Surviving The Shoulder Season

When I was twenty-one years old, I had the Mandarin symbol for the word ‘spring’ tattooed on my back. While I’ll admit that I deeply regret it and have been keeping a close eye on developments in tattoo removal technology for the better part of the 21st Century, the season itself isn’t to blame. Spring represents growth, newness and vitality. It’s about deep cleanses and change as we begin to pack up winter and move on. The beauty of the shoulder season is that it provides a brief window of time in which we’re able to do things like ride our bikes to the ski hill for an afternoon of sunny groomer laps or take a few weeks between seasonal employment to do a bit of travelling. The key to surviving the shoulder season is letting go of the winter that was and resisting the urge to long for the summer that will be, choosing instead to see the potential in the here and now.

First, let’s be perfectly clear: there is still great skiing to be had. If you’re going heliskiing, for example, now is the perfect time to access the high alpine as runs are long and days even longer. Ski touring is no different. The extended daylight and generally stable conditions in spring open up the door to longer, bigger and deeper missions into the backcountry. Get after it!

If the snow truly did take an early exit in your neck of the woods, however, never fear: grass skis are here! You think I’m joking, but I’m not. Originally invented as a means of training downhill racers during the off-season, grass skis are actually a thing: there’s even a world cup. Think roller blading, but downhill and on grass. With two styles to choose from, the more conventional version have a track that attaches to regular ski boots and are perfect for open, grassy slopes, while newer models have wheels on the bottom and can tackle a wider range of terrain. I’m not saying you won’t get teased at the bar when you roll up for après in your shorts and grass skis, but who cares. It’s actually a lot less bizarre than strapping long pieces of wood to your feet and zooming down a snow covered hill in sub-zero temperatures. I mean, when you think about it.

If you’re actually and completely over it, however, there are plenty of options totally unrelated to skiing to keep you engaged and entertained while you wait for the beaches and bike trails to open. Tropical travel is the obvious choice to get a jump on summer in places where it’s already arrived. Those few weeks between working in the ski industry and planting trees or fighting forest fires create a mass exodus of seasonal workers to places like Central America and the southern United States, all looking to even out their goggle tans and spend their income tax returns. It’s like Spring Break for marginal adults and, honestly, it’s pretty great.

Of course, maybe the here and now isn’t really your thing. Maybe you’re someone who likes to have something to look forward to, in which case this is the PERFECT time to be planning next winter’s big ski trip! Take advantage of everyone else’s preoccupation with holding onto winter or gearing up for summer to reserve the best of the high season seats and tours at early bird prices. Do it. And then maybe get out for a rip on the grass skis.