The most avid skiers consider the weather and snow conditions before hitting the slopes each day. My uncle, Newie, religiously waxes his skis every night according the temperature. My boyfriend, Rob, decides which pair of skis he's going to bring—his small, shaped groomer skis or his big mountain Dynastar powder boards—depending on the latest snow report, and my friend, Alex, has at least three snowboards—one for hardpack/park, one for rails, and another one for fresh powder. Even if you're not an avid skier, understanding show conditions will help you evaluate what to wear and where to ski. Don't worry; these ski terms sound complicated at first, but you'll get the hang of it.

At the start of the day, you'll most likely ski corduroy, groomed snow which gets its name from its corduroy-like grooves created by snowcats (grooming machines) each night. These runs are great for carving (getting the ski on its edge) and cruising (relaxed, less-technical skiing). Set your alarm early, the early bird gets the corduroy.

After a run has been skied a while, it turns in to packed powder, relatively hard, compressed snow. Packed powder is less predictable than corduroy and can have some areas of uneven snow and moguls. Ski more attentively and slow down.

If you're lucky enough to hit a mountain on a powder day, you're in for a treat. Powder, the most coveted of all types of snow, is more valuable to skiers and snowboarders than gold or longevity. It's fresh, forgiving, fluffy snow can tempt even the truest souls. For some people, it causes an extreme elation and occasional outbursts of joy. For others, it brings greed and can even cause a fight in the lift line over who goes first. It's ironically the purest snow which brings out people's worst impulses.

Corn and Slush are two common ski terms you'll hear in spring come warmer weather and softening snow. Corn has small corn kernel-sized clumps of snow that form from daytime warming and nighttime freezing. As the day progresses and the snow begins to melt, corn gets increasingly heavy. Slush has a smoother consistency and doesn't really look like snow. It is somewhere between snow and water. It too can be very heavy and difficult to ski as the day progresses.

Another one of the common snow ski terms is ice. Ice is frozen solid, slick and difficult to ski. If possible, avoid areas with a lot of ice. (I injured my left knee while skiing steep icy moguls by hitting a patch of ice and my ACL tore).

Sometimes you'll hear the ski terms crust, crud and death cookies. Crust has a hard layer on top and softer layer underneath. Be especially careful about getting an edge stuck in crusty conditions. Crud means uneven snow. Some areas appear bare while others have piles of snow. Death cookies are chunks of snow and ice usually left by a groomer. They look small but they can do a lot of damage.

Read the snow report before you hit the slopes and dress appropriately. If you're unsure of good areas so ski on the mountain, ask a mountain host or a ski patroller. Specifically, ask where you can find nice, non-icy conditions. Most importantly, have fun!