No Singles In Lift Lines And – What!? – No Ski Apres Cocktails!?
Single!
It’s the mating call of single skiers around the globe who are looking for someone to meet on the slopes, more than a method of bypassing a long lift line.
Yes this decades-long tried and true way to go from the bunny slopes to double black-diamond in terms of “meet in the daytime, meet up in the nighttime” singles strategy won’t exist in this COVID-19 era as ski resorts have pandemic plans in place that will eliminate this element of skiing and snowboarding.
It’s just one of many changes skiers and shredders face this year and some have a direct impact on the singles skier and boarder. Another – and more impactful – rule is the elimination of big crowds for the post-slopes cocktail stop.
Officials are putting the breaks on the ski apres gathering, eliminating a major part of the attraction, so to speak, of going on skiing or snowboarding trip in the first place.
Among the rules are standing six feet apart in lift lines (can you imagine this at some places; the lines will run all the way up the slopes), no singles hopping on a chairlift with other singles (groups who know each other only) and a restriction of large gatherings at ski apres bars and nightlife.
Referring to those last two items, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said at a press conference outlining that state’s COVID ski plans “that is not what skiing looks like in a pandemic.”
Colorado resorts will limit capacity based on past visitation rates, they are encouraged to sell lift tickets online or by phone, to ask visitors if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or might have been exposed, to limit ski school groups to no more than 10 and to load lifts and gondolas in a way that keeps people in different groups socially distanced, thus eliminating the “singles” line and cashless transactions.
So your credit card will be getting as much of a workout as you; this is good for those who earn frequent flyer miles on their cards.
At Mammoth Mountain, a hugely popular ski resort in California, masks will be required in lift lines, gondolas, lodges, shuttle busses and anywhere within six feet of others, priority will be given to season pass holders and there will be no walk-up tickets available to people.
Restaurants and bars on the slopes and in town may have outdoor seating only (kind of a chilly thought after the sun goes down) and all will have limited seating. If you thought the wait was long to get into a restaurant was long before COVID, just imagine what it will be like now.
So maybe instead of hearing “single” at ski resorts this winter, you’ll be hearing people say “let’s wait until next year” before going on a trip in the first place.
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