Playing in our own Slushalanche… mammoth spring ’09 from ShoresCrew on Vimeo.
Slopping through Springtime slush isn’t always easy, but it is always fun. The snow bunnies start losing layers so you can actually do some scopin’ on the slopes, the snow softens up so you can try new tricks and not get too worked when you fail, and best of all you can wear pretty much whatever you want out there. There are some pitfalls though, so for those of you who are making your first late-season trips, we compiled a little list of helpful pointers for ya.
1.) Wear sunscreen. It’s a total mom move to put this on the list, but goggle tans aren’t going to get you anywhere. The sun bounces off the snow stronger than it comes down, so slather it on and don’t forget your eartops if you go hatless.
2.) Wax. Make sure you have the right wax for the spring temps because without a well-maintained base you’ll be dead in the water.
3.) Wear Goggles, or Sunglasses. The snow is bright, and your eyes are delicate. If you spend a day out there with naked eyes, you’ll spend the evening not seeing anything. It’s called snow-blindness and it will ruin your night.
4.) Ice Burn. Sure the snow looks nice and soft, and it is, but bareskin reacts to it like it’s a bucket of razors. If you decide to go with a t shirt and boardshorts (not recommended anyways) watch those knees and elbows and do whatever you have to to stay upright.
5.) Sunbake. When the sun spends the day bouncing off the sheeting of a park rail, it eats a hole in the snow and loosens the rail. Keep your wits about you throughout the day to make sure you don’t hit anything too rickety.
6.) Slush-a-lanches. Grab all your friends and find the steepest part of the hill. Take a few laps where you all sideslip down right behind each other until a trench forms, then take turns riding the slush-a-lanche while your buddies continue to sideslip uphill from you. Boards optional.
Thanks to the guys at ShoresCrew, who would be the only dudes with enough fun in their blood to have a slush-a-lanche vid…check out more at http://vimeo.com/shorescrew
