Locals aren’t born with indestructible knees and unlimited leg power. They just stack small, smart habits that make the mountain feel easier—less punishment, more quality turns, and fewer avoidable mistakes.

Here are six “local tricks” that keep ski days fun all season long.

1) They ski it where it’s soft

An old-timer once told me the secret to a long, successful career as a ski bum:

“Ski the soft snow.”

It’s the simplest advice that actually changes everything. Soft snow is easier on your body, more forgiving when you’re tired, and way more fun—whether it’s powder, corn, or just groomers that finally loosened up.

How locals find soft snow:

  • Follow the sun as it softens the surface (especially in late winter and spring).
  • Time your day instead of forcing it:
    • Ski early if you know the mountain blows snow overnight, and the first few laps will be soft before it gets skied off.
    • Wait for the afternoon when the bumps soften and stop feeling like concrete.
  • If a run feels good, don’t abandon it for something “more interesting.” Soft snow is the interest.

Steal it today: Your mission isn’t “ski everything.” It’s “ski what’s skiing best right now.” Find the soft lane and live there.

2) They watch the storm… and pick their “sweet spot” time

Everybody obsesses over the first chair on a powder day. Locals know a better truth:

A lot of storms build momentum throughout the day—and the best skiing can show up late, when most people are cooked and heading for the car.

Why the later half of a storm day can be elite:

  • Lift lines thin out after lunch.
  • Visibility often improves in windows.
  • Fresh snow keeps stacking = free refills.
  • You get that magical 3–4 p.m. zone where the mountain is quieter, but the storm is still feeding the hill.

Steal it today: If the forecast says it’s going to snow hard all day, don’t blow your legs trying to “win” the morning. Consider making the afternoon your target.

3) They know skiing in the rain can be great

Most people hear “rain” and immediately check to see what’s good on Netflix .

Locals hear rain and think: private resort.

There are three legitimately wonderful things about skiing in the rain:

  1. No crowds. You’ll have the slopes to yourself.
  2. Usually, no ice. Generally speaking (yes, exceptions exist), if it’s raining, it’s too warm for boilerplate ice.
  3. Soft snow. Rain and warm temps often mean forgiving surfaces—especially on the lower mountain.

The local rain-day playbook:

  • Ski with a shorter mission and lower expectations… then get surprised when it rules.
  • Lap terrain that holds up (stick to the steeps).
  • Plan on getting soaked and embrace the chaos.

Steal it today: If it’s raining and you’re already there, don’t leave. You might accidentally have one of the best days of the season.

DON’T BE THIS BRIT | NOT A LOCAL.

4) They protect momentum like it’s currency

If you’ve ever pushed across a flat for 90 seconds while your friends glide away… you already know the truth:

Momentum is money.

Locals don’t necessarily work harder—they waste less.

How do they keep speed and save energy?

  • They do speed control before the pitch ends, not right before the flat.
  • They stay quiet and efficient through runouts (less skidding, less drama, more glide).
  • They make small, smart movements that add up to a fresher body at 2 p.m.
  • They keep their ski tuned.

This is the hidden difference between “I’m dead by lunch” and “I can ski all day.”

Steal it today: Brake on the steep. Glide on the flat. Protect your speed like it’s your iPhone on 5% battery.

5) They don’t “send it” into variable snow—they ski it like a volume knob

Chop. Crust. Windbuff. Refrozen weirdness. That grabby, punchy, inconsistent stuff that makes people mad at the mountain.

Locals rarely fight it. They adjust.

Think of your skiing like a volume knob:

  • Turn it down when the snow is trying to trip you.
  • Turn it up when it’s supportive and smooth.
  • Keep confidence high, keep movements smooth.

A few quick “local” adjustments:

  • In chop: stay more centered and let the skis slice—don’t try to hop over everything.
  • In crust: commit to the turn (half-committed turns are what launch you).
  • In windbuff: relax and let the ski run—it can feel like free speed.

Steal it today: When conditions get weird, don’t stiffen up. Get smoother. The mountain rewards calm.

6) They NEVER call “last run”

Maybe it’s superstition. Maybe it’s experience. But after all these years, I still cringe when someone says it out loud:

“Last run.”

I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen get hurt right after someone uttered those famous words.

Why “last run” is dangerous (even if you don’t believe in curses):

  • People stop paying attention.
  • They ski tired and legs are shot.
  • They take a risk because it’s their “last run”.
  • They rush, because they’re trying to “end on a good one.”

Steal it today: Don’t announce it. If you’re done, be done. If you want one more, take one more—quietly—and ski it like every other run.

This is what last runs look like.

The local formula (if you only remember two things)

  • Find soft snow and stick to it.
  • Protect momentum and don’t force hero mode.

Do that, and you’ll get more fun out of every ski day.

Tim Konrad is the founder of Unofficial Networks and a passionate skier with over two decades of experience in the ski industry. In 2006, he launched the blog from Lake Tahoe with his brother John, evolving...