If you love skiing or snowboarding and also love to keep yourself updated on the current snow conditions, then you will want to stick around for this one. While it may seem strange, there is more than one type of snow, and knowing the difference between them will make your skiing experience a lot better! This is something you especially need to consider before you head out for the slopes. Want to learn the types of snow for skiing? Then, look no further. We have compiled everything you should know about the types of snow and the best skiing or snowboarding conditions for your winter break!
The Reason behind the Different Kinds of Snow
While there can be thousands of different kinds of snow, they all fall into a few main groups. This happens due to various atmospheric conditions. Most of us are probably familiar with snowflakes. However, depending on the temperatures and whether they land on the ground or on a tree, ice crystals can form in multiple different ways. As a result, you may end up with ice crystals that are slipper, smaller, or harder compared to the other kinds, and this can significantly affect your skiing or snowboarding experience.
Amongst the different kinds of snow, you are also likely to come across snow-covered with snow that has only recently fallen or has already been there for more than a year. Most skiers prefer freshly fallen snow to ski on, but some like the challenge that a seasoned slope provides when the snow has had some time to harden.
Winter storms and blizzards are also among the many forms of snowfall. If you are a beginner, your best bet would be to stay away from anything but the smaller snowfalls, as you would be in danger from the strong winds and losing visibility.
Types of Snow for Skiing
Since there are different kinds of snow, as we have already discussed, each of them obviously has its own pros and cons when it comes to skiing. Let’s look at the best types of snow to ski on.
Dry vs Wet Snow
How the ice crystals are combined determines the type of snow. Snowflakes tend not to form a cluster together when falling from the sky in dry and chilly air, producing the fluffy and powdery snow that skiers love. The snowflakes tend to melt somewhat and cling together when the temperature in the air rises above zero. This creates the “wet” snow, which is perfect for a snowball fight, but it will be unappealing to skiers and other winter athletes trying to set a new downhill record for themselves.
How Good is Powder Snow?
We already discussed the fact that drier and chillier weather produces powdered snow, which makes travelling across the snowy surface a lot easier and makes you feel like you are floating on air. Several resorts use expert groomers to remove powdered snow early in the morning, but you can still find them off-piste.
By compacting the snow, the groomers can create packed powdered snow, an excellent base for novice skiers. To prevent the end of your skis from getting stuck in the snow and sending you flying, you must exercise caution and ensure that you distribute your weight evenly on the skis if there is powdery snow on the slope. Additionally, you must be aware of potential obstacles, such as rocks and boulders, that the powdery snow could conceal. However, The bright side is that with powdered snow, even if you were to fall, it would be a gentler fall.
Crud Snow
Generally, winter sports enthusiasts dislike the appropriately named crud snow. Crud snow happens when the other skiers or snowboarders churn up the fresh snow on the slope, providing several conditions on the same slope. You may be gliding across a smooth and soft snowy surface at one moment, but the next moment, you abruptly transition to an uneven and hard surface. The ultimate challenge is maintaining constant focus while on the slope. While some find this to be an exciting challenge, others find this to be less enjoyable. You are well on your way to becoming a fantastic skier or snowboarder if you can master the crud.
Slushy Snow
Slushy snow is another kind that most of us are familiar with. Slushy snow is produced when the weather conditions are slightly warmer and is usually seen during the late seasons. Since the slushy snow is heavy, it tends to hinder precise turns and causes you to slow down. It really boils down to what you are looking for in the sport; slush can be challenging for beginner skiers, but more seasoned skiers may like that challenge, as well as the warmer temperatures and gentler pace that it provides. If you are a beginner, make sure you are cautious and focus on the slope.
Crust Snow
When the top layer of powder snow is melted by the sun, and the wind freezes it back to solid, you get the crust. Since the crust will sit on top of the soft powder snow, it provides a very interesting ride. If the crust is more on the tougher side, you will be experiencing quite an unpleasant ride, but if it is softer, you can easily break through the crust and enjoy riding on the soft powder snow hiding underneath.
However, there is a sad middle ground in all of this. It is also possible you will end up with a patchy crust. If you are not careful, you will find yourself gliding through some soft crust with ease and then slamming your shins into a frozen chunk of hard crust. Riding in the crust demands a more aggressive style if you want to keep yourself safe; you need to do jumps and also remember to draw your knees up when making turns so you can minimise the damage.
Conclusion
There are thousands of different kinds of snow to learn about, but the majority of them fall into the five categories that we listed above. If you like to partake in winter sports like skiing, then knowing how different snow can affect your ride will be really helpful! We hope this helps you have a great time at your ski resort!
