Snow conditions can change from day to day sometimes leaving beginner skiers in dismay. You are suddenly faced with icy patches or crud just when you finally have got the feel of one type of snow. Don’t be discouraged – very soon you will get the hang of it and begin to enjoy the fun and excitement that different types of snow bring to skiing.
Snow texture on ski trails is affected by the weather conditions and the number of people skiing the trail. Snow varies in density and moisture — snow is drier in the colder the weather. Snow becomes more dense as it stays on the ground. When many skiers use a trail of older snow the action of the skis over the snow causes it to melt and then freeze thus developing icy patches.
Below are a few snow conditions you’re most likely to encounter throughout the skiing season.
Powder
Powder is fresh, soft snow untouched by other skiers. Skiers love powder! Skiing through a powder field is often considered the ultimate skiing experience. Some skiers will go to great lengths to get to powder. Skiing on powder requires different technique.
Lack of experience may cause beginners to fall a lot, but the snow is soft enough and dry enough to make falling a pleasure. The biggest challenge is to keep your weight evenly distributed over the skis. Excess pressure on one ski will cause the snow to sink because of its softness. To overcome this you need to distribute the weight from front to back by shifting your center of gravity more to the rear.
Crud
Crud is powder that has been skied on. The trail becomes a patchwork of soft and packed snow as more skiers go down the slope. This presents the challenge of constantly varying snow as you progress down the slope. Skiing on crud requires more aggressive technique than skiing on powder, but it can be fun. Keep your knees bent to absorb the impact of the larger pieces of snow and constantly stay alert to what’s coming up.
Crust
Crusty snow has hard surface on top of softer powder. This happens when the sun melts the top layer of snow and then it refreezes. Crusts can be either hard or soft. Hard crusts are rarely a problem because the skier will stay on top, while softer crusts will break.
When skiing on crust, your sideways movements are somewhat restricted. Skiing through soft crust can be a real challenge, but the most challenging of all is a mixture of hard and soft crusts. Hitting a patch of hard crust while skiing through soft crust can make you fall.
Ice
Of all conditions ice is the most challenging and the least fun. If your skis are angled as you go over ice they will slip out from underneath causing you to lose balance and even fall. Normally only parts of the slope have ice patches and you can spot those by their different color. The key to skiing on icy slopes is to stay alert and flatten your skis when passing over an ice patch.
Slush
Slush is very soft, wet snow. It’s created when rising temperatures cause the snow to melt. It takes more effort to make turns because the snow is so heavy. Gentle, gradual turns are more successful than quick maneuvers. Moving too quickly may cause your skis to get caught in the snow and make you fall. Falling in slush can be painful. Most skiers are better off avoiding it.
Comments on this entry are closed.