How to ski and board in low visibility

Poor visibility while skiing or snowboarding isn’t a lot of fun. Here are a few tips on how to stay safe and enjoy yourself when poor conditions arise.

Get the right goggle lenses

When the bad weather sets in it’s important to have the right viewing lens. Goggles with a lighter tint such as orange or yellow will allow you to see further than darker lenses. For optimal viewing try and purchase a set of goggles which allows lenses to be swapped during different conditions.

Ski near marked objects

Try and ski near objects such as trees or markers – they will stand out in poor conditions. These will allow you to better judge where you are and what is in front of you. Be careful not to venture off the marked areas during these conditions.

Slow down, cowboy

In low visibility it’s going to be harder to react to objects in front of you. Wait until the visibility improves before trying to break any speed records.

Use your poles

This tip only applies to skiers but using your poles will allow you to determine where the ground is and get a feel for the slope.

Keep to the tracks you know

Trying to find that run you’ve wanted to ski all season isn’t the best idea during poor visibility. Stay to the tracks you know so there’s a less likely a chance of running into objects or jumping gaps without actually meaning to!

Don’t go crazy on the moguls

Being able to ski or snowboard on moguls requires good vision, rhythm, and instant reactions. You may still have your rhythm but judging just how big the moguls are and the gaps between them isn’t going to be easy in low light. Keep it simple and head back to the smoother areas.

Posted by Brendon on August 8th, 2009 in Ski Tips and Snowboard Tips

Brendon @cherrypow

Hi, I'm Brendon, editor and one of the co-founders of CherryPow. When work isn't calling I'm planning the next snow adventure and writing about it.