentle slope. It is the easiest lift there is and usually the first one a beginner rides.
- 1Belt flush with the snow
- 2Covered gallery
- 3Exit
- 4Village and ski school
At a glance
Typical range- Per carrier
- 1 person
- Line speed
- No published figure
- People per hour
- No published figure
- Grip
- No rope gripOpen · Skis on: Yes
- Wind tolerance
- No published figure
- Beginner-friendly
- Easy
How it works
A textured rubber belt runs over rollers and is driven at one end. It lies flush with the snow, so you simply shuffle on.
Many carpets have a covered gallery that keeps snow off the belt and riders out of the wind.
How to ride it
Shuffle on
Stand still
Ride
Glide off
- Shuffle onto the belt, skis pointing uphill.
- Stand still with your skis parallel; no poles needed.
- Let it carry you; don’t walk or turn.
- Glide off at the end and move clear of the exit.
Where you’ll find it
Scandinavia
Standard in children’s areas; Hemsedal lists five.
The Alps
Standard on beginner slopes. France counted 494 at the start of 2025.
On PisteWindow
- Brixen im Thale · 1 recordedSource: SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental,
- Les Menuires · 5 recordedSource: SEVABEL / Lumiplan,
- Saint-Martin-de-Belleville · 2 recordedSource: SEVABEL / Lumiplan,
- Söll · 3 recordedSource: SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental,
Lift types are recorded for 74 of 247 destinations so far.
Compare with
Rope tow
You hold a rope that pulls you.
1 person
Button lift
A disc pulls you; balance takes more practice.
1 person · 2.5–4 m/s
| Attribute | Magic carpet | Rope tow | Button lift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per carrier | 1 person | 1 person | 1 person |
| Line speed | No published figure | No published figure | 2.5–4 m/s |
| People per hour | No published figure | No published figure | 500–900 people/hour |
| Grip | No rope grip | No rope grip | Fixed |
| Enclosure | Open | Open | Open |
| Skis on | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wind tolerance | No published figure | No published figure | No published figure |
| Beginner-friendly | Easy | Easy | Manageable |
Questions
Can you fall off a magic carpet?
You can lose balance if you move. Stand still, knees soft, and it is hard to fall.
Why is it covered?
A gallery keeps snow off the belt and shelters riders from wind.
Do I keep my skis on?
Yes. Skis or board stay on throughout.
Can adults use it?
Yes. Adult beginners use carpets on the same slopes as children.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Magic carpet |
| Deutsch | Förderband (Zauberteppich) |
| Svenska | Rullband |
| Français | Tapis roulant |
| Italiano | Tappeto mobile |
| Nederlands | Lopende band |
| Español | Cinta transportadora |
| Dansk | Rullebånd |
| Norsk bokmål | Rullebånd |
Sources
- skiresort.info / skiresort.com · Hemsedal ski lifts · Checked
- STRMTG (French cableway regulator, Ministry of Ecological Transition) · Rapport annuel 2024-2025 (parc au 01/01/2025, annexes 1, 4, 5) · Checked