Nut Cracker and Rope Tows

Riding a nutcracker rope tow is a mountain skill in itself. Confidence and determination are important ingredients. If it’s your first time, please be patient as it may be a little tricky at first. However, with a few tips and after a few tries, you’ll soon get the idea. Once you have mastered the technique (usually takes 1/2 a day), you will find the nutcracker rope tow an effective and fast method of accessing some of NZ's best terrain. Your first day on the nutcracker can take you back to your first day on skis/snowboard (a new learning experience!) and requires the same amount of perseverance.

Where to start: You’ll need a glove protector, harness (or belt) and nutcracker. The purpose of the leather glove protector is to avoid destroying your gloves as the rope runs through your hands. The first trick is to get use to holding the rope (normally with one hand).

As you grip onto the rope and start moving, keep your grip tight because you need to be traveling at the same speed as the rope tow in order to attach the nutcracker on the rope. You can use both hands to start with, but you will need to free your outside hand (holding the nutcracker) so you can swing it on or under the rope. The reason for swinging the nutcracker under the rope, rather than over the top, is to allow safe release from the tow when you want to get off.

A nutcracker is a large version of a ‘walnut’ cracker. It swings open and when it closes on the rope it clamps hold. The nutcracker has two handles divided by a ‘clamping’ area and hinge. When you are attaching the nutcracker to the rope, you are best to swing it under the rope so that it is held closed from the top. When the nutcracker is attached to the rope both handles meet and you hold them together the whole way up the tow. Your nutcracker is attached to your harness or belt by a short rope, and the weight of your body will be pulled from your hips, not hands or arms.

To get off the rope tow at any stage just let the nutcracker’s top handle go and the nutcracker will unclamp itself from the rope. On release from the tow move away from the track as people are traveling behind. In case of an emergency, a trip cord (thin wire) runs along side the tow and if pulled will automatically stop the tow. There is also a trip cord immediately after the dismounting area.

The nutcracker is designed to go through rope tow pulleys. The pulleys hold the rope off the ground and can be 10 – 25 meters apart. Please pay attention while on the tow, firstly to avoid hitting a pulley with your body (that hurts) and secondly to avoid pulling the rope off the pulley. When travelling up the rope tow you can use your free hand to rest on the rope & help keep balanced (snowboarders), but remember to take this hand off when you go past the pulleys. Beware of loose clothing, such as scarves, and long hair should be tied up. Safety first.

All the mountains are more than happy to help you out with any tips or if your having a few problems. You can purchase glove protectors, a harness and nutcracker at CHILL HQ