A Powder Ski Guide

Ranchero,
You are so right about "first turn" .

Yes that first turn sets up all the rest. I tell skiers it is like "first date". You are never sure what will happen,,,,,but you must jump into it all the way. No hesitation. No half measures and yes softly .

So well put.

That hesitation on first turn does "limit" many skiers.

Thanks for great observation.

OldAndy wrote:

verbier_ski_bum wrote:Every day actually should be a powder day:)

But ..
But ....
But - would that really be that brilliant??

Or .....
Is part of the real excitement the wait and watching weather and getting up after a dump on that once in a blue moon morning of blue skies and deep powder and then just going wild?????

Absolutely!:) Given a choice I will take a powder day over non-powder day any time.

Verbier,

The beauty of this sport is that you can not buy this unique experience. You must pay your dues to "earn" to ski powder.

Neophytes are so afraid of powder.

Intermediate skiers have an approach / avoidance relationship to powder. They understand its beauty and thrill but and not yet "competent" to try it.

Powder very quickly makes a skier's weaknesses more evident. No cheating in powder.

The expert skier dreams of +60 cm. but only the ones who have read and believe in the first post get to do it.

In this sport,,there is always a challenge.

Powder skiing for me is the ultimate experience.

I hope all of you try it at least once.

My first and only powder day was this past winter at Sunday River. Likely "small" powder in comparison to what most of you are used to. SR had 20+ cms of dry, dry powder over night. Beautiful !!! I had the good fortune to ski the day before with Pavel (and we thought it a pity Dave Mac was not with us.) We thought of you Dave ... so in spirit you too have skied with Pavel. Pavel has sent me a picture of himself "working" the powder .... the smile on his face brought back that great day to me.

Of your original points Pavel, I try to always live to this one : Come early, never stop and leave late!!

Mike

Yes
Come early,,,never stop and leave late.

Great items to remember.

I often have skiers who tell me they want so much to ski powder,,,,,but then are too busy to go when +40 cm falls.

Less skiers !

"I often have skiers who tell me they want so much to ski powder,,,,,but then are too busy to go when +40 cm falls." Just call and am there.

Talking about powder guide, did anyone ever ski South America here. Realistically 2013 will have to be a piste year for me unless I make a plan to head South during the "summer months". Does anyone fancy a South American ski trip Late July/Early August.

Ranchero,

The Fischer ski company has a summer camp every year in Chile and I go with a group of young ski racers as "support staff" .

Be careful in spending lots of money going there since many times valley is "fogged in" due to the warm warm Pacific currents and warm air coming up valley.

I once was there for two weeks and we got 3 days of clear sun shine.

Check past weather forecasts. Roads are,,,,,,well dangerous.

Isolated from all so bring all you need.


My choice would be New Zealand in summer.

LOl like comment about roads. I did NZ in 2009 and somehow did not really fall in love with the skiing there. Like a small Alpine hill but without the charm of small Alpine village. Still Wanaka is definitely somewhere would love to live for a few years. Looks like awesome summer paddling to be had there. Think maybe I made mistake of staying in Queens Town.

Still bungee was definitely worth doing.