Like any good sport, skiing is home to its unique vernacular. We have wild names for tricks, confusing terms for gear, and interesting ways to classify the different skill levels of the people on the mountain. But nothing gets more complicated than the myriad of words for snow.
The standard three snow terms would probably be powder, groomer, and ice, but there are so many ways to describe the different qualities of ice, powder, or groomers. The various words for snow include corduroy, chop, crust, crud, corn, slush, wind buff, and much, much, more.
The guys behind SRG Skiing explored over 20 different ways to describe snow on the mountain, ranging from the worst to the subpar and up to the truly exceptional. Of course, the greatest of all time is blower powder, the snow quality of dreams.
As we all know, words for snow reflect that snow is more than just a weather phenomenon; it’s what we need for the most fantastic sport on earth. Beyond the descriptors listed above, snow transforms landscapes into playgrounds for skiers like us. Powder day at resorts like Jackson Hole to marveling at the delicate frost patterns on a quiet morning, snow gets us going! Different words for snow help capture those magical experiences.
