A sluff is synonymous with a loose snow avalanche but normally refers to a small release and is often associated with human triggering. Sluff is common while riding on steep slopes. While getting caught in sluff may be avoided with proper riding technique, sluffs can knock a person off their feet or machine, they can have high consequences if paired with a terrain trap, and can even bury a person if they gather enough mass.

Sluff management is the practice of anticipating sluff while skiing or riding and taking steps to avoid being caught in its flow. One of the most common forms of sluff management involves skiing short pitches and pulling over to safe spots to escape the flow of sluff while it passes.