Panty tree
A panty tree (or bra tree or bra/panty tree) is a tree underneath a ski lift decorated with bras, panties, and Mardi Gras beads cast off by skiers riding the chair lift.
History[edit]
An experienced ski patroller in Aspen, Colorado, has claimed that the first panty tree was under the Bell Mountain ski lift at Aspen Mountain in the early 1980s.[1] A discussion in 2006 in the letters pages of the Skiing Heritage journal said "it is believed" that the practice might have begun in the late 1950s.[2] This panty tree was soon copied at nearby Vail Ski Resort and then numerous other ski areas across North America.[3]
The first panty tree in Vail was found chopped down one morning in 1997, but skiers picked another tree to continue the tradition.[4] This second tree was used in a 2005 liqueur company advertisement, which stated, "You just recognized a pair of panties in the Sun Down Bowl tree...The conversation is waiting." In 2010, this tree was also chopped down to make way for a new ski lift.[5][6]
In 2012, a male grooming product company ran an advertising campaign on ski lifts across Canada that stated, "Please Feed the Bra Tree."[7]
Several popular Canadian ski resorts have also ended up with bra trees, including Banff Sunshine Village,[8] Lake Louise Ski Resort,[9] and Camp Fortune, amongst many others.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Lutz, Catherine (February 5, 2005). "Whats in that tree?". The Aspen Times. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ "Panty Tree?". Skiing Heritage Journal. 19 (4): 6. Dec 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ Kidd, Kenneth (January 14, 2012). "What is the origin of Collingwood's Blue Mountain bra tree?". Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. TheStar.com. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ Vail Valley Voices: The saga of the panty tree Vail Daily, 2011-01-21.
- ^ "Ode to the Panty Tree". Skiing. January 21, 2009.
- ^ "Vail's 'Panty Tree' To Be Cut Down For New Lift". ABC. 7 News Denver. April 22, 2010.
- ^ Maloney, Val (February 29, 2012). "Spotted! Axe takes to the slopes". Media in Canada. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ "Photo: "The Bra Tree - Sunshine"". Trip Advisor Canada. Trip Advisor Canada. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ Predham, Bruce. "Rick Donates to the Bra Tree at Lake Louise". Youtube. Retrieved 21 January 2019.