I often get asked a question similar to this by clients, friends and family.

What is your favourite type of snow to ski?

Do you have a preference for different types of snow?

Do you prefer slush or ice?

This blog will outline some of the pros and cons of the different types of snow that you may encounter whilst skiing/snowboarding around the mountain.

These pros and cons are formed from information I have gathered from being a ski instructor/coach for over a decade, from my own, and my guests experiences of the different types of snow and the areas that they are found.

This is by no means an extensive list of the pros and cons, but simply a quick guide for those looking to understand a bit more about the different types of snow you may experience on a ski trip.

Groomer/Piste

These names are often used to describe the snow which has been artificially flattened using a machine. These machines are referred to as ‘Piste Bashers’ and essentially comb the snow flat, removing any bumps or ski tracks that were left after the previous days skiing.

Pros

Smooth terrain

Clients like that the snow is consistent, and that there are no hidden lumps or bumps to catch them out.

A path to follow

Groomed trails, are on a map, and will lead somewhere. Clients enjoy the ability to switch off and simply follow the trail down the mountain.

cons

Busy

The friendly no hidden bumps and lumps of the groomed snow attracts people meaning this is where most people will spend their time whilst skiing. In the busy resorts and around peak times such as just before lunch time and at the end of the day, this can lead to heavy traffic on certain runs.

Simple

The smooth clean lines of a groomed run can be unattractive to some people that wish to pound moguls all day long.

Ice

Ice can be found all over the mountain from a groomed piste, to the backcountry and even in the moguls.

Ice can form in a number of ways, weather, skiers, injected. I’ll go more into this in other blogs.

pros

Racing

Alpine ski races use ice as it gives a consistent surface for the athletes to race on. Ice is more stable and predictable than soft snow, creating a safer environment for the athletes competing.

speed

Some clients and fellow instructors prefer the firmer icy snow, as it provides less resistance on the skis and they can reach higher speeds than when they ski powder they say.

cons

less grip

Clients often have a fear of ice due to past experiences of slipping out and or losing control whilst skiing on ice. This can be mitigated by slowing down movements, and making sure that you are balanced correctly over the skis.

Not a soft landing

This goes hand in hand with the above point. Falling on ice hurts, therefore creating a fear of the ice which in turn can mean more falls on the ice, due to panicking when feeling ice underneath the skis.

powder

This is some peoples holy grail and why they book the ski holiday in the first place. After watching a ski advertisement of someone floating through waist deep powder with the snow trailing behind them like a cloud in the sky.

Powder snow, refers to fresh snow that has fallen from the sky and landed on the floor. Instead of skiing on top of the snow like with ice the skier skis through the powder snow, sometimes without being able to see the skis.

pros

ski movie

Skiing bottomless powder in Japan reaching the bottom of the run looking back at my friends skiing down, felt as if I was watching a ski movie. One of the best moments I have ever had on skis.

floating

Floating, flying, cruising, drifting all these words have been used by clients after their first experience of skiing powder snow. Skiing powder is a hard feeling to describe, but once you have felt it, its even harder to forget.

cons

hard to ski

Often clients ask for a lesson on how to ski powder snow. As skiing through the snow as opposed to on top of it adds another dimension which is sometimes difficult to get hold of.

Crud

This refers to everything that isn’t listed above, such as slushy snow or chopped up powder snow and everything in between.

pros

spring slush

Springtime brings the sunshine which in turn melts the snow. At certain times of the day the snow is a perfect mix of strong enough to hold, but soft enough to drift. With this being some peoples favourite type of snow to ski.

empty

Not many people will choose to ski chopped up powder or anything that isn’t fresh snow or a groomed run. Therefore meaning more space and quieter runs to enjoy.

cons

inconsistent

Crud snow is inconsistent, whether it is powder snow that people have skied, or melting spring snow this doesn’t make for the smoothest of rides for the skis.

I know it seems cheesy but personally I really do not mind any type of snow. As there is always something fun to do on it. With that said though, some of my best memories I have had skiing with clients and friends have been skiing bumps on slushy spring days and skiing on deep powder days.

Again, this is not an extensive list of all the snow conditions, but just a couple of pros and cons of the most likely snow types found whilst skiing.

Feel free to share this with anyone who you think may be interested, using the sharing links below.

Thank you for reading.

Steve

If you need any more information on anything written here or have any suggestions for more blogs that you would like to read. Please don’t hesitate to let me know below. Thank you.