powder

Freshly fallen, uncompacted snow — light, dry, and deep enough to ski or ride through rather than on top of. The substance around which an entire culture of obsession has formed. Powder varies enormously: cold and dry ("blower," "champagne") or warm and dense ("Sierra cement").

Etymology

Middle English poudre, from Old French, from Latin pulvis (dust). The skiing sense emerged in the 20th century American West.