whale

n. a large man-made snow mound. Subjects: English, Environment, Slang

Editorial Note: Usually resulting from a commercial snow-grooming machinery typical of a ski resort. Etymological Note: So-called because of their large, round shape and perhaps influenced by “whale” meaning “a large or significant example of a particular thing,” as in “I have a whale of a headache.”

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Citations: 1993 Michelle Mahoney Denver Post (Colorado) (Oct. 12) “Colo. ski resort snow guns having a ‘whale’ of a time” p. 1A: “Whale” season is in full swing up in Colorado’s high country, as the state’s ski resorts pump thousands of gallons of water through snowmaking equipment to create autumn’s signature-shaped piles of artificial snow.…"We’ve been blowing it into whales in the shady parts of the mountain, especially on top where it doesn’t warm up too much."…Taking advantage of the colder overnight temperatures in the preseason, resorts direct snowmaking guns to shoot whale-shaped piles of snow in shady areas, then use Snowcat grooming equipment to distribute the snow across the trails. 2000 Mike Szostak Providence Journal (Rhode Island) (Jan. 6) “On the slopes—Ski areas have a whale of a time despite record warmth” p. D-05: A whale is a mound of snow allowed to settle on a trail to be moved where it’s needed later. 2002 McIntyre Ski Team: (Manchester, New Hampshire) (Feb. 3) “Nhara J3 State Series Slalom At Ragged Mt.”: We jumped off the lift and found a trail with great big whales of snow—20 feet high—of course we did jump turns off them…. Back to the six pack, back to the whales. 2002 Greg Stahl Idaho Mountain Express (Ketchum) (Nov. 6) “For whom the snow falls”: Already, giant “whales” of snow have appeared below snow guns. 2003 [sledhaulingmedic] Snow Journal (Dec. 31) “Forums: NELSAP Discussion: NELSAP Discussion Archive: the ‘old’ crotched”: I don;t think they had snowmaking pipes on them, but I remember sometimes they’d blow big whales of snow with a Hedco at the top and push it down with a cat. 2007 Karen Ogden @ Marysville Great Falls Tribune (Montana) (Jan. 21) “Great Divide powers up snow makers to powder slopes”: In the old days, Taylor remembers making piles, or “whales” as they’re called in the business, of snow so heavy he had to blast them apart with dynamite to move the snow around the hill for grooming.

Posted 23 Jan 07 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

I would imagine that the snow color helping the mound look like a great white whale (Moby Dick) has something to do with it too.

by Sizer 23 Jan 07, 0453 GMT