It melts the top layer of snow. The water seeps down freezes. Creating an icy layer. When skiers ski make turns in the same spot in soft snow deep trenches are formed, known as ruts. Ruts give the early racers a huge advantage. If a racer gets in trouble and has to ski out of the course, a rut will act like a ski jump and launch the racer, which is very dangerous.

Salting a race course with soft snow will make it fairer and safer for all racers. It does make a huge difference.

Salting has been banned on glaciers for years.

Melts the top soft and porous layer. Salt then dilutes enough that the top layer refreezes into a harder layer.