The Snow Prophet's definitions

weak layer

A weak layer is used to describe a layer of snow within the snowpack that may be prone to causing a snow avalanche.

Weak layers are caused by changes in snow pack's temperature, snow crystal type and snow crystal deformation resulting from changes in atmospheric conditions and moisture content.

We dug a snow pit on Pucker Face and found a really weak layer that is sure to rip a avalanche on the next bone head who tries to ski it.

by The Snow Prophet May 13, 2010

groomers

Noun: groomers

Snow skiing and snowboarding trails that have been machined groomed. Also known as corduroy because the snow has the look of a pair of corduroy pants from 1973.

Ski Resorts use snocats to machine groom ski runs. Snocat operators are sometimes referred to as groomers.

Let's go rip-up the groomers today since there isn't any fresh pow.

by The Snow Prophet May 17, 2010

the Jane

Short name for the Mary Jane Ski Resort in Winter Park, Colorado. Since its construction in the 1970's, the Mary JaneSki Area has been referred to as simply The Jane.

Known for it's blistering bump runs and killer tree skiing, the Jane is a popular day ski resort for skiers and snowboarders living on the Front Range of Colorado. Only one and a half hours of driving time from Denver, Colorado.

Let's drive up to ski The Jane today and see if our knees explode after some laps on the bump trails. If the bumps kick our ass, we'll go ride the trees and hit some fresh pow.

by The Snow Prophet May 13, 2010

floatation

Floatation is a state of ecstasy achieved by skiers and snowboarders in powder snow conditions.

My skis give me killer floatation in the waist deep.

by The Snow Prophet May 18, 2010

Ragin at the Basin

Ragin at the Basin refers to skiing or snowboarding at Colorado's A-Basin ski area.

Let's go ragin at the Basin and ski the East Wall.

by The Snow Prophet May 17, 2010

poached my line

A negative response to another skier or snowboarder cutting you off and skiing the line you were getting ready to ride.

That jerk poached my line and tracked-up all that fresh pow just as I was getting ready to drop-in!

Hey, you just poached my line ass-wipe! Find your own line to ski.

by The Snow Prophet May 13, 2010

gillnet

Brightly colored, nylon fencing. used by ski resorts to slow skier and snowboarder traffic. Usually orange, gillnetting is placed on ski trails to direct skiers and snowboarder traffic flow as well as establishing slow skiing zones.

The ski patrol set out gillnet at the bottom of the Cramner Ski Run at Winter Park, Colorado to slow down the skier trafic.

by The Snow Prophet May 12, 2010