We only remember the excitement back then from stories. When man invented the e-mountain bike in 1908, there was a lot of trouble on the mountain. The traditionalists among the mountain bikers shouted indignantly that the whole idea of sport was being lost. Clamor, clamor, clamor. But lo and behold, less than a decade later, everyone was pedaling happily and relaxed up and down the Alps with motor support. Performance differences were evened out, the tours were allowed to become longer, more interesting and more challenging, the bike industry was jubilant, in short: almost everyone was happy.

But now there is a new threat of trouble in the sporting world: another sport is attacking the mountain: Skiing with the help of ski lifts! Until now, the only way to get to the hill of your choice to enjoy a well-deserved descent was via a sweaty ski tour, but now there are motorized lifts. Ride asked around and got a few interesting statements.

Franz, 42 years old, ski tourer since his youth:

"On ski tours, you ski up the mountain under your own steam and earn the view and the descent. But now there are these ski lifts! That has nothing to do with the sport anymore. Because those who do that simply let themselves be pushed up the mountain. That's like taking shit!"

Veronika, 30 years old, thinks ski lifts are generally dangerous for skiing:

"If the Alps are built up with ski lifts, then there will certainly be no room for ski tourers. There will be countless ski tourers on the mountains - and there won't be a square meter of space left for a quiet mountain tour."

Michi, 28, die-hard off-piste skier:

"They have new slopes like this! That's not possible at all. I only find the flow when I have the whole mountain to myself. I need natural terrain, with crests, steep slopes and rock jumps. A piste is boring as hell, you can't ski the way I think is cool."

Benni, 48, father of two:

"They're even building baby lifts now. It's a kind of escalator that the children stand on and are lifted up. Then they can just ride down like that. Once the children are used to that, they'll never want to go on a ski tour again, I swear. That's the end of ski touring."

Marc, 72, sees dangers:

"Motorized lifts take inexperienced skiers to great heights - and they don't know their way around the mountains. I'm just waiting for the accidents to become more frequent. Mountain rescuers will be overwhelmed by skiers who get lost in the mountains and can't get down from the summits."

Franzi, 55, is looking for honest pain:

"You ski up mountains so that it hurts. Because I struggle with every meter of altitude and escape everyday life with every step. If you use a ski lift, you're not fighting for anything. They are just using the progress of technology and thus depriving themselves of the opportunity to experience the moment of being at one with nature."

Florian, 38, sees ski lifts as an excess:

"Skiers who use lifts have no feeling for the mountains. Hedonism is the order of the day, fun is the only maxim. A skier who takes the lift is an example of the excesses of our consumer society. They should experience how good it feels to reach a mountain under their own steam."