T-bars and innovation

A different way to think about getting to the top

Our local ski hill has a grand total of two lifts.

The newer lift is what everybody wants.

The newer lift is the chair lift. You get to sit beside three of your friends and get whisked to the top without having to even stand up.

The old lift is the t-bar. With the t-bar you point your skis up the hill while a t-shaped bar is placed behind your thighs and drags you to the top.

With the t-bar you can only go with one other person beside you. You need to put in effort and pay attention. Small children frequently fall when they go to use it.

The line for the t-bar is shorter. It's a lot shorter.

So of course if you want to get to the top faster, use the t-bar.

On my most recent trip to the hill, the line for the t-bar was massive as well.

Not only that, but waiting for the t-bar is frustrating. With new skiers and snowboarders flailing and falling sometimes 10 or more empty tea bars would go up the hill pulling no one.

Halfway up the hill, one of the ski trails crosses the path of the t-bar.

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