GT - Early Season Survival Guide

With mountains across the northern hemisphere getting their first few snowstorms of the year, it’s that time of year when dedicated locals dust off their goggles, wax their skis and boards, and get to work relentlessly spamming resort social media accounts to ask about opening day. The more dedicated among us may already be out hunting human-powered turns in the backcountry or on unopened resort terrain. After a long, hot summer spent sweating profusely and breathing in wildfire smoke, many people are understandably frothing to get out on the snow and breathe some clean mountain air. Embrace the froth. Channel it. Let it fuel you. It’s what makes those first turns and fist bumps of the season feel so sweet. At the same time, the froth can be dangerous. It can lead to questionable decisions and unintended—sometimes catastrophic—consequences. Especially early in the season, when you’re still getting your legs under you, and reprogramming your brain from summer mode to snow-sliding mode. To help get your season off to a great start—and keep your gear and your body in functioning order past opening weekend—we pulled together a few tips to keep in mind for your first few days on snow.

Wax On, Wax Off

After sitting in your garage, basement, or closet all summer, your snowboard or skis could probably use a coat of wax. Showing up to your first day on the hill with a dried-out base that rides like sandpaper is a surefire way to get heckled by your friends when you get stuck in the flats. Take a few minutes to wax your base(s), and you’ll be glad you did. Besides, it makes for a good preseason ritual.

Take Inventory

Treat your first day on the mountain like it’s the first day of school—lay out all your gear in advance the night before. It’s no fun to pull into the parking lot only to realize you forgot your goggles because you haven’t looked inside your snow backpack for 6 months. (You *did* throw away the half-eaten sandwich you stashed in there last spring… right?)

Don’t Be a Hero

Winter isn’t going anywhere for now, so try and resist the temptation to go full send the first time you get back on the snow. Nobody wants to be the early-season statistic who ends up in the ski-patrol sled on opening weekend because their Stoke Meter was redlining a little too hard. We’re not here to be the Safety Patrol or talk you out of having a good time. Maybe just take a few warm-up laps before you start trying to film Instagram hammers in November.

Watch for Sharks

Early-season snowpacks almost always come with hidden obstacles beneath the surface. It’s like buried treasure, if the treasure was hidden by a P-tex industry executive. If you’re venturing off the groomers or riding in the backcountry, try to stick to slopes you know are relatively grassy underneath, and stay light on your feet. Approach trees with caution, and be very suspicious of any lumps—those aren’t pillows when the base is only a foot or two deep. They’re hidden rocks, logs, and stumps that can do serious damage to your setup—or worse, your meat vehicle.

Know Your Body

Speaking of meat vehicles, be sure to listen to yours if it’s giving you the ol’ check-engine light. Twenty-somethings with iron legs and rubber ligaments may not have to worry much about this, but for us old people experienced mountain enthusiasts, taking a few minutes to do a quick warmup routine is usually a good idea before hitting the slopes. Don’t feel self-conscious— looking like a dork for a few minutes is way better than limping back to the car with a strained back or hip flexor. Early-winter stoke is one of the most magical feelings in all of outdoor sports. The vibes in the lift line or at the trailhead are always at peak positivity, and everyone is just happy to be back on the snow again, even if the base is thin and the turns are a little scrape-y. Keep these tips in mind and stay patient for the mid-winter snowpack, and you’ll be in a good spot to keep the good times going all winter long. TJ Parsons is a semi-reformed snowboard bum who now has a semi-adult career as a professional writer and creative. He's a self-proclaimed perpetual intermediate who thinks the outdoors are for everyone, and who wants to help dismantle gatekeeping and elitism in outdoor sports. When he's not squeezing brain juice into a keyboard, you'll find him riding boards or bikes throughout the Intermountain West. Follow us on Instagram + Facebook: Tag us @geartrade with the hashtag #unnewoutdoor #wearitout on your post or story for a chance to be featured on our page.

Have Winter gear to sell? Get cracking.

It is now easier than ever to sell your gear on Geartrade. With our new Consignment Selling option you can finally reclaim your gear closet. Send it in. We take care of the rest. Geartrade is Climate Neutral Certified.