Corduroy Skiing

/ˈkɔːrdəˌrɔɪ ˈskiːɪŋ/ noun phrase

Definition: After the “big cats” have finished grooming the slopes, resulting in a surface of narrow, parallel ridges.

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Etymology

A visual metaphor comparing the groomed snow surface to corduroy fabric. The “big cats” (heavy-duty grooming tractors) use a rear-mounted tiller to churn and flatten the snow, leaving behind a distinctive ribbed pattern that mimics the wales of cotton corduroy.

Usage

Context: Favored by “carvers” and early-morning skiers who arrive just as the lifts open. It represents a predictable, smooth, and fast surface that is considered the gold standard of resort skiing before it is “tracked out” by the midday crowds.

In a sentence: We caught the first chair this morning and got two solid hours of perfect corduroy skiing.