Route Planning for Snowboarders: A Complete Guide
Dec 15, 2024 · SnowboardTracks.com
Route planning is a skill that separates experienced mountain riders from novices — and it's a skill that the right data tools can dramatically accelerate. Whether you're exploring a new resort for the first time or trying to optimize a known mountain for vertical efficiency, thoughtful route planning leads to better riding, better data, and more fun.
Starting With the Trail Map
Before you arrive at the resort, spend 15-20 minutes studying the official trail map. Identify the lift system layout, note where the terrain difficulty transitions, and plan rough routes from top to bottom that stay within your ability level while maximizing vertical drop per run. The best routes typically link two or three trails of similar difficulty with minimal flat runouts.
Understanding Aspect and Sun Exposure
Trail aspect — which direction a run faces — determines its sun exposure and therefore its snow conditions throughout the day. North-facing runs stay cold and hold powder longer; south-facing runs warm up faster and produce better spring corn conditions. Planning your route to chase the best conditions means starting on north-facing terrain in the morning while it's still cold and firm, then moving to south-facing runs as the afternoon sun warms the snow.
Using Vertical Efficiency as Your Metric
The best route planning metric for data-focused riders is vertical efficiency: how much vertical drop you ski per hour, including lift time. A run with 1,500 feet of vertical accessed by a 5-minute quad chair is more efficient than a 2,000-foot run with a 15-minute gondola. Plotting your routes with vertical efficiency in mind lets you maximize both your data collection and your fitness training.
Building a Route Library
As you track more sessions at your home resort, you'll accumulate a personal library of routes with associated performance data. The routes where you consistently perform best are your "sweet spot" runs — the right difficulty level, length, and terrain mix for your current ability. The routes where you struggle are your growth opportunities.
Digital Route Planning Tools
SnowboardTracks.com will offer route planning tools that let you visualize and save custom routes at any resort in our database. You'll be able to plan your day's routes on your phone the night before, load them onto your device for on-mountain reference, and automatically compare your actual tracked route to your planned route. Explore all features.