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.