The Rider's Guide to Snow, Weather, and Light Conditions
After a few more days Snowboarding in the Alps this season I thought I'd write about the varied types of conditions you will encounter as you ride. These conditions occur as a combination of the type of snow underfoot and the type of weather over your head. It's not all sunny days on perfect snow.SNOW CONDITIONS:
Bumps--There are bumps, and then there are buried Volkswagens! Bumps are probably better left for those who feel comfortable in them and can maintain board control. They are impossible to learn in, because you get tossed this way and that down the fall line. Bumps are caused by the repetitive action of really good skiers flying down a slope, so they can appear almost over the course of a single weekend. Just because there weren't bumps on your favorite run yesterday doesn't mean there aren't any now!
Corn--large, loose granular snow, usually found in the spring. This condition is caused by snow that melts during the day and then refreezes overnight. Corn is okay to learn in, but it doesn't represent the best.
Crud--broken chunks of snow, like skiing through avalanche debris. Crud is hard on the knees and body in general. This is not an optimal snow condition for beginners.
Crust--harder snow on top of a softer base. When you walk across crust, your boots will often break through and sink to the bottom. This can happen to powder that has never been groomed and/or has not been exposed to a little melting and refreezing. Crust can get broken up and become crud. Avalanches occur when the soft snow under crust collapses.
Groomed--At most resorts, snowcats come through overnight to comb some areas of snow into even layers, called corduroy. This is by far the best surface to learn on. Most green runs and many blue runs are groomed regularly at most resorts.
Hard Pack--snow that becomes very firmly packed because it hasn't ever melted and then become refrozen. This is a very common condition during cold winter months. Some resorts may use the terms "packed powder" and "hard pack" interchangeably. Hard pack is great to learn on, although it is a little more difficult to learn to execute clean turns in.
Ice--dangerous and scary. You often hear ice scrape beneath skis and snowboards, so you know it's there even if you cannot see it. It's usually hidden below a thin coating of blown snow, and you don't know it until you hit it. Pay attention to the sounds other skiers and snowboarders make as they come down the slope. Beginners will find it very difficult to hold an edge and maintain control. This is not a good choice for learning.
Man-made--This type of snow is made by machine because Mother Nature is not cooperating. Man-made snow is usually hard and gritty but good to learn on. This is what you encounter at the beginning of the season at most resorts that have snow-making capabilities.
Packed Powder--This is the most common condition you will encounter. It is created when powder has become compressed either through machine grooming, skier/rider traffic, or weather conditions. It's not fluffy anymore, but it's not exactly hard, either. Packed powder is great to learn on.
Powder--very dry, fine, cold, fluffy particles (sometimes called champagne powder). Powder is fun to learn jumps (and therefore fall) in, but it's almost impossible for a beginner to tackle since you need considerable speed and turning ability to prevent from getting bogged down and sometimes stuck. If it's been snowing all night, expect powder unless the run is groomed. Called "freshies" or "pow-pow," fresh powder is the cause of "powder fever" that results in many a person playing hooky. True snowlovers arrive at the crack dawn after a huge dump to get first tracks.
Slush--soft, wet, and sticky, usually encountered in the spring or at resorts that are very humid. Slush sticks to your board, skis, clothes, anything it can. It makes for very slow going--if speed is your thing, you will be disappointed. Great for the beginner, since it can help slow you down and make you feel more in control. The weather conditions that accompany slush are wonderful--warm sun, mild wind, and good light.
WEATHER AND LIGHT CONDITIONS:
Bright Light/Sunny--Lots of sun in the sky means lots of glare from the snow. Everything is visible and crystal clear. Sunny conditions are great to learn in if you have the proper eyewear. Sun that glances off ice can effectively burn unprotected eyes. Use polarized and mirrored lenses in your sunglasses or goggles.
Flat Light--This occurs when the sun is blocked by thick clouds. You won't be able to see the bumps or true surface texture as well,and shadows are darker. Flat light can be present when it's lightly snowing. While it's okay to learn in, use amber/orange lenses to help bring out the definition of the terrain.
Night Riding--If you are at a resort that uses night lighting for skiing, you'll notice that surface texture is pretty much impossible to read. This is very intuitive riding, like riding with a blindfold on. Obstacles are even harder to see, as are other skiers and riders. This is not a good choice for beginners. For any night-riding excursion, either at a resort or in the backcountry, use clear lenses in your goggles or sunglasses. You still need wind protection but don't want to hinder your ability to see detail.
Partly Cloudy--This is by far my favorite time to ride--it has just the right type of lighting to illuminate the surface texture, yet it's not too harsh on the eyes. You will probably need to bring both polarized/mirrored and amber/orange lenses since the sun will play hide and seek with you.
Wind--Hard pack or icy spots are sometimes uncovered when the wind blows powder or granular snow around. Wind equals windchill equals cold--which can mean that your face, hands, and feet feel like they are frozen. This is a miserable way to try and learn. Blowing snow creates a unique hazard--now you see it, now you don't, now you see it again! Make sure your lenses match the sun condition but still keep the wind out of your eyes.
White Out--Forget it! You don't know which way is down, you can't see your friends, you can't even see the slope. Remember trying to drive in a blizzard? When combined with wind, watch out for blowing snow that somehow finds its way into every nook and cranny. You will have no visibility, so use amber/orange or clear lenses to keep out the wind and offer some way to discern detail.
Packed Powder--This is the most common condition you will encounter. It is created when powder has become compressed either through machine grooming, skier/rider traffic, or weather conditions. It's not fluffy anymore, but it's not exactly hard, either. Packed powder is great to learn on.
Powder--very dry, fine, cold, fluffy particles (sometimes called champagne powder). Powder is fun to learn jumps (and therefore fall) in, but it's almost impossible for a beginner to tackle since you need considerable speed and turning ability to prevent from getting bogged down and sometimes stuck. If it's been snowing all night, expect powder unless the run is groomed. Called "freshies" or "pow-pow," fresh powder is the cause of "powder fever" that results in many a person playing hooky. True snowlovers arrive at the crack dawn after a huge dump to get first tracks.
Slush--soft, wet, and sticky, usually encountered in the spring or at resorts that are very humid. Slush sticks to your board, skis, clothes, anything it can. It makes for very slow going--if speed is your thing, you will be disappointed. Great for the beginner, since it can help slow you down and make you feel more in control. The weather conditions that accompany slush are wonderful--warm sun, mild wind, and good light.
WEATHER AND LIGHT CONDITIONS:
Bright Light/Sunny--Lots of sun in the sky means lots of glare from the snow. Everything is visible and crystal clear. Sunny conditions are great to learn in if you have the proper eyewear. Sun that glances off ice can effectively burn unprotected eyes. Use polarized and mirrored lenses in your sunglasses or goggles.
Flat Light--This occurs when the sun is blocked by thick clouds. You won't be able to see the bumps or true surface texture as well,and shadows are darker. Flat light can be present when it's lightly snowing. While it's okay to learn in, use amber/orange lenses to help bring out the definition of the terrain.
Night Riding--If you are at a resort that uses night lighting for skiing, you'll notice that surface texture is pretty much impossible to read. This is very intuitive riding, like riding with a blindfold on. Obstacles are even harder to see, as are other skiers and riders. This is not a good choice for beginners. For any night-riding excursion, either at a resort or in the backcountry, use clear lenses in your goggles or sunglasses. You still need wind protection but don't want to hinder your ability to see detail.
Partly Cloudy--This is by far my favorite time to ride--it has just the right type of lighting to illuminate the surface texture, yet it's not too harsh on the eyes. You will probably need to bring both polarized/mirrored and amber/orange lenses since the sun will play hide and seek with you.
Wind--Hard pack or icy spots are sometimes uncovered when the wind blows powder or granular snow around. Wind equals windchill equals cold--which can mean that your face, hands, and feet feel like they are frozen. This is a miserable way to try and learn. Blowing snow creates a unique hazard--now you see it, now you don't, now you see it again! Make sure your lenses match the sun condition but still keep the wind out of your eyes.
White Out--Forget it! You don't know which way is down, you can't see your friends, you can't even see the slope. Remember trying to drive in a blizzard? When combined with wind, watch out for blowing snow that somehow finds its way into every nook and cranny. You will have no visibility, so use amber/orange or clear lenses to keep out the wind and offer some way to discern detail.
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