ern ski industry—though challenges loomed ahead.
the mid-’90s, terrain parks were booming in the Midwest, and operators sought affordable ways to give snowboarders and skiers quick laps. At ski areas such as Hyland Hills and Wisconsin’s Troll- haugen and Tyrol Basin, the rope tow was the answer. That was when operators realized rope tows are more than just function- al—they create a culture. They give rid- ers their own dedicated spaces, echoing the energy of a skatepark. “When you put all those park kids in their own zone on their own rope, they’re as happy as they can be, and guess what? They’re not clogging your lift lines,” says Day Franzen, longtime park builder and owner of Kingvale Resort, Calif. Trollhaugen mountain manager Adam Mahler says that while chair- served parks are still fun, hot laps aren’t an option so it’s harder to get into a flow. “The constant movement of a rope gives you that instant gratification,” says Mahler.
So, hot laps became a thing. Snow- boarders, no longer forced to unstrap their rear foot, could endlessly lap fea- tures. Thus, generations of park kids grew up pushing progression, watching each other from the rope, and hanging out at the top. “The vibe changes within the com- munity,” Mahler says. “You’re watching your peers land tricks in real time. Who knows—you might even be riding with your favorite pro. The hangouts at the top when you’re taking a break are what shape the culture in your parks.” That culture reshaped skiing in the Midwest and seeded a small but growing resurgence of rope tows nationwide. Back to the Beginning As I stood at the base of Hyland on that cold December night, though, I didn’t yet understand all of that. All I could see was a rope tow hauling dozens of riders uphill each minute. The efficiency was mesmerizing—ropes spinning nonstop,
Alternatives Emerge While inexpensive and efficient, rope tows weren’t without challenges. Their speed and grip demands made them hard to master, leading to falls, pileups, and plenty of blooper reels in Warren Miller films. Other innovators sought more user-friendly alternatives. The first Pomas, T-bars, and J-bars appeared in Europe in 1934. In 1936, James Curran’s chair- lift marked a leap forward. Through the mid-20th century, many rope tows were replaced or relocated. The ones that remained often served beginner areas, even though they were ill-suited for novices. When conveyor lifts debuted in the 1990s, it looked like rope tows might vanish entirely.
The Midwest Rope Culture Instead, a second chapter began. During
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