| View previous topic :: View next topic |
|
joeatomic
Joined: 16 Sep 2006
Posts: 58
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:04 pm Post subject: Skiiing in powder |
 #1 |
Started a new thread to respond to this question.
| djsmith wrote: |
I'm an upper level intermediate skier and have been to Whistler, JHole, Summit County, Utah, and Killington. I've had no problem handling most terrain, kept within my limits, and have become better with every trip. Last year I was in Jhole and it kicked my ass. I was admittedly not in the best skiing shape, especially for what JH has to offer. Regardless of my conditioning, I was handling the vertical skiing and also took on some back country. I quickly realized that I just couldn't handle to powder. It was really the first time I've ever had the opportunity to ski in those conditions and did not adapt.
I am going to Steamboat in Jan and will be doing some Cat skiing. I'm hoping to get some pointers and more importantly use them elsewhere prior to that trip. I know words aren't the best way to communicate a skiing technique but was hoping to get a little bit of knowledge. Much thanks!! |
Powder skiing will kick your butt and exhaust you if you do not know how to ski it. Its quite different. Im not an expert in powder skiing but I hold my own. Ill assume you know nothing about powder, and give you the following tips:
1. The obvious, ski with your feet close together, real close.
2. Equal weight on each ski, equally bent legs, evenly balanced front to rear.
3. Try to keep even pressure on each ski. If one sinks, step more on the other one to get them even vertically and then back to equal pressure
4. Start by practicing on gentle powder runs. Dont weight shift, geeently turn your ski's and do some gentle turns on the powder.
5. In the deeper steeper stuff, technique changes. When initiating a turn, you gotta push your toes forward and lift your outside hand in an exaggerated fashion which causes your ski's to "bank" at an angle under the snow. Since your edges do nothing, this is sort more like water skiing in a way. Your whole body sorta banks to the side, to turn.
Id start with only doing the quick lifting motion with your outside hand, banking yours legs/body into a turn. Once you get the feel of this, and the toe pushing, more like a forward pushing of your feet.
Yeah, this is tricky to describe in words.  |
|
|
|
|
joeatomic
Joined: 16 Sep 2006
Posts: 58
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:18 pm Post subject: |
#2 |
Take a look at this guys picture I found in the photo album. Gives a clue to good powder skiing.
He is in a turn to the left and this picture captures some of the subtle clues to whats going on.
His ski's are perfectly level vertically, and close together. His ski's and whole body are "banked" to the left, this is what makes you turn in powder. You do not weight shift in powder, that will totally screw you up.
Youre in effect forming a board with your two ski's and banking it thru the water (snow in this case). Edges dont do anything in water (or fluffy powder snow).
 |
|
|
|
|
djsmith
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 2
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:01 am Post subject: |
#3 |
Thanks for the tips and visual example. I will try and pattern this and start slow. Hopefully its like everything else and just takes some time and experience. I appreciate the help!
Jan 16th, Steamboat bound! Can't wait for the champagne!
cheers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
dobronyi
Joined: 20 Jan 2007
Posts: 7
Location: Toronto, Ontario
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: |
#4 |
I LOVE POWDER 
once you get good its so fun... i wish i lived by a mountain with tons of powder  |
|
|
|
|
SkiKT-22
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Olympic Valley, CA
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 1:29 am Post subject: |
#5 |
First off you Don't want to keep you legs close together. always be adjusting your leg distance as you react to the conditions.
Stay light on your feet. Try not to push down to hard on any one point of the ski. Once you get the hang of powder skiing you can have all kinds of fun working different parts of the ski that you just can't do on firm snow.
Get some big fat powder skis!!!! Something that is 95 mm in the waist or bigger. They are SO MUCH FUN and they make powder skiing a lot easier. They will change your life. |
|
|
|
|
mangosteeze
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Posts: 4
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:45 am Post subject: |
#6 |
| most important thing is keep HANDS UP and out in front, just keep that in your mind. also stay centered, keep tips above snow, feet shoulder width apart and most important no friends on a powder day. |
|
|
|
|
|
Unanswered
Highest rated...
Topics
Photos
FAQ