A grueling commute

Fans who fork over hundreds of dollars to watch Olympic alpine skiers can reach their seats in one of two ways. They can ride a shuttle bus to the bleachers, located right behind the finish line. Or they can hop on a gigantic ski lift, which offers some of the most stunning views of the Whistler mountains.

Needless to say, those shuttle buses are pretty empty.

Minus the scenery, the chair-lift commute to the Creekside course isn’t all that different from a typical morning subway ride. Passengers carry their Starbucks and their knapsacks, and if they miss a stop, it’s a long way back. (And if they lose their balance, a long way down.)

The best part? You get to leave the same way you came.