Surface lifts
Surface lifts keep your skis or board on the snow. A bar, a disc or a rope pulls you, or a belt carries you. They are the simplest lifts to build and run, which is why they are still the most numerous lifts in both France and Austria. You find them on nursery slopes by the village, on open Scandinavian fells and on glaciers where towers for anything bigger would be hard to keep upright.
Lift types
T-bar
Two riders lean on one bar and are pulled uphill.
1–2 people · 2–3.5 m/s
Button lift
One rider, a disc between the legs.
1 person · 2.5–4 m/s
Rope tow
Hold a slow, moving rope.
1 person · No published figure
Magic carpet
A slow belt you stand on.
1 person · No published figure
Side by side
| Attribute | T-bar | Button lift | Rope tow | Magic carpet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per carrier | 1–2 people | 1 person | 1 person | 1 person |
| Line speed | 2–3.5 m/s | 2.5–4 m/s | No published figure | No published figure |
| People per hour | 700–1,400 people/hour | 500–900 people/hour | No published figure | No published figure |
| Grip | Fixed | Fixed | No rope grip | No rope grip |
| Enclosure | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| Skis on | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wind tolerance | No published figure | No published figure | No published figure | No published figure |
| Beginner-friendly | Manageable | Manageable | Easy | Easy |
Where you’ll find it
Everywhere: nursery slopes, open fells and glaciers.