What is "surface lift"

n. a ski tow that pulls skiers up a slope without lifting them off the ground

A surface lift is a means of cable transport and is a transportation system used to transport skiers and snowboarders where riders remain on the ground as they are pulled uphill.

Once prevalent, they have gradually been overtaken in popularity by higher capacity aerial lifts like chairlifts and the gondola lift. Today, surface lifts are most often found on beginner slopes and very small ski areas. Surface lifts have many disadvantages compared to aerial lifts: they require more passenger skills, surface must be continuous, they impede skiable terrain, slow speed, and limited capacity. With the increase in snowboarding, surface lifts are replaced by chairlifts. They are often utilized at glacier skiing resorts because their supports can be anchored in glacier ice due to the lower forces. Surface lifts have two advantages over aerial lifts: they can be exited before the lift reaches the top terminal; and they can often continue operating in wind conditions that are too strong for a chairlift.