Slashing slush, stomping tricks, slugging beers and scissoring moguls. And doing all of this, in a t-shirt, shorts and maybe even in the buff. Spring skiing is lighthearted, relaxed, and loads of fun.
Just because the powder has perished and the snow is receding it does not mean that you need to stop shredding and have any less fun. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Spring brings along clear skies, empty ski hills and soft snow enabling skiing and riders to smash moguls, stomp tricks and slug back beers like never before.
Don’t get me wrong, I love skiing powder just as much as the next guy… But, there is something about spring skiing that is just so god damn special. A spring day, done right, with the right people, can be just as fun if not MORE FUN than the best powder day of the season.
However, Spring skiing requires a slightly different approach to make things as enjoyable as possible.
Here are my Top 15 Tips for Spring Skiing!
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Table of Contents
Sunscreen
I respect the hell out of a good goggle tan. I’m not trying to sound like your mom here, but, the rays of the sun and the reflection off the snow is strong. Your face can fry up faster than an egg on a searing hot frying pan. Also, if you are sending it in a t-shirt, don’t forgot your arms! You will thank me tomorrow :).
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Wear Sun Lenses Or Sunglasses
Have you ever spotted someone with extremely bloodshot eyes at the apres? This could mean one of two things… Either they are dabbling in the devils lettuce, or they have a case of photokeratitis or snow blindness. Snowblindness is an eye condition comparable to a sunburn that effects the corneas of your eyes. It causes temporary discomfort and eye pain after prolonged exposure to UV light reflected from the snow and ice. It can be avoided by wearing goggles are sunglasses that provide the appropriate amount of UV protection. Choose a lens that has 5-20% of visible light transmission (usually dark or mirrored lenses) to optimize your field of view and protect your corneas.
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Use Your Rock Skis
Spring snow is so buttery soft and predictable because its MELTING. When the snow begins to melt, all those nasty shark-fins (rocks that poke out), tree stumps, gravel and grass patches will be revealed once again. It’s crucial you lay your trusty twigs to rest and pull out the rock skis. Rock skis are the term for an extra set of old skis that you don’t mind banging up/wrecking the bases and should be your go-to for early and late season riding. Skiing is way more fun when you don’t have to be concerned about wrecking your gear. In the springtime you’ll find me having a blast jumping over rocks and sliding across greasy wet grassy sections. It’s not fun stressing about gear, if you don’t have a pair of rock skis, head on over to craigslist and find an old set. I love whipping out my trusty old pair of 2006 Armada T-Hall’s for spring days! They are indestructible and the potential for a binding/ski brake malfunction make things even more exciting.
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Sleep In
I’m like a military sergeant when it comes to early ski wake ups. I find no greater satisfaction than getting up early and securing first tracks or setting my edges hard into a fresh corduroy while everyone else is sleeping in. Spring is a whole different beast! The sleeper inners reign king in Spring and it pays dividends wait it out before hitting the slopes. In springtime snow freezes overnight and thaws in the day (known as a freeze thaw). Skiing on frozen spring snow is no fun at all, it’s actually a living hell. You’re going to want to wait to get out on the slopes until the sun has had enough time to warm up the hill converting the ice into perfect shreddable corn snow.
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Mix In Some Water
Believe it or not, skiing is actually great exercise and manoeuvring skis in heavy spring slush is twice the work. In higher altitudes your body loses water two times faster through respiration than at sea level. This means you will become dehydrated quicker! I always drink a litre of water prior to skiing and try and crush a few glasses of water half way through my day.
Staying hydrated is one of the biggest secrets to shredding all day long and preventing mental and muscle fatigue. Skiing is hard on the body and the human body needs lots of water to perform at its peak. If your body and muscles are hydrated you will reduce the potential for cramping and mitigate soreness the following day!
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Ski Where It’s Sunny & Hunt Corn Snow
Spring skiing is all about the sunshine! Take note of the runs and slopes that are getting hit hardest by the sunshine and ski them the most! The more sunshine, the softer and slushier the snow is going to be!
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Use Warm Temp Wax
Skiing is only fun if you’re sliding! With the wrong wax the snow beneath your feet can feel like glue. I use a universal wax for most of the winter, but, in Springtime I always switch to a warm temperature specific wax. Having a fresh wax is like a haircut, it always feels great!
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Try New Stuff
Spring is the perfect time to try new things, especially in the Park! Soft snow is very predictable and Spring conditions are consistent day after day so if you are working on bagging a new trick, getting comfortable on jumps and side hits or trying to perfect your steep skiing, Spring is the ideal time to do so!
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Moguls Are Marvellous
I know a lot of skiers out there dread mogul skiing but, I crave it! In the dead of winter moguls can be icy, making them feel like a special version of hell. In the springtime, you can release your inner hotdogger, jumping, bouncing, and spinning off bumps. I love the feeling of spring snow slapping my shins, arms and face as I smash out a steep mogul lap! Moguls are a great way to take your skiing to the next level and improve your agility, quickness and responsiveness which are all crucial for perfecting tree skiing. Also – there is no faster way to trim and sculpt those tree trunk quads for swimsuit season!
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Wear Layers and Be Ready To Strip Down
Skiing with exposed skin feels so unbelievably liberating!! Although it’s Spring and you might want to leave your car in just a t-shirt. Hold Your Horses. Temperatures can still be unpredictable on the mountain especially if the wind picks up. Typically on a spring day you will need your winter jacket in the morning but can strip down into a t-shirt in the afternoon! As always utilizing a proper layering system that can be quickly changed is the key to enjoying a day on the slopes.
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Ski Slush Like Powder
Riding spring conditions like a pro requires a very similar approach to powder. When the snow becomes corn and heavy you want to treat it like a powder day keeping things loose and light, opting for smaller ‘bouncing’ pumping style turns all while keeping a super athletic stance. If you want more details you can check out my top 9 powder skiing tips here!
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Lean Back
I know most skiing instructors will tell you to always keep an athletic stance and stay forward on your boots. Yes this is good skiing technique and helps you greatly when riding on cold winter snow. However, in the spring you can loosen up and let things become a bit more sloppy. Leaning back a little bit can help you float a little easier on deep slush and slide through turns with ease!
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Ski Touring Is Awesome
Spring is a great time to do some ski touring. The weather is warmer, skies are clear, and having a target for the day can make things more motivating and exciting than spending all day bumming around the resort.
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Choose A Wider Waist Width Ski
I always love riding my powder or park skis in the springtime. A ski with a bit of a wider waist will allow you to lean back, jump, and cruise around on the slush easier! A waist-width between 90-100mm is ideal for spring shredding! For more details on ski waist width and what works best for you style and abilities you can check out my post HERE.
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Beers Are A Must
Peanut Butter has Jelly and Spring Skiing has BEER! Nothing better compliments a spring day than ice cold bruchacho’s. You never want to overdo it because this will affect your balance, coordination and make you more susceptible to a nasty wipeout. But, if you keep it tame, nothing beats a cold chairlift beer or a pint at lunch. You can always buy one from the lodge or bring them up in a backpack (my preference). Beers become well shaken and are prone to exploding when you ride with them in a pack or in your pockets. They are also super heavy and it sucks lugging around extra weight on the hill and beers can get hot/warm in a backpack on a sunny day. The secret to the perfectly chilled pint is to scope out a shady tree, dig a small hole in the base, and cover your beers with snow. Tree Wells are the ultimate beer coolers!!
Watch the weather forecast for sunshine and go slash some slush!
