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Question on skiing next week - temps in the 40s?


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My son and I decided to come up next week to do some skiing at Holiday Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday. It just so happens that Tues & Wed are expected to be in the low 40s.

 

I know this year has been brutal for you guys and you deserve a break. Just wondering if those temps would have any effect on skiing conditions.

 

I'm a novice skiier and would assume that the base is thick enough to sustain several hours of above-freezing temps, but still nervous since I'm spending a bundle to travel up there.

 

Appreciate hearing any thoughts you guys have on this.

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Low 40's no worry, especially if below freezing at night if base is big enough. I have. It skiied in WNY in a long , long, time, but ski out west in the 50s a lot in the spring. Biggest problem is the grittiness of the snow early AM as it froze overnight, then the slushiness of the snow , especially on West facing slopes in the late afternoon.

 

I am not a great skiier either, but that slush is hard to ski in!

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Soft / Spring skiing is great for beginners as long as the cover doesn't turn to slush. If the mountain is groomed properly, it can be a great day or two of skiing. If the groomers are not on top of it, it can be a nightmare.

 

As I recall HV had a pretty good crew and are good at making the snow last and with a good base, you could be in for a treat.

 

The soft conditions allow the skier to translate the body movement easier to the ski and therefore the surface of the snow. Since you are not engaged in the delicate balance of "just the right edge pressure" required to carve on a hard surface, your turns will come a bit easier. The edge of the ski only needs to begin the turn before it starts the carving motion, as long as you follow through on your turn initiation, you will be fine. Remember anything you learned on hard surface still apples in the soft stuff, its just the amount of work and edge pressure will fluctuate with the softer conditions. Have a blast!

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From my history with HV, and it's extensive seeing my dad was an instructor there for 30 years and still skis every day, it will have very little effect. Even skiing in 40 degree temps with the primitive grooming they had when I started there over 40 years ago was some of the best skiing. And even if the snow is a little sloppy seeing bikinis on the slope as a 12 year old was fantastic!!

Edited by Chef Jim
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The only I hate is rain. I hate skiing in rain. Temps in the 40's is perfect only beat by the 50's and 60's... Heck, did I say I hate the rain? The wet stuff from the sky is all you have to worry about. IMO, just makes things miserable, I find it hard to see in the rain.

 

Don't worry, this is how the beach looked last June... It will look the same this year! June is still 3 whole months away:

 

post-1877-0-87988100-1425515429_thumb.jpg

 

 

Have a gr8 time!

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Have a change of clothes on the ready in case it gets real soft / wet.

And another change of clothes in case this happens....

 

And even if the snow is a little sloppy seeing bikinis on the slope as a 12 year old was fantastic!!

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