Could someone please explain moguls to me?

[C-Rex]

Help inform an ignorant snowboarder. I just don't understand the obsession with moguls. Is it just the technical challenge? Do you like kneeing yourselves in the face? I don't get it. I love tight, technical terrain and spend as much time as I can in the woods but the "fun" of bouncing through fields of huge uniform bumps escapes me.

I also don't get why skiers love when a super steep trail gets "all bumped up". To me that just makes it easier. It's like taking a tough rock climb and putting in stairs.

Enlighten me.

 

[Nick]

I'll let others answer but personally for me there is a "flow" that goes with when you get into a rythm in the moguls that just feel fantastic. When you nail a line and make it through a mogul field with good form and rythm, it just feels great.

I would also say while almost anyone can ski moguls, very few can ski moguls well. More than anywhere else on the mountain I think you can tell a good skier by their form and composure in a mogul run.

That, and it's also just another type of terrain that is fun to switch it up. I'm an "all mountain" skier - I love moguls, woods, terrain parks, features (like whales and drop offs), groomers, powder ... the more variety in the conditions I get to experience in a given trip the more satisfied I typically am with the ski day.That's why early season this year at Wachusett was fun but can get boring, when it's just the same groomer over and over again.

 

[2knees]

Enlighten me.

you get to wear fancy pants with patches on the knees and shit.

 

[SkiDork]

I also don't get why skiers love when a super steep trail gets "all bumped up". To me that just makes it easier. It's like taking a tough rock climb and putting in stairs.

You've never skied a steep trail vs. the same trail bumped up. The flat version is far easier.

in general, skiing moguls is more difficult than the same trail bumped. In the old days, there was far less grooming so folks had to deal with moguls a lot. It became a badge of honor to be able to ski them gracefully.

 

[mondeo]

Steep trails are easier to survive if they have bumps, but not as easy to ski well.

But it's the challenge and the fact that you can explore the edge of control; riding the edge of control while doing anything is exhilarating, skiing, driving, playing music, whatever.

And if they're bouncing, they're doing it wrong.

 

[Smellytele]

Steep trails are easier to survive if they have bumps, but not as easy to ski well.

I agree with this. The bumps may slow you down but it takes more physically to get through the bumps. the more turns you make the more tiring it becomes. The bumps do tend to give you a point to turn unlike an unbumped trail which some fear more because the potential of going fast and sliding all the way to the bottom or worse into something.

 

[rocojerry]

i prefer giant, random, man-made ones to machine created eggcrate ones.

In general, I'd say its the challenge that I like about them -- and to echo others, its a flow/rythum of good turn after good turn without biting it.

I used to hate them on a snowboard, now I picture a maze of sweet turns and jumps(hopping/skipping one is fun).

 

[Skimaine]

Some of it is the technical aspect. Moguls expose the flaws in a skiers technique like no other terrain. If you want to be a better skier, be a better mogul skier and you skiing will improve everywhere. Agree with others that the pay pay off comes when you get the flow and rhythm going. That is a great feeling.

 

[Edd]

I would also say while almost anyone can ski moguls, very few can ski moguls well. More than anywhere else on the mountain I think you can tell a good skier by their form and composure in a mogul run.

Bingo. And I say that as a person with poor bump skills. Hardpack vs soft moguls further separate skier levels. I can charge into soft bumps with little fear but firm, steep moguls expose me for the poser I am.

 

[bvibert]

you get to wear fancy pants with patches on the knees and shit.

Don't forget about the clown poles.

 

[woody]

We love 'em cause snowboarders are clueless in the bumps.:flame:

 

[jimmywilson69]

Bingo. And I say that as a person with poor bump skills. Hardpack vs soft moguls further separate skier levels. I can charge into soft bumps with little fear but firm, steep moguls expose me for the poser I am.

Me too. Nice soft moguls are my friend, hard moguls are not.

 

[drjeff]

I think that some folks just like feeling their nuts banging together

 

[2knees]

I think that some folks just like feeling their nuts banging together

I tuck mine into my socks.

 

[bdfreetuna]

I only like moguls in the woods... where there are trees sticking out of the middle of them

Or on very steep trails like Rumble at Sugarbush , where the trail is narrow and its only a few bumps wide

But big fat mogul fields? IDK, sometimes it's fun to take them on under the chairlift just to show that you can do it pretty well... but its not exactly the most fun

I will probably never be really really good at bombing down mogul runs because I like long skis for one thing

Then again when the bumps are soft it can be a nice change of pace and also a fun way to show off under the lift line


But trails like Outer Limits @ Killington... which are basically designed to be steep dense mogul runs... that's not really my thing. I will probably take a long time to get down the trail and take several breaks because my knees are gonna be killing me.. rather just hit the woods

 

[BenedictGomez]

I also don't get why skiers love when a super steep trail gets "all bumped up". To me that just makes it easier.

I dont get this. What's hard about super steep terrain with no features? Any variability on something "super steep" is more difficult than something steep and flat.

We love 'em cause snowboarders are clueless in the bumps.:flame:

Snowboarders in the bumps?

 

[deadheadskier]

I will probably never be really really good at bombing down mogul runs because I like long skis for one thing

I learned how to ski bumps on 200cm Rossi 4S's back in the day. I also would take 207 GS skis into the bumps back then.

I've also read in another post you mentioning the tails of your skis are too long for skiing bumps well. That makes no sense. Too stiff sure. Too long, no.

Some skis are better than others for skiing bumps, but a decent bump skier can make anything under their feet work okay.

To answer the OPs question. I grew up skiing Okemo. Without bumps, the place got boring pretty quick. I also think that for some people my age (36) and older, the bumps back then were like what parks are today. Building kickers in the bumps is where you went to catch air as their wasn't a park.

 

[Glenn]

I like the fact that it's a bit more technical vs a flat groomed trail. Plus, not many groomers give you the chance to make quick turns.

 

[steamboat1]

Some skis are better than others for skiing bumps, but a decent bump skier can make anything under their feet work okay.

Oh I wouldn't say any ski. Try skiing bumps on an old pair of 210 Kniesel White Stars. I found out the hard way they just want to go straight despite all my efforts.

 

[4aprice]

The only thing I like better then a good bump run is a good powder run (Utah type snow particularly). Trees would round out my top 3 (Trees with bumps in them are really fun).

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ