Sometimes snow can be a drag. It’s cold, it’ slippery and it melts everywhere. Syracuse has a nasty habit of dumping the white-turned-muddy-brown powder around campus. If Groundhog Day was any indication, the snow doesn’t seem like it will be going away anytime soon. Fortunately, there are some ways to enjoy the frozen precipitation and have a little fun with it. Making the most of snow will either make or break the long winter at Syracuse University. Here on campus, experts share how fun the snowy weather can really be.

How to throw the perfect snowball

Science dominates the action behind the barbaric act of pelting people in the face with frozen water. By applying the right physics, every snowball thrown should be a direct hit. ‘Start with the wettest snow you have. The best snowballs are the ones with moisture,’ said Samuel Sampere, a physics laboratory manager at SU. Once the dense ball of snow is firmly packed and a victim has been selected, it all comes down to the angle of how the ball is thrown. ‘Neglecting wind resistance, throw the ball at a 45-degree angle. It will travel the farthest,’ Sampere said.

For those who favor a more stealthy approach of targeting someone, Sampere said to switch the angle of the throw to a more vertical degree. ‘If they’re close to you, launch the snowball at a high angle really fast. Go up and say ‘hi’ to them,’ he said. When the unsuspecting prey is too distracted by the small talk, the snowball will plummet back to the ground, or if aimed accurately, right on top of their head.

As for those hard-to-reach targets that are yards away, bring the angle down and throw as hard as possible. ‘If you’re 10 to 20 yards away, you could throw it at 20 degrees. Also, you could launch it at 70 degrees. It will be in the air for a while, but it will still hit them,’ Sampere said. Of course, there’s no advice on what to do once the target sees who declared war on them. Assuming it’s not too slippery outside, run.

The best way to sled downhill

The SU campus is on the Hill, so there should be no problems finding the right place to glide downward. No sledding experience is complete without a jump added in for some airtime. Like the snowball, constructing the perfect sledding ramp requires some planning and strategy. Sampere said that dense, packed snow would be best, so stay away from fluffy or light snow.

When actually constructing the ramp, it’s best to create one with a 45-degree angle, the same degree it takes to throw the perfect snowball. At this angle, the sled will gain the greatest distance, Sampere said.

While it may be tempting to snag a lunch tray from the dining hall as an improvised sled, they are sluggish and will usually just sink in the snow. Toboggans are best for catching the greatest hang time, as they glide the fastest down steep hills. ‘When you’re one a sled, all the weight’s on one point, which will slow you down,’ Sampere said. ‘When you’re on a toboggan, it’s a lot stiffer so the weight is equally distributed. It’s floating on the snow instead of crushing it.’

Once the perfect ramp and sled are in position, it’s up to the actual slider to determine just how far they want to go. The amount of speed put into the downhill descent will determine how kinetic energy will build and how epic the launch into space will be. ‘The faster you hit the ramp, the farther you’ll go’ Sampere said. Make sure there’s an ample amount of powdery snow waiting at the bottom. The faster the sled goes, the harder it’s going to land.

Dressing fashionably yet practically

Believe it or not, there are ways to dress for the snowy weather that don’t require a North Face parka. It would be foolish to sacrifice comfort and warmth just to look chic. To stay in style enduring below-freezing temperatures, make sure to have accessories that match the usually boring or bland winter jacket. ‘Buy an arsenal of different colored gloves, scarves and hats … this way you can re-accessorize each day and come up with many new and fashionable looks,’ said Jeffrey Mayer, program coordinator of fashion design for the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

When trying to dress well on a college budget, use the greatest resource on campus: friends. ‘Consider a cold-weather accessory swap with your dorm or housemates’ Mayer said. ‘Maybe they have scarves or hats that look better with your coat and personal style.’

For guys who are trying to preserve the Pauly D. hairstyle during particularly snowy conditions, squashing that beautiful masterpiece under a hat is near blasphemous. ‘Large, curled or structured hairstyles will not last in this weather,’ Mayer said. Forgo the vertical hair and try a streamlined look that is more welcoming toward knit caps. Mayer suggests slicked back and clean hairstyles for fun in the snow. For men, use gel. For women, consider headbands and ponytails.

ansteinb@syr.edu

Published on February 7, 2010 at 12:00 pm