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Surface Lift

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Ski Lift, Tow Lift, Ski Tow, Drag-lift, T-bar Lift, J-bar Lift, Platter 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
FGSW 73 Pictogram Tow Lift1) FGSW 73 Side view of skier on rising terrain, aerial cable plus hanger cable, bar/platter placed behind the skier's buttocks
Swiss Pictogram Tow Lift SNV Side view of skier on rising terrain, aerial cable plus hanger cable
Modley & Myers page 114, Swedish Standard Recreation Symbols (SSRS): Pictogram Tow lift1) SSRS Side view of skier with poles on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar placed behind the skier's buttocks
BSI 8501 Public Information Symbol 9079: Ski tow BS 8501:2002 Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar/platter placed behind the skier's buttocks
ÖNORM A 3011 Public Information Symbol No 45: Ski Tow ÖNORM A 3011 Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar placed behind the skier's buttocks
Map Symbol Surface Lift from Grandvalira Grandvalira Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar/platter placed behind the skier's buttocks
Pictogram Surface Lift from Crans Montana Crans Montana Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable, bar/platter placed behind the skier's buttocks
Erco Pictogram 694 Ski-tow Erco Side view of skier on 45° rising terrain, hanger cable parallel to skis
SLVA Pictogram Ski Tow SLVA Side view of skier on rising terrain, hanger cable parallel to skis
Aicher & Krampen page 135: Pictogram Tow Lift by Kapitzki1) Kapitzki Side view of skier with poles on horizontal terrain, hanger cable
Map Symbol Ski Lift from Las Leñas Las Leñas Front view of human figure with hanger cable above, bar crossing legs
Map Symbol: Magic Carpet Surface Lift from Loveland Ski Resort, Colorado Loveland Side view of skier on rising terrain
DIN 30 600 Symbol Ski Tow DIN 30 600 Aerial cable plus hanger with ski in horizontal position
Redrawn old Map Symbol: T-bar Lift VarRec Aerial cable plus hanger cable with T-bar
Redrawn old Map Symbol: Platter Lift 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 probably for Platter Lifts, but most variants do not provide a clear distinction.

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 part 2 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.

See also

Cable Car / Gondola Lift, Chairlift, Funicular
Queue, Tickets, Ticket Validation
Skiing, Cross-country Skiing, Snowboarding, Skibobbing, Ski School
Ski Depot, Ski Storage Room, Ski Rack

 

Updated 2024-11-28 by Ch.Brugger