The sport where you strap two boards to your feet and point them down the mountain. Turning optional!
I love the vibes and the weather, but I hate the slush and my wax washing off by 9am.
Both love and hate getting off the mountain early. OOH, I get to do another activity, OTOH, I don’t get to ski for 8 hours straight.
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i just love that I can ski another day 😊
I love no lift lines, and that time of the day when the snow is controllable and I can carve absolutely perfect turns.
That 10am choppy snow is like crack
I love that I can make a two sport day. Ski in the morning, bike in the afternoon.
Corn. It's second only to powder in my mind. I love a good day harvesting corn on spring moguls.
on some days i honestly feel like corn > powder. i just cannot get enough when i’m skiing corn. the sun and the vibes and the fast yet forgiving snow :’)
YES. Smashing through cold corn on a warm day with the sun demolishing my retinas and exposed skin. Slushy bumps are a joy, groomers are groomers, if that's what you're about you probably don't like spring/sunshine/pushing yourself/etc. About the only thing that sucks is trees where you have shady cold and sunny hot and your skis stick right next to big spruce that could snap you in half.
Basically the entire experience makes me feel like I could've been in St Moritz in 1964, smashing absinthe on a sunny deck with a bunch of girls with sunburnt cheeks from the Mad Men era.
Real corn is wonderful stuff
why is that? cuz it gives you more control?
It's just so easy to ski. Fun, predictable, just forgiving enough.
Corn taught me to ski so much more aggressively.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=69uGz4Sn7dvo-r2A&v=w49tSslhLNI
less slipping around
Chalk is better than corn. I said it.
Agreed. Maybe it’s because it’s what I ride the most often, but I love chalk. Fast, edgable, predictable.
Horrible take
It’s good for longer.
Not when u know where to go (different aspects and elevation as the day goes on). Corn is soft, forgiving, fun, easy to go fast on. The list goes on. Chalk = only better than ice
High alpine chalk on steeps yes. Otherwise corn.
THIS. I should have been more specific.
Smooth thin chalk can be great but can be unpredictably thick and grabby in spots
Corn can be grabby as well
True true, had that happened to me last weekend landing a 180 it grabbed my ski trying to spin back forward complety slid out. Was wearing short sleeves so got a nice snow burn on my arm lol
We don't get much chalk here in the East. I skied it some when I lived in the Rockies, but I can't say it was my favorite.
It’s not even close but people like to circle jerk
Hell ya. Forget lunch, just ski all day.
Lunch? That's what the chair lift is for.
I live on Hood, just wax for the conditions. We have had powder days all week, the week before was 60 and sunny. Also bring rub on so the last run of the day from the Mazot at meadows is quick and safe.
Rub on like this?
I’ve used that brand a bunch, is a bit tough to out on but works well. I don’t carry a back pack, so the tube is awkward in a pocket. Another brand that is used a lot on Hood, especially in the summer is One-Ball they make some easy rub ons and summer wax.
Fast Stik is another great alternative.
Like this
The VIBES of spring skiing are what make it so killer. It's like being at the beach, the bar, the club, and the gym all at once but while skiing... what could be better??!!?!
I love it when you look around and there's few to no gapers or jerries; just good skiers mobbin' on sick lines.
It's pleasant to not have to rush to get first tracks; prime conditions may be the hottest part of the day. Or maybe best conditions are first thing in the morning, and you're at the bar by 1030. Apres all day.
G&T2 working on your goggle tan sipping gin & tonic. Sitting on the deck watching people send big lines.
It is the culmination of ski season. You have your legs under you, hopefully the snowpack is deep and filled in, the days are long. Life is good.
Brah, if it’s warm outside, it’s gaper day. Dressing up in goofy shit whenever the corn comes out is some of the best days of the year. Closing day outfits all spring can’t be beat.
Oh hell yeah party costumes and nudity bare both highly encouraged
maybe im not good enough yet. It's my first season on blues/blacks, and i can't seem to find a good rhythm carving in spring snow. I keep feeling my ski getting dragged/pulled behind me.
Spring wax; get up earlier. Conditions change a lot on the mountain as the day goes on.
Same, I finally relax into a rhythm and a moment later I ski onto a shag carpet someone left on the mountain
Spring conditions can be more variable. Well tuned skis help.
"It's not a tool if it's not sharp"
Corn snow takes form, muscle and velocity.
Wider skis dont hurt
Steeper is better, it's the flats where your skis will get caught beneath you. And once it's warmed up the steeper parts are super forgiving. I don't really carve once the snow is warmed though, for me that's more for firmer, more freshly groomed snow.
There is an hour where the frozen slush has thawed enough to be enjoyable but the mush hasn't set in. Other than that, it's just the weather and being out there. The skiing part is rough on mashed potatoes.
it feels like ur skis are dragging right?
It's like stop go is the problem. You're in a sunny patch and you slow down, then you hit some shade and you lurch forward. Just always feel off balance.
Your slush freezes? We had days where it never really froze - soft all day.
Sounds fun, but I broke my wrist carving on groomed slush at about 9:30am 😩
I love when the snow has a ton of holding power and you can really lay it over.
I hate the following day where it snowed 1” and it is skiing on coral reef.
what do u mean by lay it over?
Oh, you know, when you’re leaned into the turn so hard that you’re almost touching the snow on that one side. I haven’t actually done it yet, but it looks really cool.
The people that go spring skiing and complain about the terrible snow conditions. Yes it’s going to be slushy. If you say it one more time ima make you limp back.
Like moguls, anyone complaining about not liking spring conditions just can’t ski. 11am on a 40F+ day is right behind powder.
That’s honestly the most fun I’ve ever had. We got up early to go do a little back country split boarding. Climbed to a spot to watch the sun rise. Had a couple of MRE’s hung around just waiting and watching the wildlife. Summited the ridge at around 11:30 in the morning, scoping out possible routes. Then it was time and I tell you, that ride was the most memorable one I have ever done. Compared to riding at the end of day to where the snow looked like cotton candy, little light and dark blue and pink, buddy was in front of me and the spray coming from his skis, was pink, truly unreal looking.
One thing I love about spring skiing is the longer days. More daylight means more time on the slopes, and who doesn't want that? It's perfect for squeezing in those extra runs and enjoying the mountain views.
Bring the quick wax re-up in between runs. Beach day all day
something like this?
Love spring bumps, HATE sticky stop & go snow when it slows you down.
Low line, corn, and shredding in a T shirt
I love that the toddler I typically have in tow isn’t too cold to keep going.
Blue sky, warmer weather and corn snow. Not a fan of the early morning ice ridges.
Slush is just the poor man's powder and I fucking love it.
Spring touring - stable snowpack with predictable avalanche hazards, pleasant weather, longer days for big objectives, etc.
that spring break hoards have gone.
No traffic and no lines means I can sleep in a little instead of leaving when it’s dark out. It also reminds me that I don’t need fresh powder to enjoy skiing. And discounted gear and skis are a plus.
Nothing better than wearing a hoodie, skiing corn, and sunny beers in the lot.
It has this feeling like walking around the school hallways in the evening when the school day is over.
Get your bases structured!
I don't wanna make a whole post for this, so I'll ask here...
As a new skier this season, what are favorable spring conditions to look out for in the forecast? What weather generates corn conditions? Is corn different than slush? I have a Loveland pass and am desperately trying to squeeze in 1-2 more days before closing.
Loveland is generally a really good mountain for corn skiing, you want a good overnight freeze with clear skies, then for a nice sunny day hovering around 30-38 degrees, follow the sun from chair 4/8 back around the mountain towards Chets, then when the bottom turns to slush head to chair 9 for high elevation corn. Often you'll have to start the day on groomers or get started a little later if you don't like skiing firmer snow as you wait for corn O' clock.
Corn is pre slush, when just the surface snow is starting to soften up to slush but still has a nice supportive base under it. Slush is when it gets really wet and sloppy.
Thank you very much!
I am on Hood, so in one day we can go through all weather. Some days you wanna hit it early cause it didn’t freeze the night before, other days it doesn’t get soft until 10 or 11 so just means you take it easy,take a break at the car bar or the lodge until it gets soft.
Love the thrill and feel of the turns. Love that 99% of the time any ski day is a good day. I never regret it. I hate how it’s become so popular you have to wake up at 7 am on a Saturday now. At least last year I woke up at 6:30-7 every Sat/Sun for 4 months. Was a real drain and I was happy once it was over, but I don’t regret any of those days.
I love riding my rock skis over the sketchiest shit there is just because the snow is melting and I can
Love the scenery and the cold alpine air rushing past you.
Hate the soreness and aches afterwards
Love the soft bumps The sun Sitting outside with a T-shirt and maybe sweatshirt on at the end drinking a beer and watching people continue to rip it on the bumps
That it's over :(
Love: boot fitters
Hate: criminals
Ground frozen solid in the morning, and turned into slush in the afternoon. There's a two to three hour window where the snow softens up before turning to water.
I love everything about spring skiing it’s my fav skiing
The one thing I hate about spring skiing is that it means the season is almost over.
I hate seeing people complain for the first 2 months of the season about poor conditions because they planned their ski vacation in early December.. which leads to me loving NOT hearing people complain about bad snow conditions in April because those same people are no longer thinking about snow.
I love seeing you all shred mountains this time of year on barren trails.
No lift lines and no traffic
Love - no tourists Hate - season is ending
Definitely love soft, moderately spaced moguls.
How forgiving the bumps are.
Patio beers
I love the slush. Everything should be powder or slush in my opinion.
I loft slush/corn bumps, very fun! Also wiggles are a wild ride. I hate hitting the brakes on random slush patches (but who doesn't) and the fact that I live 4 hours from the mountain makes the reduced/earlier schedule real hard. People on these threads complaining about waking up at 7am and here I am wondering if I have to wake up at 4am D:
love slush and weather
hate roks and uderstanding that end of the season is coming
I hate all the pretty ladies in bikinis. Big time. It's terrible. I mean it
The mountain changes everyday, every run is a mogul run. Button-up shirts and ball caps, scantily clad ladies. The only thing better than spring skiing is a windless powder day.
I love warm weather and less crowds. Any day I can ski without my face fully covered is a good one. I don't like sticky slow snow or limited terrain options.
Love: nobody there.
Hate: sticky snow and what appears to be beautiful fluffy powder but is actually disgusting chunks
Soft n slushy. The sun is strong and burns my skin. The resorts around here have no night skiing.
Unless you are Meadows.
About half the people are skiing without a helmet because it's too warm.
So you don't feel like as much of a goober if you decide to not wear a helmet
The difference between a white and black helmet is night and day. If you wanna ski spring, get a white helmet.
I love skiing in just a hoodie/less gear! I hate that the season ends.
Short lift lines, big soft moguls, being able to wear a T-shirt and shorts
Sometimes I just want a sunburn filled day of corn skiing and it ends up snowing like 20” and my goggle tan doesn’t develop the way I hoped.
I love spring skiing. But i mostly love *march* spring skiing. They start grooming, and I do love spring corderoy, and even the ungroomed stuff ends up having nice even consistency from just the freeze/thaw cycle. That's the best, because then i can push a bit more without having to hold back for the eventuality of the unexpected. But OTOH, I hate sticky snow. April can be good if you get a day where the corn doesn't get mushy, but that's harder with the sun angles i think.
Love less crowds. Hate allergies.