Mogul Tips?

[ChileMass]

Fave Bump Runs

I am too damned old for real bumps anymore, but at Stowe they sometimes let some pretty good bumps grow on Nosedive, which is past Goat on Mansfield. Nosedive is relatively steep, especially at the upper end, but it's nice and wide and open. You have to access it down a catwalk (still do?), and it can get icy in the late afternoon when the sun goes back behind the hill, but for those looking for a fun black run at Stowe that doesn't require freakin' rappelling (Goat, Starr, National) try Nosedive. It's my favorite trail at Stowe. And, when it's groomed, it's a truly great run.

 

[Greg]

I put together this list off the top of my head for intermediate bump runs (or blacks that are not that steep):

Exhibition at Mount Snow (below Link)
Lower Northstar at Loon
Rolling Bear at Loon
North Glade at Jiminy Peak (right side)
Upper and Lower Fox at Jiminy Peak (right side)
Needle's Eye at Killington (left side)
Downspout at Ski Butternut
Catamount at Catamount

Any others?

I'll add the following Loon trails:

Sunset, Rumrunner and Seven Brothers

 

[GadgetRick]

My two cents...

First, let me suggest Belleayre Run (lower) at Belleayre. I'm a patroller there and it's a nice place to learn the bumps. Half of the trail is bumped up and half is groomed. Nice place to come in and out of the bumps when you're learning.

Now, for my advice, keeping in mind I'm still learning to get better myself:

1. Ski the bumps. Sounds strange but most people talk about learning to ski the bumps and they'll dedicate a couple of runs in a day to actually doing it. Just go out and do it. We can all ski the groomers. Ski the crud. It'll make you a better skier and you'll look awesome on the groomers. The ladies (or men) will watch you as you ski by going, "Ooh and ahh..."

2. Find rythm. Get in the bumps and find a rythm. Turn, ski, turn, ski, turn, ski, etc. Turn even if you don't want to but turn when you're supposed to. Make it seem like you've got a clock ticking in your head and every time it ticks you turn no matter where you are. You'll turn on good stuff, you'll turn on bad stuff but you'll turn. You gotta be able to turn to ski the bumps...

3. Work on your turns on a groomer. See #2 about turning. If you can't turn you can't ski the bumps (I know I repeated myself).

4. Stay forward. You've read the other posts. Don't need to say much more. If you fall in the bumps and you fall backward, you're not forward enough. It's ok to fall as long as you fall forward.

5. Pick a line and ski it. This is all well and good, once you get to a point where you can do it. How many people asking to learn to ski the bumps can actually do this though? Once you get a little better try picking a line down a little ways and make a few turns to get there. Keep extending the distance you go until you can make nice long runs by picking a line and staying on it.

6. Start by making a turn and stopping (not totally) then making a turn and stopping, etc. Make a few runs like this. It's a great way to get over your fear of the bumps as you can feel the control you have. You'll also learn to turn better this way. It's a great exercise, too. I still do it every so often just to keep myself sharp.

7. When you're just starting out just make a few turns (2 or 3) then stop, regroup and do the same. Do this through the whole field until you're comfortable enough to link more turns. Don't ski over your head in the bumps.

8. Try shorter skis. Yes, short skis have begun to take over. The bumps now are being formed by snowboards (ack!) and shorter skis. Easy to get caught up in bumps if you've got 200cm skis when the bumps were formed by people skiing 150-170cm skis. You'll find you won't catch those tails quite as much on the shorter skis. Besides, it's easier to turn the shorter skis. Watch the pros, they're all skiing shorter skis for the bumps.

9. Keep your hands forward, body pointed downhill, etc. I won't bore you with repeating what everyone else has written. You should be doing that.

Hope this helps. Bottom line is you've gotta ski them to get better. Just go ski them and enjoy yourself. If you find yourself a little out of control, stop, take a deep breath and try again. Bumps are definately a mental thing as well as a physical thing. If you're frustrated you won't ski them well (while learning).

Enjoy!

 

[jimme]

I thought it was a fluke when I skied moguls on Chatimac at Gore last year in hero snow. I did it slow, three or four at a time as I'm just learning. But last Saturday at Pico I skied the Summit Glades trail all bumped up. Three times! Again, kinda slow and four, five and six at a time getting the feel for them. I do remember looking further ahead and not at the bump I was on or the one just in front so the look ahead advice is true.

On The Birch Glades at Pico, one trip down I did go through fast and it felt pretty good. I think a big part was the fact it's an intermediate trail. Also, Summit Glades is not scary steep either even though it's rated Black. Practice, practice, practice.

Jimme

 

[jimme]

Re: Fave Bump Runs

[I am too damned old for real bumps anymore. . .]

At 46 I'm just learning to do moguls. I'd like to be able to ski more runs at any given area, and don't want to shy away because of bumps. I don't expect to zoom down any bump run, but do hope to at least ski them with confidence.

Often, I hear a statement of being too old. A guy said the same thing on a crossover trail from Summit Glades at Pico last week. I'm not being a wise-guy, but am really curious as to why a lot of skiers around my age say they are too old to ski moguls anymore. :beer:

Jimme

 

[ChileMass]

Sort of a been-there, done-that, perhaps? Man, I skied everything and then some back in the day. At age 44, I just want a nice day out in the fresh air with my kids, wife and friends. Skiing moguls and trees can get you HURT, and I can't really afford to be out of work. Cruising blues and blacks at high speeds is more fun, anyway. I was a giant slalom racer as a kid, and it's SPEED that gets me off about skiing.......

 

[jimme]

Fair enough and sounds reasonable. Thanks! After my 22 year hiatus, and not having been able to ski moguls before, I've looked at runs like Lower Antelope at MRG and wished I could at least ski down rather than get thrashed around. A few bump runs a day is enough. . .they are a workout.

Jimme :beer:

 

[Skier75]

My hubby and I have been trying to do the moguls as well as tree skiing. We've both only become better skiers last year as well as this year. Neither of us are very good at moguls, but keep trying and would like to be able to do them more comfortably. I find myself getting a little out of control and end up going over the mound rather than between them, which I know is wrong, but it helps me to slow it down to try again. Unfortunately, this sometimes makes me fall and end up getting frustrating with myself and it does tire me out as well as making my knees sore. But we keep plugging away at it in hopes to be able to get past that comfort zone so we can ski more of the mountain.

 

[Skier75]

Whoops, that's plugging, not pugging

 

[Greg]

Whoops, that's plugging, not pugging

Check out the edit button.

 

[Skier75]

Thanks for the tip Greg.