For many people, spring skiing and snowboarding is near equally as fun as mid-season skiing. Soft moguls, slushy après parties, parking lot grilling, goggle tans, and beyond all make it a great time. While most of the gear you use throughout the winter will suffice in the warmer months on the mountain, there are a few things you might want to consider getting your hands on to make the spring days that much better.
Warm Weather Ski Wax
This one is a bit of a no-brainer. If you’re heading onto the slopes in warmer weather, it’s a good idea to throw some warm weather wax on your skis or snowboard. That’ll allow you to move quite a bit better on the stickier snow and help prevent the near-faceplants you experience when you hit a sudden patch of warm slush. There are plenty of great options, but I’m personally a fan of mountainFLOW.
Sunscreen + Lip Balm
Spring skiing tends to come with lots of sun, and at higher altitudes that sun can quickly burn your face. Goggle tans are cool but goggle burns both feel awful and look awful. Get at least an SPF 30 for your face and any other skin that might be exposed to the sun (spring skiing in shorts and a t-shirt is a blast, but make sure to put on sunscreen), and lip balm is a great addition to prevent painfully chapped lips. I’m a big supporter of the Dermatone Sport Sunscreen and Lip Balms while in the mountains.
Sunglasses (Non-Polarized)
A good pair of sunglasses can be incredibly vital during the spring skiing season, as goggle often wind up too hot to keep on all day. Polarized, while useful in plenty of sports with it’s glare reduction, can make it more difficult to see the difference between a patch of snow and a patch of ice, so stick to some 100% UV protection. Lately I’ve been rocking the Sweet Protection Tachi RIG® Reflect glasses, if you’re looking for recommendations.
Soft Water Bottle
It’s vital that you stay hydrated when out on the slopes, and that becomes even more true when it’s hot and you’re sweating like crazy. A plastic or metal water bottle can be a lot to carry on the mountain, especially if you’re not carrying a backpack. A soft water pottle, like this one from HydraPak, can easily slide into your pocket without causing much trouble and will help you to stay hydrated all day long.
Thin Gloves
Skiing in your leather or down gloves on a hot and sunny day can quickly turn into a sweaty mess. Bring a pair of thinner wool or fleece gloves to keep your hands warmer in the wind without overheating. It can be very tempting to go without gloves for the day, but one fall onto the harsh corn snow will quickly show you why that’s a terrible idea. Personally, I just stick to a pair of thin winter running gloves when it gets to warm.
