Maybe you've just arrived at Denver International Airport, ready for a much-needed spring break. Or perhaps you are thawing out from a long, cold winter in your crash pad in Summit County. Or sitting in class in the city, staring out the window, antsy for Friday and a weekend in the mountains.

Whatever your situation, springtime not only brings a change in the weather, but a change in attitude. The resorts pull out the pink flamingos and patio chairs, and everyone gets in a festive mood.

Even hard-core snow riders stop worrying about going bell-to-bell on the slopes, instead knocking off early for happy hour or a tailgate barbecue with friends.

Here are some tips on getting the most out of the season.

• Get waxed. Not a bikini wax, but a board wax. Take your board into the shop and have them do a structured wax job on the base. Warmer weather calls for a harder wax. The better shops have the equipment to lay down a fresh coat of warm-weather wax that has been combed into parallel grooves. The grooves break up the suction effect that happens when a flat board surface runs on wet spring snow. You'll find that your board runs faster and the extra wax applied late in the season will protect your board's base from drying out when you store it during summer.

• Layer up. Typically, the early-morning chill dissipates quickly and temperatures climb during the day. Start your day with several light layers of noncotton clothing - say, a long-sleeve shirt, wool shirt, poly sweater and a shell jacket - and lose the layers as the weather warms to stay comfortable all day.

• Get serious about sunscreen. Intense sun at high-altitudes and solar radiation bouncing off snow can bake your skin in an afternoon. Liberally apply a waterproof sunscreen of at least 30 SPF first thing in the morning to all exposed skin. Reapply often, and be sure to carry a sunscreen lip balm to ward off lip burn.

• Get good shades. Goggles can overheat your face on warm, sunny days, and they fog up when you perspire. Switch to a good pair of wrap-around sunglasses with high UV protection.

• Drink. High-altitude riding and warm, sunny days call for plenty of hydration. It is easy to get dehydrated under spring conditions, so be sure to drink at least two quarts of water or a sport drink over the course of each day on the slopes.

• Don't drink. Alcohol, that is. Alcohol's effects are intensified at high altitude. Further, drinking causes dehydration and might contribute to altitude sickness. If you fly into Colorado for spring break, take it easy and limit your alcohol consumption. Living in Colorado doesn't make you immune from hangovers and dehydration, either. Respect you limits and your body.

• Sleep in. The typical freeze-thaw cycle in the mountains means the snow surface is icy in the early morning, giving way to slushy "corn" snow later in the day. Hitting the slopes when the chairs open means running on "hard pack," a ski industry euphemism for iron-skillet hard ice. It also means negotiating the dreaded "death cookies," hard blocks of ice the size of hockey pucks that tend to litter the slopes. Usually, the top sheet starts to soften up between 10 and 11 a.m. on the slopes exposed to sun.

• Don't sleep in. When there is an overnight snowstorm, getting out on the slopes early gives you a crack at riding in untrammeled powder. If it is snowing, skip the late-night party and set the alarm clock.

• Keep your shirt on. Come spring, there are always a few wild and crazy guys showing off their washboard abs, or girls in bikinis showing off their tan lines. If you've got the body, flaunt it, right? Well, the granular snow is still cold and it can rasp up your skin like a cheese grater.

• Hit the bumps. When the snow gets slushy, it's time to ride the moguls. The soft snow makes the whole bump experience a lot kinder and you can make turns at will. Try it.

• Check the social events calendar. Nearly every ski resort hosts spring-break events. Beverage companies arrive en masse to tempt you with cocktail and beer promotions (remember, don't drink. OK, but only in moderation).

Don't miss out on free concerts, barbecues, scavenger hunts, halfpipe and terrain park competitions, and a crazy mix of contests on and off the mountain.