Best Types of Snow for Skiing and Riding

So, what type of snow is the best to ski or ride on? This is somewhat of a loaded question; at the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. Many locations regularly experience the full spectrum of snow consistencies throughout the course of a winter season. Snow conditions can change from day to day, and even hour to hour with atmospheric changes. From powder to groomed, and from slush to ice, skiing is something to be enjoyed.

“Ski the snow on the ground, not the date on the calendar.”
— Glen Plake, Professional Skier

Powder Snow

Powder snow is a definite crowd-pleaser, and can make a hard crash less detrimental. The consistency of Powder Snow depends on the amount of moisture content within the snow when it falls. The methodology used to measure this content is called the “Snow Water Equivalent,” also called the “SWE.” Dry powder snow is typically found in continental mountainous regions but can occur elsewhere, given the right atmospheric conditions. This type of snow has a SWE of around 10% or less water while the rest will be air. Dry snow has a harder time bonding to obstacles like rocks and even itself, giving it a very unconsolidated feel, desirable by many. Heavy powder, commonly found in coastal mountainous regions can have around 20% SWE or even more at times. Heavy wet snow bonds well to other surfaces like rocks and stumps, turning any terrain feature into a rideable object.

Sometimes falling snow can change water content mid-storm cycle, altering consistency further. A “right-side-up” snowfall starts out falling with a high SWE and gradually turns drier as it finishes. This results in light fluffy powder on the top of the snow surface, with solid compacted snow underneath. This provides a good base for edges to navigate below while maintaining a powdery feel up top. These storms are especially beneficial when it It has been some time since the last fresh snowfall. This can naturally heal a snow interface that may have iced up or uncovered obstacles like rocks emerging from the snowpack. An “upside-down” snowfall is just the opposite of the aforementioned phenomenon. These storms begin cold and dry, finishing wetter and leaving the snowfall feeling more consolidated on top.

Groomed Snow

This machine-sculpted surface refers to a ski run that has been compacted and milled by a Snowcat’s tiller. Groomed snow is a favorite among many as it is consistent and great for making controlled turns. Grooming not only produces a consistent surface but also preserves the snow from rapidly melting by solar radiation. The consistency of groomed runs can vary depending on ambient temperature and sun exposure, among other factors. How recently the last snowfall occurred can surely have a significant effect on the feel of the snow interface.

Packed Powder

This term refers to a recent snowfall that has been compacted and groomed flat, giving it a soft yet firm feel underfoot. This type of snow is great for making deep turns and still feels soft under a ski’s edge. Packed powder can stay soft for days given a cold ambient temperature or consistent cloud cover. This soft snow interface is considered the “Bee’s Knees” when navigating a new mountain and getting a lay of the land.

Machine groomed

This term refers to snow days after it was “Packed Powder” and has been groomed multiple times since the last snowfall. This type of snow constitutes a large majority of many ski seasons but is still very enjoyable to navigate from run to run. Ski racers prefer a machine-groomed surface as it is a happy medium providing little friction to facilitate high speeds yet able to be carved well by the sharp edge of a ski.

Hard Pack/Ice

Hard pack refers to snow that has gone a considerable time without fresh snowfall and has been compacted repeatedly by skier traffic. Often times hard pack has seen intense sun exposure and may have melted on the surface only to refreeze overnight. Hard-pack snow is incredibly fast as it provides little friction against the bottom of one’s skis, desirable to speed demons who enjoy risking life and limb to reach breakneck speeds. “Dust on Crust” happens when cold dry snow falls atop a firm and fast icy surface, causing you to feel every bump and is hard on the knees.

Corn Snow/Slush

Undergoing repeated freeze-thaw cycles, snow crystals begin to change structurally. Late in the ski season, when temperatures spend more time in the thawing range and less time in the freezing state, “Corn Snow” occurs. This phenomenon grows the crystals through repeated freezing and thawing until reaching roughly the size of corn kernels. Corn snow can be fun to ski when it is warm out, turning to slush, but early in the morning can resemble a rough icy surface that is hard to edge on. Even a snowcat has a hard time chewing this up to produce a nice skiing surface.

No matter what type of snow is being skied, any day on skis beats a day at work. Whether it’s blasting through bottomless blower pow, or carving deep GS turns on machine-groomed snow under bluebird skies, sliding on snow is just downright awesome. Even the iciest hardpack will soften up if you let the sun penetrate through, to transform it into perfect corn snow. Sharpen those edges and apply some wax, it’s a great day for a great day on snow.