How to get down steep narrow paths

Tony_H wrote:It wasnt difficult to explain. Why did you ask?

I could have made an assumption, which could have been wrong. I think you've been doing....

braquage turns, which are incredibly short-radius, and designed for use in colouirs where carving is simply not an option.

Though I could be wrong
http://www.welove2ski.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=b01&featureid=715

Sorry Admin, it's the only online article I could find

I thought you would have known exactly what I meant from the description and were just being pedantic. My mistake. I try not to get hung up on tech terms of jargon personally.

I use a similar method Tony. Being a relative newbie I've no idea of the technical term. But, what I was shown to do this year was to lightly plant the pole towards the tip of my outside / downhill ski and then do a sharp turn around that point. Worked for me, just had to follow a mental mantra of plant, turn, plant, turn.

Thats kind of the jist of it Jim.

bandit wrote:I think you've been doing....

braquage turns, which are incredibly short-radius, and designed for use in colouirs where carving is simply not an option.

Isn't a braquage turn specifically one where the edges don't engage (at all)? Somewhat related to a jump turn but with a more stylish name...

Tony_H wrote:Turns using your poles to get round quicker. Pole planting, if you are being pedantic. No good in deep snow though!

Hmm. When it's steep'n'deep a solid pole plant can be pretty darned handy!

Until the pole sinks right in to the soft powder!!!

Forcing very short diameter turns works - using your poles more makes it easier to force those little turns.

Another way to handle narrow paths is to simply straightline until speed picks up a bit then snap both skis 180 to the path while keeping your shoulders facing straight down the path, roll onto your uphill edges so as not to catch an edge - skid with your skis at right angles to the path with shoulders facing directly down the path then snap the skis back to normal when you have washed off enough speed - repeat as required. A bit like a rolling hockey stop I guess.

If you don't have the ability to do either of these techniques swallow your pride and bust out the trusty old snowplough? Wanna mix it up? Switch snowplough?

Reminds me of a colouir I skiied after new year. The top was lovely, wide enough to turn in and with plenty of powder. The bottom, however, had formed into a chute of hard pack so narrow that you couldn't turn in it, with rocks either side. The person I was following demonstrated the best technique - straight down until it widens up again, at which point you - but my nerves got the best of me and I ended in a big pile of snow at the bottom.