Powder Hunting 101: Tips for Scoring More Fresh Lines

Score More Pow Turns This Winter

Growing up in the mid-Atlantic I wasn’t introduced to snow sport culture until my senior trip in high school, by way of an icy hill in southern Pennsylvania, which they called a ski resort. From that day forward I’ve been hooked on letting gravity pull me down hill on snow. While the icy hills of man-made snow in the Eastern U.S. were my initial training grounds, I now regularly chase steep and deep fresh powder turns around the globe.

Powder skiing/snowboarding is a magical thing, no matter your ability level. Even as a stark beginner it’s hard not to laugh and play as you fall your way down a mountain in soft deep snow. As an intermediate or advanced rider powder is what fills the dreams of so many year round, as there is nothing quite like floating down a mountain on what feels like a cloud under your skis/board. While the crashes can be spectacular, they usually result in little more than wet cold snow down your back.

The following are a few key concepts that are sure to help you score fresh tracks the next time Ullr unleashes his fury, no matter if the mountain is just around the corner or on the other side of the country. Will you answer the pow god’s call? If you crave fresh deep powder turns like I do, you will!

Empowered Employment

Most of us spend a large majority of our days working to pay the bills and saving up for future adventures. If at all possible, be sure to have a job that encourages snow days, or at the very least allows you the flexibility to get work done outside the traditional nine-to-five. The snow gods don’t work on a weekend only schedule. If a pow day falls on a weekday, and you can get to the mountains, you’re pretty much guaranteed more fresh turns than a similar day on a weekend. As Yvon Chouinard famously said, “Let my people go surfing.”

Capable Four-Wheeled Friend

Your choice in four-wheeled transport can mean the difference between getting out of the driveway and up the mountain, to staring out your bedroom window watching the snow accumulate. Pick an adventuremobile that can get you there and back again, no matter the conditions.

Be sure to have your vehicle of choice well appointed for the winter adventures ahead. At a minimum you should have some snacks, a space blanket, some road flares, a shovel, a recovery strap and two shackles. A set of tire chains, MAXTRAX, a warm sleeping bag, headlamp, camp stove, spare fuel and extra warm clothes are also all really good ideas.

Bonus points if your vehicle has room to sleep, and double bonus points if it has heated sleeping accommodations, like diesel or propane air heating systems found in truck campers and RVs. Sometimes there just aren’t available accommodations close to the downhill snow adventures, especially on a powder day, or the budget to afford them.

Get Informed

If you’re visiting a mountain you’re not familiar with, you are going to want to know beforehand which trails/areas offer the best terrain for your style and the conditions of the day. I’ve found that the best resource to find those secret stashes is the people at the customer service desk at the resort. I always go there to buy my ticket and chat them up. They probably know what was closed and what was open the day before, and can point you in the direction of the fresh stuff. They are also there to make you happy, not hide the pow stashes like the locals, lifties and ticket counter employees who might be inclined to do.

The Early Bird Gets The Worm

If the storm dumped overnight, the first few runs of the day are going to be the best, especially at a busy resort. Yes getting up early sucks, and yes it’s hard to prepare your body to be at its best so early in the morning, but first chair/tram/gondola is worth it! Go for the obvious fresh turns first, before they are tracked out, and then go explore those hidden stashes.

Dump Early

You’re not going to want to miss that first chair that you got up so early to snag, so be sure to take care of your daily constitutional at home, or give yourself plenty of time at the resort. It’s important to get to “comp weight” for optimal performance and uninter-rupted downhill flow.

Provision

Stocking up on all the things that will keep you on the mountain making turns is key to maximizing pow-turn volume. Carry hand warmers and snacks on you, and have a prepared lunch, water and possibly a few adult beverages ready to go at the car. There is nothing worse than spending crazy money on resort food, while waiting in long lines and staring out the window at the snow falling, knowing others are tracking out all those fresh lines that you’ve been dreaming about. Stocking the hotel fridge with some meals and frosty beverages will also save you a ton of money, and optimize your rest and recovery after a day of powder hunting.

Gear Matters

The right gear in the right shape will make all the difference. No you don’t need the latest and greatest monster fat skis and newest color ski jacket, but you do need gear that fits you well, keeps you warm and is setup/tuned correctly for the conditions. If it’s super deep, cold, dry snow, a narrow carving ski with spring wax on it isn’t going to optimize your experience!

Body Work

Fresh turns take lots of strength and flexibility to enjoy fully, which means you should be in shape and prepared when the snow gods answer your prayers. It’s also key to take care of your body after a big day in the mountains, as you’re probably going to want to do it all over again soon. Hot tubs are awesome, foam rollers are lifesavers and stretching WILL help.

Lift Tickets

Buying lift tickets at ski resorts is a painful experience, as it usually requires removing large sums of money from your wallet. While down hill snow sports are always going to be an expensive endeavor, there are a few ways you can save some of your hard-earned money.

If you plan to ski a lot at one resort all season the purchase of a season pass is your best option, especially before the season starts, with early bird discounts. Many resorts also offer multi-day punch card type passes which can save you significant money, if you only plan to ski a resort a limited number of times each season.

If you plan to ski a variety of resorts and chase the snow this season you’re probably going to want to look at either a Mountain Collective pass or MAX Pass. These passes are good for a certain amount of days at each participating resort, and significant discounts after you’ve used those days. You’ll have to look closely at the resorts within each pass and where you plan/hope to travel to find the pass that best fits your needs. The Epic Pass is also an option, as it is a season pass that covers all Vail Resorts properties around the globe. While it only works at Vail owned resorts, which there a ton of, it can be a great value if you plan to put in a good number of days at these properties.

The third option is to just wing it and chase the snow where ever it falls. The best way to save money on this program is to purchase lift tickets online from discount outlets like Liftopia.com and GetSkiTickets.com. The earlier you buy the tickets the generally cheaper they are, but I’ve saved 50 percent or more on same-day lift tickets by purchasing them through these outlets online, many times while on the way to the resort.

Out of Bounds

With all of that said, you can also spend even less money and find even steeper and deeper terrain by getting into the backcountry, away from the resort. Backcountry skiing requires some specific skills, fitness and emergency preparedness, but can produce some of the best turns of your life. Be sure to have the correct training, knowledge of the conditions, quality riding partners and proper gear when heading out into the backcountry.

Now go wax those bases, tune those edges, pre-load the adventuremoible with supplies and keep a close eye on the forecast. Powder hunting season is upon us and a little preparedness will go a long way at maximizing your season, smiles and satisfying your pow dreams.