Early season skiing is electric — that first cold snap, the snow guns firing, the buzz of opening day. Every skier knows the feeling: you’ve waited months, your legs are twitching, and you’d gladly ski a strip of groomed ice as narrow as a sidewalk if it means getting your skis back under you.

And in many places… that’s exactly what you get.

Welcome to the White Ribbon of Death — the infamous early-season ski run that’s just barely wide enough for two turns and packed with every type of skier from speed demons to wobbling first-timers. It’s fun, it’s chaotic, and yes… it can be risky.

Here’s what you need to know about early-season hazards and how to avoid them so you can enjoy the stoke without ending your season before it even starts.

1. Limited Terrain = Unlimited Chaos

Early season usually means one or two runs open at most — sometimes just a single catwalk-width strip of manmade snow. Traffic is dense, and skier types are wildly mixed.

How to Avoid the Mayhem

• Stick to the edges of the trail, where crowds thin out.

• Keep your speed in check — things happen fast in tight spaces.

• Look ahead: anticipate unpredictable turns, sudden stops, and merging traffic.

2. Early Season Snow Is Not Midwinter Snow

You’re not skiing a January base. You’re skiing a thin layer of manmade snow over grass, rock, and dirt, with icy patches everywhere.

Stay Safe by Adjusting Your Mindset

• Expect variable conditions — soft, icy, thin, scratchy — sometimes in the same turn.

• Tune your edges before your first day out. Sharp edges = control on frozen early-season surfaces.

• If you see a brown spot, don't assume it’s soft snow… it might be “base-destroying obstacle #1.”

3. High-Speed Skiers on the Ribbon

On early-season days, you’ll often find hotshot skiers ripping as if they’re in a World Cup GS — on a run that’s only 30 feet wide. Combined with limited space, that’s a recipe for collisions.

Your Move

• Hold predictable lines.

• Don’t make sudden stop-in-the-middle maneuvers.

• Remember: you control downhill. Ski with awareness.

4. Snow Guns and Frozen Overspray

Snowmaking is great — without it, there wouldn’t be skiing in October or November. But being blasted in the face by a snow gun is… less great.

Avoid the Snow Gun Gauntlet

• Expect limited visibility in active snowmaking zones.

• Conditions near guns get extra slick — ski with extra edge engagement.

• If visibility is too low, bypass that section between gun cycles if possible.

5. Early-Season Legs Aren’t in Midseason Shape

Your legs think they’re ready. Your legs are lying to you.

Build Up Slowly

• Start with slower, technique-focused runs.

• Take breaks even if your brain says, “One more!”

• Warm up with dynamic stretching before you click in.

6. Get Your Gear Dialed Before You Need It

Bindings, boots, and edges all need early attention. A preseason tune-up can be the difference between a great first day and a painful one.

Check These Before Opening Day

• Edge sharpness

• Base condition

• Binding DIN and forward pressure

• Boot buckles and liners

• Helmet integrity (super important early season!)

7. Manage the “White Ribbon of Death” with Confidence

Skiing the WRoD is a rite of passage — a hilarious, sometimes terrifying, early-season tradition. You’ll see everything from overamped teens straight-lining the ice to locals practicing their opening-day GS turns.

You can enjoy it safely by:

• Keeping a wide buffer from unpredictable skiers

• Staying defensive and alert

• Skiing within your early-season fitness level

• Treating it like the pre-season warm-up it is — not the X Games

Final Thought

Skiing early season is worth it — the crisp air, the feel of edges on snow, the thrill of being back on the mountain. But with limited terrain, odd snow conditions, and sheer skier volume, it’s also the time of year when being extra smart goes a long way.

Dial it back a bit, stay aware, and embrace the chaos of the white ribbon of death — safely.