ski cutting
n.— «On Monday, the injured man and a partner were doing what is called “ski cutting,” which is a daily procedure at the resort. Cutting first involves the ski patrol testing the slope to check avalanche vulnerability and later releasing small, controlled avalanches before snow accumulation makes the slope unsafe for skiing.» —“One hurt in Snowbasin accident” by Carlos Mayorga Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Jan. 2, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)