| What it is | Heavy, variable, chopped-up snow |
| From | Tracked-out powder, wind, refreeze, crust |
| Difficulty | Demanding to ski |
| Technique | Strong, balanced, adaptable |
Crud is heavy, inconsistent, chopped-up snow — the variable mix of tracked-out powder, wind-affected snow, refrozen chunks, and crust that forms as fresh snow gets skied and weathered. It’s one of the more challenging snow types, demanding a strong, balanced, adaptable technique to handle the unpredictable grabbing and releasing underfoot.
The challenging snow
What powder becomes once skied off-piste; in its worst form it includes breakable crust, where a jump turn helps.
Frequently asked questions
What is crud snow?
Crud is the heavy, uneven, mixed-up snow that results when fresh snow gets skied, wind-blown, sun-affected, and partially refrozen. It can contain soft pockets, firm chunks, crust, and tracked-out lumps all in one run, which makes it grab and release the skis unpredictably and tiring to ski.
How do you ski crud?
With a strong, balanced, centered stance and adaptable technique: keep some speed and momentum to power through inconsistencies, stay flexible to absorb the variability, make rounded, committed turns, and avoid getting too far back or letting one ski get caught. Strong legs and confidence help a lot in crud.
Why is crud so hard to ski?
Because its inconsistency is unpredictable — the snow's resistance changes constantly underfoot, grabbing in some spots and sliding in others, which throws off balance and rhythm. Unlike uniform powder or groomers, crud requires you to constantly adjust, making it one of the more demanding snow conditions.
Sources
- Variable snow — PSIA-AASI
- Skiing variable conditions — The Mountaineers