Spring Skiing?

[WillowKat]

So, Im basically a Beginner+ skiier. Im generally ok on Green trails but every winter Its like Im learning to ski again. After 2 hours I can parallel turn and do my hockey stops. But it takes time.

How will 40 degree skiing be for me? I read slushy skiing is sticky and slow. Ive never skied in such conditions before. Wife says I need to stick to colder conditions, get better at skiing, then I can try less than optimal conditions. She's concerned about me falling and hurting myself (again).

 

[Brownski]

You have to believe in yourself… skiing rewards confidence, whether it’s earned or not.

 

[riverc0il]

Falling hurts less on soft snow than hard snow!

Joking aside, you can always ski first thing in the morning and leave when things get too heavy for you. Spring skiing in the mountains often entails below freezing temps overnight that locks up the snow. 40*F is not going to soften the snow to mash potatoes, though you might not enjoy 50*F with full sun.

You won't get better unless you put in the time.

 

[tirolski]

Time it correctly.
Sun & shadows make a big difference even on the same trail sometimes.

Inconsistent fast snow->slow snow->slop snow->little streams on the same run is tricky.
June 5th @ Arapahoe Basin taught me something... but I probably forgot due to lack of oxygen.

All corn snow is really nice.

 

[WillowKat]

Falling hurts less on soft snow than hard snow!

Joking aside, you can always ski first thing in the morning and leave when things get too heavy for you. Spring skiing in the mountains often entails below freezing temps overnight that locks up the snow. 40*F is not going to soften the snow to mash potatoes, though you might not enjoy 50*F with full sun.

You won't get better unless you put in the time.

Ugg, if I do this I wont get there till 3 pm.

 

[Brownski]

you can always ski first thing in the morning and leave when things get too heavy for you

Yup
You‘re gonna start out with corduroy- easy peasy- then some corn snow - which is just awesome. Maybe around 11 it’ll start getting more challenging if it’s crowded. When it gets to be too much it’s time for a beer in the sun.

 

[Harvey]

I read slushy skiing is sticky and slow.

Sometimes this is true, sometimes not. Usually if snow has melted and refrozen several times, it's not sticky when warm.

If it's 70 degrees and you are skiing in running water, or gray slush, all bets are off.

 

[tirolski]

Ya gotta go to know.
But sometimes ya can get a close approximation by looking at the weather forecasts.
Temp/wind/sun/clouds/time of day.

"Ya can observe a lot just by watching”. Yankee Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.

 

[JTG]

As you may have gathered from others, on a 40 degree day, when it gets below freezing overnight, you’ll be just fine. It’ll likely be fast and firm in the am and, assuming spring has been kind and there have been a few cycles of below freezing nights followed by 40 degree days, sometime after lunch the snow will soften into hero corn and it’ll be delightful.

Add 10 degrees and push 50+ and the corn may come quicker and it could get sloppy sticky in spots, but if the sun is out it will still be delightful.

Spring skiing is fun for all. Don’t forget the suntan lotion!

 

[NYSnowflake]

If you can learn to carve/slice through the mush you will struggle lesser with fast>slow>fast>slow snow conditions that can make you fall. Flat skiing in choppy mashed potatoes is very hard.