Tips For Skiing and Snowboarding In Early Season
SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING IN EARLY SEASON CONDITIONS ISN’T ALWAYS EASY OR NICE. WHETHER THERE IS POOR SNOW COVERAGE OR ICY RUNS, THE FOLLOWING TIPS SHOULD HELP YOU HAVE FUN AND STAY SAFE WHILST OUT ON THE SLOPES.
SNOWBOARD TO YOUR ABILITY
The early season is not the time to be pushing yourself. For most of us, early ski season is exciting as it will represent our first laps on snow for a period of months. These early days are a great opportunity to get on snow and get your body warmed up for the months ahead. So during this time keep to trails that you feel comfortable on and make sure to warm up before hitting the hill.
MAKE CONTROLLED TURNS
When adding together your first turns in months with the potential for poor snow conditions, accidents could happen. With this in mind, it’s better to slow things down and make controlled turns. By slowing down your riding in the early season you will better understand what is happening beneath your feet and prevent unwanted early-season injuries.
Photo Credit: @koudy1
LOOK AHEAD DOWN THE PISTES
Looking ahead and down the piste will help you spot any dangers or obstacles in your way. Early season snow is prone to rocks or icy patches and by keeping your eyes on your path you will be able to see them sooner meaning you can avoid them or react accordingly.
Photo Credit: @fr3nks
BEND THOSE KNEES
Flexibility at the knees is important for your stability on your skis or snowboard. By having some movement and less rigidity in your lower body you will be able to absorb any bumps in the snow and ride it out over those icy patches. Your knees will act to absorb the impact caused by bumpy snow or those pesky rocks peaking through the early season coverage.
Photo Credit: @maarten_jpg
STICK TO THE SIDES OF THE RUNS
In the early season with limited open terrain, ski resorts can get busy! Most people will ride down the centre of the runs meaning the snow quality can become sketchy with poor coverage. Try snowboarding at the side of the run where theoretically there is less traffic. At the sides, you should find better snow which will help give you confidence in your edge hold.
SCOPE YOUR RUN FROM THE CHAIRLIFT
Chairlifts are not just for a chat. Riding the chair is a great chance to see the pistes from a new perspective allowing you to make out any runs with poor conditions so they can be avoided. Scoping pistes from the chair will also help you avoid those runs that are overcrowded.
Photo Credit: @pamsaunders
FIND YOUR SPACE
There are not many things more annoying than setting yourself up for a turn only to realise your about to get cut up by someone who has snaked your run. In the early season when the pistes can become overcrowded, take your time and wait until you have enough clear space to make the turns you want. Anyway, its the perfect time to stop and enjoy the view!
I hope the above tips help you to start the season in a positive way and make the most of your days on snow. Avoiding injury early and building up your ‘ski legs’ will hopefully help you have a longer and more enjoyable season.
GET IN TOUCH
I’d love to hear from you in the comments or via socials... How do you look after yourself during the early season? Do you take any precautions or do you just do your normal thing?