It is widely understood that the best months to go skiing are in the winter, when there is the greatest guarantee of snowfall and the layers of snow on the slopes are at their thickest. However, spring skiing is also possible thanks to the phenomenon of spring snow.
Even if going skiing in springtime isn’t usually the preference for regular skiers, sometimes scheduling and other factors mean that a spring skiing trip is the only option in a particular year. In this guide to spring snow, we’ll outline exactly what is spring snow and some tips for spring skiing.
Spring snow meaning: What is spring snow?
Let’s start off with the scientific definition of spring snow. According to the American Meteorological Society’s glossary: “Spring snow, also called corn snow or granular snow, is a coarse, granular, wet snow, resembling finely chopped melted ice. It is generally found in the spring.”
Basically, spring snow is a thinner type of snow found when temperatures start rising and when the snowfall at a ski resort can’t stay as solid for as long for that reason. While it isn’t quite as good for skiing or snowboarding on, it is definitely still possible to enjoy some spring skiing in places where the spring snow is of sufficient quality, such as at the ski resorts in Andorra.
Spring skiing: Is it possible to go skiing in spring? What are some spring skiing tips?
At the Andorran resort of Grandvalira, for example, spring skiing is possible, since the resort is open until mid-April. The ski season in Andorra is similar to that of the rest of Europe, with the schedule for the 2022/23 Grandvalira ski season being Friday 2nd December 2022 until Sunday 16th April 2023.
Most experts in Pyrenees skiing will tell you that the best time to visit is from early January to late March, since this is when there is the greatest guarantee of snowfall, but skiing into the spring is possible too and the resorts may be quieter at that time of year, making this a good option for those who want an even more tranquil getaway.
It’s worth keeping in mind some spring skiing tips, though. Given the changing quality of the snow, it is recommended that you try to ski with more control, that you’re more deliberate with your feet and that you give yourself more space. Among other tips for spring skiing, you might need to bring slightly different gear. Sunglasses and sun cream are important for obvious reasons, while you might want to use a spring skiing wax, which is designed specifically for warmer weather and which reduces friction, so that the melting snow doesn’t stick to your skis so much.
Spring snow meaning: Did you know that there’s a Spring Snow movie and novel?
For many, spring snow means something different entirely, as Spring Snow is also the name of a 1969 novel from Yukio Mishima and a 2005 movie adaptation, directed by Isao Yukisada. Spring Snow is set in Tokyo in 1912, during the reign of the Emperor Taishō, and tells the story of Kiyoaki Matsugae and Satoko Ayakura, who come from two very different families that are moving in different social directions.
Is it worth watching the Spring Snow movie or reading the Spring Snow novel? That’ll depend on your tastes, but perhaps a springtime skiing trip with that as your reading or viewing material would make for a lovely holiday.