Is there such a thing as too much snow for skiing?
When it comes to skiing, the ideal conditions can vary based on a skier’s preference.
Some may prefer to ski in deep, powdery snow, while others favor freshly manicured trails that are groomed on a daily basis.
While skiers will likely never complain about an abundance of snow, it turns out that in some cases, such as competitive racing, too much snow can be a detriment.
Reese Brown, executive director of the Cross Country Ski Areas Association, said that too much snow can be problematic if it happens during an event like a cross-country skiing race.
Oftentimes, cross country trails are groomed before a race. However, when any new snow falls during the race, it can change course conditions, because officials can’t groom the course, he said.
Italy's Christof Innerhofer speeds down the course during a training run for the men's downhill race at the alpine skiing World Cup in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)
“The racers want somewhat firm conditions, so their poles don’t punch through [the snow], but not ice because they do need to grip,” Brown said.
“I would say yes, there could too much snow, [but] it doesn’t happen that often,” he said.
During the U.S. Cross County Skiing Championships in early January 2018 in Anchorage, Alaska, the Anchorage Daily News reported that a storm brought blizzard conditions and several inches of snow on the first day of competition leading to sloppy conditions.
Robin Barnes, a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) National Alpine Team, said a fresh, soft snow would make course setting, course maintenance and safety of the athletes a challenge.
Oftentimes, heavy snow can postpone the start times for alpine racing events, as the hosting resort will need to do avalanche control and work to open the lifts. Once the mountain is ready to open, then race organizers must remove the heavy snow from the course to make it safe for competitors, Barnes told AccuWeather.
Typically employees, volunteers or even the athletes will make several runs “slipping” the course or moving the soft, deep snow off to the side of the course allowing a smoother track for the racers.
Back in 2010, crews spent time removing snow from Alpine ski courses prior to the Vancouver Winter Olympics to get just the right amount for the competitions.
“Having loose snow on the course can create a safety issue for athletes who are skiing at high speeds, as it is easier for a ski to get caught in loose snow and cause a fall,” Barnes said.
The Alpine ski events that are held in the World Cup or Olympics, such as downhill, slalom, giant slalom and and super-G, take place on very hard snow. Sometimes, the courses are injected with water and then allowed to freeze before the race is held, Barnes explained.
Slalom is a different discipline of skiing than downhill races, as it requires skiers to ski slower, but with more quick and dynamic movements as they navigate their way through gates or poles put closely together.
The PSIA explains that for these type of alpine races, teams use radios to update racers at the top of the mountain on changing course conditions throughout the competition, such as when snow may have deteriorated by a certain gate.
Ski racers train to be able to carve high speed turns on icy slopes, so when snow becomes soft it can create ruts and bumps, so athletes need to be able to adapt their technique, Barnes explained.
“Changing course conditions to some extent is inevitable with changing weather and changing light, but every effort is made to keep the course conditions as consistent as possible throughout the race,” Barnes said.
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