Is there value in Spring skiing?

For years, I firmly believed that spring skiing was a wonderful opportunity to extend the season, bring new skiers into the sport easily, also at less cost, and that its potential was widely underestimated.

That was not to account for a gradually shrinking spring season thanks to global warming and also highly variable conditions, inherent with the late season, that see hard, icy snow early in the morning, almost perfect and pleasant snow between 10 and 11 am and then a meltdown that is hard on the glide, on the skiers and their safe return to the base of the hill. 

Okay, but following the sun, one can stretch up to 2 or even 3 hours of decent skiing, depending on the day. In fact spring skiing as we know it and picture it is very elusive, only works well on certain days (nights cold enough, nice weather and temperatures moderately warm). 

Sure, there are exceptions, when a snow storm brings some new snow and that a combination of overcast skies and cold temperature keep the powder magic alive for a day or two, but again, these conditions are always short-lived are difficult to seize. 

With age and plenty of varied experience, I’ve come to the conclusion that spring skiing’s value is good for getting a tan, but slim to seriously ski. 

This explain the narrow and shrinking appeal spring skiing seems to have these days; biking, boating, golf and gardening are hard to resist... 

At least, that’s my two cents on this 9th day of April!