It’s a good thing a picture’s worth a thousand words because I can barely type tonight. My computer says 3:45 p.m. but it’s more like 1 a.m. in Paris, France.
We left Salt Lake at 5 p.m. on May 5 for a 10-hour, uneventful, direct flight to Paris. No one smelled bad, the food was decent, I had one cocktail and there were soooo many great things to watch on the behind-the-seat TV.
The only issue was that I flew coach and felt like a moth in a hard-shell cocoon. None of us got any sleep. Everything aches now and I’m desperate for zzzzzs. So here are my “words” from our first (short) day in the City of Lights.
Winter’s done. Spring’s here with all the sun, warm temps and freak snow storms. Now, the only thing to worry about are the conditions. Two weeks ago we got 10″ and it was hell. Fresh snow on top of spring snow that has slopped up in the heat the day before and froze at night before the storm. What we ski instructors call “variable” and “dust on crust”.
Volkswagen-sized ‘sketch’ bumps have found their way to the formerly soft powder paradise of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. This spring, the snow on the bumps freezes overnight. If new heavy wet snow comes in that will stick to the frozen and pad it, great. If it’s light and dry, eww. How about a ton of fresh snow followed by sun and 50 degree temps? Double eww. Variable conditions are by definition erratic, inconsistent, irregular and unpredictable. Skiing them is like riding a bronc at a ProAm.
“Growing up in the Pacific Northwest I was raised on crud skiing,” says DECL (PSIA Division Education Clinic Leader) examiner and Aspen Ski Instructor Bonnie Maclaurin. “Honors were granted to those who could ring the most water out of their glove at the end of the day. Plastic bags were used for lining ski boots and logoed garbage bags were sold at ski areas for outer-layers when “clear flakes” dominated the weather forecast.
Yesterday, after a morning of free-skiing (at Aspen) and searching out powder stashes in the trees, I slowed down and took notice of how many people struggled. The snow was beginning to set up and the boot-top powder was definitely tracked out. They may have never ventured off of the groomed and now there is not a groomed run in sight.”
The more experienced skier skis everywhere- in bumps, in trees, in fresh powder, carving up fresh corduroy and capable of holding an edge on eastern boiler plate. However, even the pros can struggle with “frozen chicken heads” topped with half a foot of powder or the wet heavy “Sierra Cement” and “Cascade Crud”.
The masochistic ski instructor, training for an exam or trying to outdo the guy at the next locker, may search out the gnarliest most challenging conditions. But most of us locals sit it out- unless we have a lesson or friends in town.
If for some reason you find yourself somewhere between an epic powder day and spring corn here is some advice from a pro:
When snow conditions vary, start with a ski like the Nordica Enforcer or Atomic Vantage. Not too fat, not too skinny. Rarely less than 100mm at the waist with some sort of rocker or early rise in the tip for easy steering.
Be aware of the conditions on the mountain from the previous day. What runs were recently groomed? How soft or hard were the off-piste conditions? Ski the appropriate aspects based on sun exposure and daytime temps. Know when the snow has been through a freeze –thaw cycle, if it has been frozen solid for days, or never froze because the nights were warm. Many will approach a spring dump with first chair and a Clif Bar in the pocket then call it a day at 1:30 or 2 p.m. before the conditions become “mashed potatoes”.
HOP TO IT
For those who choose to ski in tough conditions or find themselves suddenly stuck in challenging snow here are some pointers. Skiing giant, choppy moguls, boiler plate ice or a combination of both can still be a science. Prepare yourself for variable conditions by practicing on a wide variety of trails, with different types and sizes of turns, taking different lines through the bumps and executing a variety of skiing tasks like hop turns. You won’t love practicing these but they can save your day in the steeps, a narrow chute and breakable crust (think crème Brules).
Try and make a tic-tac-toe game in the snow by jumping up and landing 90 degrees to the side or from a hockey stop back into the gravity line. Also making a porpoise type maneuver or dolphin turn. To accomplish this task you lever your hop off of the tail of the ski so that the tips leave the snow first then as the tail comes off the snow; the tip is directed back to the snow and guided back across the hill for the turn.
One of the biggest technical problems that skiers face in challenging conditions is that many are too heavy on their outside or downhill ski. From a fundamental standpoint in skiing, pressure moves from ski to ski and is directed to the outside ski of each turn. But each ski can end up in very different types or depths of snow when the conditions are variable and you want to be able to wrok both skis. If all of your weight is on just one, the other may be ripped out from under you.
SKIP THE EDGE
Another problem stems from how you release the edges of the skis and move from one turn to the next. The combination of tipping and twisting the skis need to be dialed in. A ‘racer’s edge’ is not so affective in variable conditions. The skier will lose the ability to twist the ski and guide it if there is too much edge too early in the turn. A flatter ski is better. You have time to adjust to the snow quality.
There is not one single way to release the edge of the skis from the snow. The hop turn helps when the skis get bogged down it mucky, heavy wet snow or breakable crusts. But it is exhausting. Use it when you’re totally stuck or you want a workout. Many skiers use an extension movement with the leg of the soon-to-be outside ski to move the hips into the fall line and flatten the downhill edge you’re already on. Trouble is you could wind up with a stem or wedge at the top of the turn that makes for a one-foot, then the other foot move and your skis (and you) get tossed in the variable snow.
Rather than solely extending the leg of the new outside ski you can focus on flexing the old outside ski leg while you continue to guide it through that arc and towards the new arc. This allows the legs time to match up in length through the arc. Pressure evens out between the two skis and we are better able to maintain equal pressure between the two skis. You could also add a more active retraction movement (by pulling up your knees or feet in the turn) for extra steeze.
Don’t get discouraged if you feel like you look like you’re hacking. Even the seasoned instructor or pro might not handle variable snow conditions 100 percent of the time and get bounced around. The difference is that they practice such a wide variety of turns, in so many different situations and with a quiver of movements that they can make it look smooth and easy. That doesn’t mean it’s fun.
GET OUT OF THE BACKSEAT
A final note on variable conditions- don’t lean back unless you’re trying to keep from getting bogged in heavy snow. Maintain balance over the feet and you’ll have a stable core- everything from the shoulder to the pelvis. Core stability protects your spine. It enables you to quickly correct your balance over the skis when you get rocked by snow conditions. With a solid core, you can make simple leg and feet adjustments as you move down the mountain without throwing your whole balance off. BTW, the flex at your hip should match the angle at your ankle joint for core stability.
VARIABLE CONDITIONS TAKE NO PRISONERS
Changes in temperature, precipitation, moisture content, sun, wind and human traffic all have an effect on your ski terrain. It could be an “anything goes” day. A client asked me if it was okay to wedge, she was under the impression that it was “bad” to do so. There are times when anything goes; for example, “when in doubt, stem it out”. Stem turns are old school but they might be the only thing that keeps you from falling or getting stuck in nasty conditions. The occasional punch to the sky with your outside hand, too, is another useful move when your feet are wearing cement shoes. Don’t worry we won’t tell. We’re too busy trying to make it look easy.
Bonnie Maclaurin is a PSIA Level 3 Ski Pro with the Ski and Snowboard Schools of Aspen Snowmass. She is also part of the PSIA Intermountain education staff for both Alpine and Children’s Specialist .
We didn’t have to wait all ski season long for those 30 -degree days to warm to 40 and 50 but there’s just a different vibe when it’s April versus February. “Spring is in the air!” I started skiing in California when I was six. My parents forced me out in the worst possible conditions- and I hated them for it- and I thought I hated skiing. Here I was, being practically blown off the lift with crystals forming in my runny nose, and my folks sat all cozy in the warm daylodge waiting for my ski lesson to end. Grrrrrr. Then came spring and I nearly forgot the previous months of torture. Less layers, sunglasses, juice instead of hot cocoa, sunshine instead of frostbite, smiles instead of tears. If it weren’t for spring skiing, I may have turned out differently.
Decades later, I have the luxury my parents didn’t. Living along the Wasatch Front, I can pick and choose the days I want to ski. Despite my hardcore ski attitude being crushed by a less-than stellar winter, I’m not about to take my kid rock climbing when there’s still snow on the ground. At 8, I drag her out every chance I get and she happily follows. Spring skiing with kids is the only way to go.
Photo by Alexa Miller
Start Spring Skiing With Kids When They’re Young
The love affair began at 3 for her. I didn’t want her to have my childhood experience. I wanted Sage to love me, love skiing. Here in Utah, Sage could have the ultimate first experience(s) that I didn’t get. She’d be hooked. Because if she wasn’t, well, I would miss her on those powder days. If she didn’t love skiing, not only would I be disappointed that she didn’t share my passion but I’d be destined to pay hundreds of dollars over the years for babysitters. Not only does late spring offer stellar weather and incredible resort deals on everything from lodging and lifts to meals and shopping but what better time to drag the kids onto the hill? No crowds, no traffic to interrupt your beginner flow, cheap lessons, cheap rentals, warm soft snow in which to crash-land, and no chill to freeze tiny fingers and toes. Plus, we have all of those funky names for the snow in the spring- mashed potatoes, creamed corn, sugar, death cookies (globs of snow that refreeze over night), slushy, mush, slop- and wild spring events like pond skimming, dummy downhills, skiing in costumes, outdoor concerts at the base, and tailgating barbecues in the parking lot. What’s not to love about skiing? I calculated. Sage’s first season would be only sunny days and toasty temps.
Sure you can whine in March that you need a beach but live here through two winter seasons and you know that you can pretty much count on white stuff in the mountains. You have months to learn to surf, ride a bike, hike or rock climb. By mid-March, however, you’ll have mere weeks to form a love of snowsports in your kids. Here’s another thought. When it’s warm and sunny, your kids will want to stay out longer. By the coming December they’ll be intermediates and you won’t have to waste a powder day on the bunny slope. Not to mention when the snow turns to mush by 2 p.m., they’re ready for a nap and you can get in a round of golf or a bike ride.
Be Prepared
I dressed Sage in layers (it was warm at the base but cold up top) and made it to Snowbird by 10:30 a.m., April 3. About two hours post sunrise, the sun slowly turns that top icy layer into “corn” – when the frozen snow melts into soft crystals but the base is still frozen. It’s “pool table smooth” and akin to skiing a February groomer. Try to ski any earlier and you’re skidding on ice. Sage would cry and we’d leave. Timing is everything. Up we went on the Chickadee lift, the bright orange Edgy Wedgy clinging to her Sponge Bob skis. No tears. Only laughter and the “ABC song”. Halfway down the run, she threw me her coat and told me to let go of her ski tips. By the next lap, she had spied the Tram and begged for a ride. My plan was working.
Photo by Alexa Miller
If your kids are beginners and you don’t feel comfortable teaching them yourself, the resort ski schools will love your business and there’s a sweet chance she’ll have the lesson all to herself. But spring is also a time for families to connect and play together. Once your kids get the basics down, help them explore the mountain. After a few hours, Sage and I were done and shared a hotdog on the plaza while the afternoon band jammed to “Born to Be Wild”. Sage asked me if we could “ski again tomorrow” as we rode the lift back to the car (the empty Chickadee Lot is the best spot to park when you have kids in tow and don’t feel like shuttling back and forth for gear). I replied, “Wouldn’t you like to go swimming tomorrow?” “Not tomorrow,” she said. “In a couple weeks. Tomorrow we ski.” Yep, score one for the next generation of skiers. It’s spring. The beach can wait.
Photo by Alexa Miller
FYI- Park City, Deer Valley, The Canyons, Snowbasin, Alta, Sundance, Powder Mountain, Wolf Creek, and Solitude close mid-April, followed by Brighton at the end of the month. Snowbird, which has the longest season of most resorts in the west, has been known to stay open until June although that is unlikely for 2020.
What I Brought
Ski Pal – No sore back, no crossed skis; you keep your distance while they learn to ski on their own two feet. The Pal is your best friend. Solid in your hands, adjustable, ergonomic and breaks down for easy storage.
Giro Slingshot Helmet – Kids will beg to wear a helmet when it looks and feels like the Slingshot.
Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen Stick– The water-resistant SPF 30 is free of biologically harmful chemicals and protects tender skin without getting goo all over those cute duds, in their eyes and your hands.
My First Shades– Your grom will be too cool for (ski)school in these shades. Shatterproof, foam-backed for comfort and 100 percent UVA/UVB protection (Kids don’t care but you might). The adjustable neoprene headband fits under a helmet or over a hat. $12.
Roces IDEA 6-in-1 adjustable ski boot – Save money and the headache of finding good-fitting boots every season. These ones grow with your child – through six sizes! No complaints about comfort either.
Jammy Sammy & Mashups – Organic snacks for when the tummy rumbles. Beats graham cracker crumbs in your pocket. $3.99 for 5 Sammies or $4.99 for 4 squeezable fruit Mashups.
Spyder pants and insulator jacket
Gordini kids spring gloves
What I Wish I Brought
Small hydration pack filled with enough water for both of us. You’ll sweat more in the spring and even more chasing kids.
Lucky Bums Grip and Guide- It’s a workout steering your child, hoisting them off the snow, or onto a chairlift. A handle would have helped. $20, http://luckybums.com.
GoPro or other POV video Camera- Catching those warm grins in the spring sun: priceless.
Highlight of Spring Skiing with Kids
Watching Sage stick her head into the wind from the open Tram window; a giant smile on her face. That’s my girl!
I’m going to give it to you straight: It doesn’t matter how much snow fell in the Wasatch 10 days ago. Those conditions are LONG GONE. Even Powderchasers hasn’t posted a report in over a week. The National Weather Service news for Little Cottonwood Canyon whines “temp trends will continue to climb markedly. High pressure will nose a little south/east through Sunday allowing an increasing/warming southwesterly flow aloft to develop…with temps spiking to between +5 and +7 C at 700mb Sunday afternoon.” NO BUENO. The snow sucks.
If we’re lucky we may see a slight bit of snow Tuesday – Friday but forecasters aren’t feeling confident and it could just turn into rain/mist. And so it’s more like summer in the mountains. Ski days are limited to east and south facing slopes after 10, moving to sunny everything else in the afternoon, done by 2 or 3 before everything turns to mush. It’s no wonder I’m seeing cyclists and rockclimbers everywhere. People are finding alternative ways to love March and the last week of winter.
I found myself doing the same. My friend Mark called and asked if I wanted to climb. I felt conflicted for all of about three minutes. I could sit around moping and wishing for winter or I could get outside and play a different way. Plus, my dog was getting fat and lazy. He needed out as well.
The weather was stellar- bluebird skies, warm sun and not a drop of snow or mud on the trail up to the Hard Wall in American Fork Canyon. I wore my new Kari Traa base layer as an outer layer and packed a puffy just in case the sun had me fooled. Nope, I could have worn a T-shirt.
It felt awkward climbing in March. Normally, I’m struggling on 5.9s around May. But after today, I find myself looking forward to climbing season. Shame on me. I promise to get out to Alta on Sunday but in the meantime, a stop into Momentum Climbing Gym may just be on the agenda for Saturday.
As I sat in in Alf’s watching the world ski by including my daughter’s AYC (Alta Youth Club) class, I overheard a woman behind me. “Did you know you can ask them to slow down a lift for you?” she said incredulously to her husband. It was a ‘duh’ moment but then humanity snuck in and reminded me that not everyone has grown up on a ski hill. There are probably countless ‘duh’ moments but here are some of the most widely known and widely unknown things about skiing.
If there are three people in a lane for a quad lift it’s ok to join them. Sometimes you miss the singles line or worse there isn’t one. So as you’re standing in line for that quad or 6-pack go ahead and look around; there might be a gang a few rows ahead that has a hole to fill. Don’t forget to say, “Excuse me” as you shimmy up there.
Lost and found collects hundreds of items every day and some of them were lost weeks before. Check in regularly if something goes missing. And if it’s the day you lost it call the ski patrol in the area it was last seen. They can look for it when they sweep (scan and close the mountain at the end of the day).
Edges do make a difference. Ice, rocks, hard snow, transporting, everything combines to beat on your skis. Your edges dull and burr (nicked, jagged spots) in a day depending on the conditions so have your skis tuned regularly or buy a diamond stone and ‘deburr’ your side and base edges yourself. It’s not hard. Do it at least once for every eight days you’re out. If you’re skidding a lot it might not be you. It could actually be your gear.
Ladies- Do not wear makeup when you ski. Not only do you look like a newbie but you’ll look like a Dali portrait in two runs. If you must, get a tinted sunscreen or foundation with a high SPF, skip the mascara and use a tinted lip gloss.
Wear baselayers built for snowsports. Pajama bottoms and cotton socks don’t cut it. Same goes for jeans unless they are Eider’s Red Square Pant. Best ever denim-look on the ski market. The pants are steezing, waterproof, vented and super warm with pockets in all the right places. The raised waistband keeps snow from sneaking down your backside and adjustable side straps keep the pants snug on your waist without needing a belt.
Your hands and toes will get cold on cold days. There’s no magic to protect you, except from those little hardwarmer packets you purchase separately. Which, btw, you should have on hand at all times. They cost three times more if you buy them when you need them.
There will be traffic if you leave a ski area at 4 p.m. Either duck out at 3 or hit a bar for apres until the riff raff have made it home.
Call ski patrol if you want the most accurate lift and area openings. I made the mistake of asking the first person who answered the phone at Alta when I wanted to know if Baldy was open before driving up to the hill. I put on all my gear, busted up to the top of Sugarloaf only to find the gate up. Baldy was closed the day before ‘until further notice’ because conditions have made it too sketch to ski safely.
Do not duck ropes no matter how awesome the snow looks on the other side.
If the restaurant is packed you can ask someone if they are about to leave and hover over a table like a quarterback over the ball.
Unbuckle your boots on the chairlift if they are tight. It’ll relieve pressure and allow your blood to circulate to your toes.
Reapply sunscreen often. The sun at a resort is just as intense as at the beach. The wind, wiping your nose, falling, falling snow all contribute to diminishing your protection.
When you pop out of your skis in a fall make sure you reset the heelpiece of your binding so you can step back in.
If you are at all hesitant about getting on or off a lift ask the liftie to slow it down. Sometimes they smile and tell you what you want to hear and then never do it but most of the time they care.
That’s all I can think of for now. Feel free to add your own ‘duh’ moments.
