A Look at the Spring Phenomenon of Wiggle Runs

John Cunningham | | Post Tag for Industry NewsIndustry NewsPost Tag for BrainsBrains
Wiggle season
Spring is time for sunny, and slushy turns down the wiggle runs! | Photo: SnowBrains

As the snow begins to soften, resorts all over experience the same incredible phenomenon: the โ€œwiggle runsโ€ start to appear. Also commonly referred to as โ€œsnake runsโ€ due to their obvious appearance, they are hard to miss and a lot of fun to ski or snowboard down.

Wiggles are formed when skiers and snowboarders repeatedly make turns in the same slushy area, pushing snow and creating berms. They are similar to a banked slalom course and can often be found in ditches or gullies. However, some of the biggest, baddest snake runs are usually at big mountain resorts in high terrain. That said, any resort that remains open and sees warm temperatures in the spring has a chance of naturally developing a wiggle.

These glorious, surfy, wave-like runs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are long and leg-burning. Many are short-and-sweet, leaving you yearning for more. A few may even have hairpin turns through deep walls that can be 5-10 feet tall. Regardless, a wiggle is always worth a try for a guaranteed memorable experience.

Photos and Videos

Wiggle season
Chair 23 Wiggle at Mammoth Mountain. | Image: SnowBrains
Wiggle Runs
Mt. Baldy wiggle. | Image: SnowBrains
Wiggle Runs
A very wide wiggle at Snowbird in May 2023. | Snowbird Facebook


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