Riding the chairlift brings out fun, memorable conversations

One thing I find most interesting about skiing is the people you meet  on the chairlift. And the crazy things people talk about.

For eight minutes, you are suspended in air within inches of a complete stranger that you may as well get to know because making small talk is far less awkward than sitting in silence.

Or, if you’re with a friend, the nonsense that occurs always reaches heights greater than if the two of you were sitting anywhere else. (Maybe minus the bar).  For example, I learned to “rap” on the chairlift. I use quotes because rhyming for two seconds before busting into laughter can hardly be considered rap.

On Saturday at the Bowl, I almost didn’t get to ride with 7-year-old Max, a ski school boy who nearly fell off the chair getting on despite the “boost” he received from the liftee. I grabbed him, pulling him onto the seat, and he held onto the bar with a death grip for the remainder of the ride. Max attends Missoula’s international school and could speak more fluent Spanish by second grade then I learned in all of high school and college.

This weekend there were many chairlift rides, in which the following topics were discussed: Inner tube water pollo, death-defying ski crashes involving a somersault and tree stump, and why a snowboarder would come to the mountain dressed as a red hot chilli pepper. (No joke…full-body chilli pepper costume!!?).  Zany, I tell you!

Got any crazy chairlift conversations? Share! Pretty, please!!

Chelsi Moy