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Step 1
The trick to not falling the first time on the lift is to practice before you go up for the first time.
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Step 2
On a small hill by the base of the lift, or near the ski lodge, buckle your front foot in. Skate around on your board on the flat snow like it's a skateboard. Your unbuckled foot kicks you across the flat.
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Step 3
Next, practice kicking and then placing your back foot on the board, right before the rear binding. Again, this should remind you of skateboarding, except your front foot is buckled in. You should be coasting on the flat with both feet on your board. When you run out of steam, kick with your rear foot.
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Step 4
Do this for about 15 minutes until you get the hang of it.
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Step 5
Now you are ready to use the same "skate" technique to ride down a small hill. Hike up a little hill at the base of the resort. Use your skate technique to ride down the hill. Kick a little, then put your back foot on the board while keeping the base of the board flat. Practice this a few times until you can nail it.
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Step 6
When you can ride about 40 feet down the hill with one foot strapped in, and the rear foot in skate position right before the rear binding, you are ready to try the lift.
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Step 7
Your first time up, you should ride alone. Wait for a gap in the traffic, if there is any, and snag an entire chair to yourself.
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Step 8
When you are coming off the lift as a beginner, stay centered. If no one is riding in the same chair as you, it won't matter as much if you fall. You'll just need to hop up and get out of the way quickly.
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Step 9
When coming off the lift, keep your base flat and put your rear foot on the rear of the board as you stand up. Steady yourself by holding on to the lift bar with one hand as you stand. Don't stand up until you are right on the peak of the lift ramp, so you can use gravity to push yourself down the ramp. As you come down the ramp, release your hand from the chair and slowly turn in the direction you need to go. Gravity will push you ahead of the chair.
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Step 10
When the ramp ends, you'll be on the flat, and you'll need to skate out of the way so the people behind you can get off. Skate away from the lift before you put on your rear binding so no one runs into you as they get off the lift.
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Step 11
If you fall the first time, don't give up. Even the most inexperienced beginners rarely fall more than a couple of lift dismounts in a row. If you fall one time, ride down perfect for a while, then suddenly fall again, don't fret. You're just learning the different factors that come into play on a lift dismount. After a while, these become totally intuitive.
