First off, you really need to get a feel for softer and heavier snow that spring brings. The technique is similar to riding mid-season powder, but can be more challenging and less forgiving. On the other hand, the higher water content present in spring snow can give a more “surfy” feeling that is unbeatable! The more time you spend on the mountain late in the season, the better you will become.
Tips for Snowboarding In Spring Snow
- Keep your momentum going. If you are doing a lot of traversing or slowing and stopping you are going to hate it. Keep the nose of your board pointed down the slope and keep moving at a reasonable pace.
- Do not side-slip unless you are on a really steep run. Even then keep it limited. The further you steer your board across the fall line to finish a turn the harder it will be to initiate the new
First off, you really need to get a feel for softer and heavier snow that spring brings. The technique is similar to riding mid-season powder, but can be more challenging and less forgiving. On the other hand, the higher water content present in spring snow can give a more “surfy” feeling that is unbeatable! The more time you spend on the mountain late in the season, the better you will become.
Tips for Snowboarding In Spring Snow
- Keep your momentum going. If you are doing a lot of traversing or slowing and stopping you are going to hate it. Keep the nose of your board pointed down the slope and keep moving at a reasonable pace.
- Do not side-slip unless you are on a really steep run. Even then keep it limited. The further you steer your board across the fall line to finish a turn the harder it will be to initiate the new one to steer back down into the fall line.
- Get a rhythm going. Find a frequency and radius of turns that will help keep your speed up enough that you board floats on top of the soft snow.
- Tune your board for spring conditions.* – Find an edge angle that is appropriate for the type of snow you are in. You want to tip the board on edge enough so it will hold your g’s through turns, but not so sharp an angle that the board will cut in and sink.
- Practice
Bonus tips:
* 1) Get a good spring wax (high temperature wax) and use it when needed. When is it needed and what kind exactly? You may need to be a guru to know for sure. I have been out on spring days when it was absolutely necessary to change wax types three times throughout the day! Now, that is an extreme example, but realize how important it is to use the proper wax per current conditions.
2) Get your base textured. Nothing beats a professional “stone grind” texture job for riding in spring conditions.
