Spring Ski-Snowboarding Tips
Warm weather and soft snow mean great skiing and snowboarding.
Spring brings the best skiing and snowboarding, and wonderful ski-snowboard vacations, but to get the most from a winter sports vacation, keep these tips in mind.
Spring is the best kept secret of skiing and snowboarding.
Just when many people grow weary of winter, and opt for warmer pastimes, the mountain air warms, the snow softens, the days grow longer and brighter—and ski resort prices go down.
A rarified sense of freedom accompanies the rising temperatures. Everything seems easier.
But, spring can be tricky.
Weather varies radically. A given day might range from mid-winter to early summer.
The answer?
Be prepared.
Some guidelines for getting the best from spring skiing.
- Always wear eye protection against ultra-violet rays.
- Use strong sun block and lip balm freely.
- Make dressing properly the number one priority—dress in layers and be ready to remove them as the day warms up.
- Zip up going up the chairlift, zip down skiing/riding down, to keep your body temperature sound.
- Have rain gear handy. (Although it doesn't sound appealing, skiing in the rain can be terrific, if you're properly dressed.)
- Varying weather brings changeable snow conditions. Expect hard snow in the morning, and softer snow in the afternoon. NO need to get out of bed for first tracks—unless it’s snowed overnight.
- The "slush line," moves up the mountain as the day wears on. By afternoon, the best skiing is found at higher elevations.
- Warm temperatures, the soft snow, the need for fewer clothes and the greater freedom of movement enhance learning. Spring is an excellent time for ski school, or to go for the first time. You don't have to be all bundled up, and the soft snow cushions any falls.
When booking a late-season ski vacation, some points to remember:
- Ask about projected closing dates; good snow allows many resorts to extend their seasons, but Easter is generally the marker that’s used for closing dates.
- Ask about snow accumulations and cover; resorts at higher elevations and or in a so-called "snow belt" tend to keep snow longer.
- Ask about special events that may affect pricing, scheduling or room availability; the third week of March is a national Canadian holiday, which can keep high season rates in effect at northern U.S. and Canadian resorts.
- Parents—check on day care staffing; some resorts reduce staff, affecting the continuity of care; nurseries/day care centers that take reservations are more apt to be staff properly staffed, while drop-in centers might offer less complete services.
The copyright of the article Spring Ski-Snowboarding Tips in Winter Sports is owned by Mitch Kaplan. Permission to republish Spring Ski-Snowboarding Tips must be granted by the author in writing.
