Nutcrackers, Towbelts and Ropetows

These are devices found at many of New Zealand’s Club field ski areas. Whilst not a kiwi invention or the only place they are found it is where they are best known. The origins of these devices dates back to the early 1900, they were used in many alpine resorts , mainly Switzerland and Austria, prior to the invention and widespread use of the T-bar and more sophisticated Pomma style lifts.

The rope tow itself is not the simple two pulleys and loop of rope many of us know as beginner’s lifts or those found at dry slopes across Britain. These are a little more complex. The rope can be many hundreds of meters long, being carried on a series of pulleys to stop it dragging in the snow, with the return rope usually high above the ground. There is normally a thin wire running along the lift line, a bit like the old stop cord in buses and trains and provides an emergency stop.

Many of these tows are now powered by electric motors. But until recently this was not the case, they were driven by a car motor driving a homemade winch system. Some a little more than a tractor with its wheels removed, a look in the top tow shed at Craigieburn would confirm this!

The Towbelt, either a purpose built or made from old fire hose is warn around you waist. To this attached by a short piece of cord is a Nutcracker. This is device for gripping the rope. The technique for using one of these tows involves first gripping the tow by hand (like a traditional rope tow) and putting the nutcracker over the rope and closing it. The Nutcracker if then held shut at the cord end, keeping your hands away from the rope to stop them getting hit by the pulleys. To get off you just let go of the nutcracker and it opens and drops off the rope.

These tows take some getting used to, remembering to wear a glove protector to begin with, or the palm will be ripped out on the first tow. Keeping your hips away from the pulleys and just hanging on the nutcracker. The bonus of being able to use these lifts are skiing in uncrowded areas and using one of the fastest ways up the mountain, much faster than a chair or pomma.

Words and Pictures from Tom Greenall - Natives Resort Reporter

Mail this page to a friend
What do you think? Tell us on the Message Boards