Surface Lift

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Ski Lift, Tow Lift, Ski Tow, Drag-lift, Drag Lift, T-bar Lift, J-bar Lift, Platter Lift, Conveyor Ski Lift, Snow Runner, Magic Carpet, Magic Carpet Surface Lift, Magic Carpet Ski Lift, Moving Carpet, Beginners' Lift, Practice Lift

Category

Winter Sports, Transportation, Transport Facilities, Transport Modes, Tourism, Concessions

Message / Function

To indicate the location of surface lifts for snow sports (skiers/snowboarders remain on the ground)

	Source	Description
1)	FGSW 73	Side view of skier on rising terrain, aerial cable plus hanger cable, bar/platter placed behind the skier's buttocks
	Gerlitzen	Side view of skier on rising terrain, aerial cable plus hanger cable, bar/platter placed behind the skier's buttocks
	SNV	Side view of skier on rising terrain, aerial cable plus hanger cable
1)	SSRS	Side view of skier with poles on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar placed behind the skier's buttocks
	BS 8501:2002	Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar/platter placed behind the skier's buttocks
	ÖNORM A 3011	Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar placed behind the skier's buttocks
	Grandvalira	Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar/platter placed behind the skier's buttocks
	Crans Montana	Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar/platter placed behind the skier's buttocks
	Erco	Side view of skier on 45° rising terrain, hanger cable parallel to skis
	Argentina SSTN	Side view of skier with poles on 45° rising terrain, hanger cable parallel to skis
	SLVA	Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable parallel to skis
	Ski-Juwel 2024	Side view of skier on rising terrain, hand/arm touching hanger cable
1)	Kapitzki	Side view of skier with poles on horizontal terrain, hanger cable
	Las Leñas	Front view of human figure with hanger cable above, bar crossing legs
	Ski-Juwel 2024	Side view of skier on rising terrain, terrain indicated by a line
	Thredbo 2019	Side view of skier on rising terrain, terrain indicated by a line
	Loveland	Side view of skier on rising terrain, terrain indicated by a line
	Gerlitzen	Frontal view of standing human figure holding hanger with small platter
	DIN 30 600	Aerial cable plus hanger with ski in horizontal position
	VarRec	Aerial cable plus hanger cable with T-bar
	Thredbo 2019	T-bar
	VarRec	Aerial cable plus hanger cable with platter

Discussion

The collection shown above is only a small selection of the wide variety of pictograms used all over the world to signify Surface Lift. Some of the pictograms were developed to denote T-bar Ski Lifts, some for Platter Lifts, a few for Conveyor Ski Lifts/Magic Carpet Surface Lifts, but most variants do not provide a clear distinction between the first two types.

Test data for the referent Surface Lift or Ski Lift is rather limited:

The results of an Appropriateness Ranking Test conducted in Austria with seven pictograms (Brugger, 1977 a) indicate that pictograms showing a side view of a skier on rising terrain, with hanger cable and bar or platter placed behind the skier's buttocks are generally preferred to more abstract symbols.

The pictogram variants marked with 1) were examined in a Comprehension Test conducted in Austria (Brugger, 1977 b), and all of them reached good comprehension rates, but the variant from Kapitzki with skis in horizontal position elicited more wrong responses.

Recommendations

SkiLift SkiLift

Based on data available we recommend the use of a pictogram similar to symbol No 45 of ÖNORM A 3011 or No 9079 from BS 8501:2002, showing a side view of a skier on rising terrain, with hanger cable and bar or platter placed behind the skier's buttocks.

Tests of pictograms of referent Ski Lift

Brugger, Ch. (1977 a): Abschlußbericht über den Reihungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1977-07-27.

Brugger, Ch. (1977 b): Abschlußbericht über den Erkennungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1977-10-04.