Don't put season on ice

In these first weeks of spring, the tips of my Volkls have pointed skyward out of chairlifts at Sunday River, Stratton, Bretton Woods, and Sugarloaf -- spanning the globe, as it were, or at least the ski country of Northern New England.

And I discovered the following happy fact: As of last weekend, it was still winter up there. Temperatures remained on the skiers' side and for most of the month the huge snowpack in the region remained largely untouched. Some early springs send those tropical fogouts that eat snow faster than my rented SUV eats $2.50-per-gallon gas. (Why do people buy these things, I keep wondering.)

And while the warmup this week has tipped the conditions from winter to spring, we must reflect on what an extraordinarily good snow winter we had.

I am remembering my last run on Sugarloaf last Friday. The sun is so bright, without sunglasses I am forced to squint as I begin the descent on a new candidate for favorite trail: Scoot. With a heavy reminiscence of Upper Tramline on Cannon, Scoot makes a quick left off Tote Road and pulls you down through a series of very pretty, well-pitched switchbacks. Take them wide for a long, serpentine run or straight down the fall line for a series of pleasingly steep rolls that -- since this run is often ignored -- can get you booking with purpose over some fairly wide-open landscape.

But here's the best part: As late as 3:30, with the sun so high there are no serious shadows, the snow is nearly as perfect as snow can be, and even the middle of the woods have plenty of cover. With the spring softening, there's snow enough to remain intact for a long season.

And this presents one of the most curious habits to be found among skiers -- their tendency to begin the season so early the snow is bony and unpleasant, and then quit while there is plenty of quality snow left. I do not include snowboarders in this because, with a bit more passion for their sport, boarders tend to start early and stay late.

And make that a big ditto for the other places on my spring list. At Bretton Woods I was checking out the new terrain on the left side. Always seeking to add challenging runs, Bretton Woods offers Rosebrook Canyon Glades. And to the steeper cruisers such as Zealand to Deception Bowl, three runs have been added: McIntire's Ride, Fire Tower, and Bode's Run -- the latter named for the area's famed director of skiing, World Cup overall champion Bode Miller.

Speaking of whom, Miller will be appearing at Bretton Woods for Bodefest (April 29-May 1), a weekend of skiing, golf, and general partying, with a chance to meet the world's No. 1 ski racer, who's not a bad golfer. And take it from one who spent a bit of this winter on the Bode beat, where his major sponsor, Barilla pasta, is on the scene, it's a place you want to be. For information, call 603-278-3320.

Bode's Run, and the other new ones, begin as short, steep faces -- one is nearly a chute -- and can be pieced together with terrific cruising terrain top to bottom along runs such as Water Tank. The West Mountain side also has its woods runs, such as Lizzie Borden Glades and Cliff's Cliff. But for cruisers, Waumbek is the best run on that side, though a little short. The best one-run cruise on the mountain still has to be Granny's Grit, with its switchback turns and soaring rolls all the way down.

How everything changes in the mountains in the spring. Gone is the ordeal of fighting January with all your energy, gone is the darkness and wind that can pierce any bit of exposed flesh like a knife blade.

You know how early in the season we are determined to improve? To drive the fist into the turn, staying low enough to carve like a racer, and working on the good finish? The surface is a little unpredictable under foot, so the boots better be tight, and your weight perfectly situated over the balls of your feet, shins driving the front of the boots so you don't get tossed around.

What happens in good snow in the spring -- before the softening? We leave the boots loose, stand high on the skis, weight a little bit back as we cruise comfortably along. Our turns are no more than lazy angulations from the hip.

Through January, we brace ourselves with the old Norwegian saying: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes," as we tug our collars up against the wind.

But in springtime, the clothes come off and the shades replace goggles. The warming air fills with the scent of suntan lotion and barbecueing burgers and chicken. Reggae music wafts in the air and you begin seeing kids skiing in shorts and tropical shirts, as the world of snowsports turns into a huge, interconnected party.

One twist, though, as spring becomes an easier environment to live in, the skiing begins to get tough again. As we go through the exquisite texture known as corn snow to mashed potatoes, it's time to tighten the boots again. The heavy, wet stuff can really throw the skis around and pluck edges out from under you.

The best strategy is to get there early -- most areas start the lifts by at least 8:30 now -- break for some suntanning when the snow turns slushy, then hit it at the end of the day as it cools. Look for shadows to ski in, or not. Maybe find a nice corner of the midmountain deck, kick back with a beverage, and soak in the rays.

Go ahead, you deserve it. You've paid your January dues.