The greatest thing about being a New Englander who skis and rides is that months like this one — with crazy storm after crazy storm — are celebrated. Sure, we curse when the power goes down and worry when the shore takes a beating, but what’s really in our heart most is simple: more spring skiing!
With the incredible pile-up of snow in the recent storms, we can all count on some solid weeks of spring skiing. You know, the type with the sun, the longer days, the softer snow and everyone in such a good mood? That’s what we wait for.
It’s important, though, to realize that spring skiing really is a bit different than we all are used to. Whether you ski exclusively in the east or some in the west as well, spring snow does have a bit of a different feel under your edges. So as the lure of these great spring days pulls you out for a ski day (or five!), here are some things to think about and do to make it a great experience.
• Tune up: First off, while you might feel like your season is winding down and you really don’t need to have your skis or boards worked on, it’s actually just as important to a great ski day now to have a good tune-up as it is preseason. First off, if you’ve been skiing, you’ve worn that stuff down. If you haven’t, it’s been sitting in air that can corrode edges a tiny bit. And either way, spring conditions often demand a little bit of extra care. The right tune, along with just the right wax for spring snow, is going to make your day even better. My best advice: If you are at the ski resort the night before, drop your stuff off at an on-mountain tuning shop and ask them to treat them for the day that is forecasted. If you are going for a day trip, pop into your local shop a day or two before and ask them to study the forecast for where you are going and set you up right. Worst case? Most base shops can take your gear and tune it pretty quickly
• Eye the rentals: Here’s a great spring skiing secret: On the particularly soft-snow days, skis that are wider underfoot work really well. True, we think of wider skis mostly for true powder (and oh, they are incredible on that), but I’ve always found that on days when the snow turns somewhat mushy in the afternoon, wider skis float more and make turning in that heavier stuff easier. Of course, you’ll need to be sure to use a stance that is more toward the center of your skis. Talk to the rental folks in the base area and find a pair that works for you. Most rental places let you trade out skis during the day, and quite a few resorts have some spring demo days, with next year’s gear available to tinker with on slope for free. Try it! You’ll be amazed.
• Adapt with the day: There are some patterns we can often count on with spring skiing. Days usually start out brisk, and the surface a bit firm. As the sun hits the snow and the temperature goes up, the snow softens, and not only is the air warmer, but you work a little harder. That means wearing layers. Be ready to shed as you ski. On the best day, by afternoon you’re in a shell, a light vest and your sunglasses instead of your goggles. Pack it all, start out with layers and progress as the weather allows. Tips for the ladies for apres fun: Now that long underwear is so cute, I just bring along a simple black skirt, pull off my ski pants and pull the skirt over my long underwear for a leggings look. Cute and comfortable apres attire with no work. Guys? You all just seem to make it work.
Adapting means paying attention to the snow, too. Expect it to start out firmer (some folks like to wait until 10 to ski, when it begins to soften. Hey, that’s more slope for us!). As the day goes on, the snow softens, but usually not in a light, fluffy way. “Corn snow” is a real thing. When it gets colder, warmer and colder again, the crystals form into a different shape and size than they do in the always-cold winter. This means you might tire more quickly. Pay attention to that, and take breaks when needed. What’s better than your midday refreshment outside in the sun on the mountain anyway?
• Get at it: If you ski all the time, you know to get out there in these spectacular coming weeks. If you’ve never skied or snowboarded, the soft snow of spring is the perfect learning surface. The sun is out later and apres in the spring is a blast. We’re in New England, folks, and true warm weather is months away. Heat things up with some spring skiing. You’ll totally fall in love with storm warnings.
