Skiing Powder

I've been throwing myself down mountains for 20 years now, both on skis and board, and although I've mastered boarding in powder I'm pretty crap on skis.

I'm not talking about going off into the wilderness to trek for miles to find powder, I'm just wanting to be able to ski in powder at the side of the slopes when the chance comes along.

What do I need to know?

When was the last time you had a lesson? It is all about balance, well, mostly :lol:

I had a lesson about 4 years ago, the last time I skied in powder was probably on skis twice the size of me, then I was told to 'jump' and lean back.

Can I get lessons in powder skiing then?

NellyPS wrote:I had a lesson about 4 years ago, the last time I skied in powder was probably on skis twice the size of me, then I was told to 'jump' and lean back.

Good News! You no longer need to either jump, or lean back!

Yes, you can get a lesson in skiing powder, in most resorts.

You might want to experiment by yourself on the edges. Start by keeping your feet slightly closer together and weight central over the bindings, with weight spread evenly to start. The snow will make the skis drag, you will find it unnerving to have to go faster than you really want to, in order to turn.
Turns are more relaxed, and you don't have to finish them. To stop, hold the turn until the skis are parallel and you will lose all momentum.

I think :D

Thanks B, I did give it a go last winter and ended up snow diving in spectacular fashion. Very amusing though, I always find falling in powder highly amusing (as long as there's no injuries).

Will have another go this year, and maybe get a lesson, assuming the powder is to my high standard of course :wink:

I took an "off piste" lesson last season and it was fantastic. I skied things I would have never attempted before, because I was with someone who knew where was safe and to tell me what I was doing right or wrong. It was fantastic looking back at your own "fresh tracks" It was really scary at times though, and I was terrified of injuring my knees, but once I felt in control, it was great.

I'm a snowboarder who learned how to ski last year. My whole aim of learning how to ski was to be able to tour so everything was about learning how to ride mixed terrain and powder from the word go.

The biggest tips that helped me were:

-Lean FORWARD!!! I've been told if I fall forward I'm doing something right!
-Try to keep pressure on both skis. I find if one ski becomes unweighted it drags in the snow and knocks me over.
-Use your hands. Keep them forward and as you plant your pole bring the other pole around ready for the next plant almost immediately. Plant the pole far infront and downhill and then really reach around with the other hand to get ready for the next pole plant. This brings your shoulders around and that in turn brings the skis around.
-Unweighting by shifting your weight up and forward just as you are planting your pole helps get the skis pointing down the mountain.

This can be practised on the piste. Its actually easier if it a bit steep. When its too flat then I find myself too easily unweighting one ski and falling over. If its steeper you effectively just get your self pointing down the fall line as quick as possible and then finish the turn.

Before you go, accept that you will fall over a few times. Being scared of falling will stiffen you up and make it more difficult.

If possible practice first on the piste, then try to find somewhere with only 5-10cm of powder and build up to deeper powder.

Try to keep pressure on both skis in powder .. and short turns yes but evrywhere else you've to put the weight on the outer/valley side ski.+ in pow its easier if u lean back a bit.