Skiing In powder Vs. Skiing Groomed Runs

[dmc]

I was in deep powder at Sugarbowl and at the bottom of some runs there was a long ungroomed runout to get to the groomed. We (on tele boards) had to kick and glide (more like shuffle) to get out but the boarders were having a heck of a time. They were basically laying on top of their boards and paddling like a surfboard until they gave up and just waded through.

Pick your slopes carefully.

Snowboards on powder looks like a lot of fun, but I'll stick with tele for now.

-dave-

Sugar Bowl is a kick as mountain...

I've been trapped like that.. Now when I'm stuck like that - I split my board and skin out...

 

[koreshot]

I am no powder pro, unfortunately, but the few times I have skied powder I have noticed how a wide floaty ski makes a huge difference.

In general a wide ski will float better than a skinny one, but there are some excpetions. There have been a number of fat skis made that defy logic with their willingness to dive. Camber, taper, length, flex, mounting position, rocker and tip profile make more of a difference than flat out width under foot.

 

[thaller1]

http://media.putfile.com/Utah-Mini-Vid

This was my first real powder experience...what fun!!

 

[tree_skier]

Lean waaaaayyyyyyy back and when your thighs get tired go to the hot tub

 

[JD]

someting else about fat skis. They make less snow ski like more snow, You're less likely to bottom out on the base thus creating the sensation of bottomless snow. As alot of folks mentioned, skiing deep snow on mid fats isn't impossible, fatties just make it much easier.
Also, traitional shaped skis tend to get very hooky at speed, esspecially if the snow is heavy or there is any kind of wind packed crust. The fatter, straighter skis feel more stable onceyou get some momentum built up. For an all Mtn.ski, I personally think that 90mm under foot is the magic number. If I'm looking to ski untracked snow, 100mm under foot. You can just ski so much more casually while floating, tips always visable, never wondering what you are about to hook under the snow. My $.02

ps
leaning back is a great way to damage your ACLs too. The last place you ever want to be as a skier, unless you're Bode.

 

[KevinF]

Stay centered on your skis! A myth that will not die is the one about "leaning back" in powder.

A faster line then you would ski on groomers is necessary! I think this is often interpreted as "speed is your friend", but if you are in deep powder, it's hard to get going all that fast. Don't underestimate how much resistance all that snow is providing. You want a very direct line down the hall, with only slight deviations from the fall line. I find I ski powder at about the same speed I ski groomers, but the line I'm taking in powder would have me going about mach 5 if the trail were groomed. Turn off your instincts that you need fully completed turn-up-the-hill arcs to slow down!

Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm! Do not try to pick your spots to turn in! Get a metronome tick-tock going in your head. When your metronome says "turn", you turn. End of story.

As others have mentioned, edges and sidecut are useless in powder. Turning is all about feeling the pressure build-up underneath your feet. The snow is trying to lift you out -- don't resist it! You're like a plane taking off -- the snow will push you out. Once you're out, you can easily start a turn -- which will immediately cause you to sink again, and then you wait for the pressure build up. Repeat. If the snow is even remotely consistent, the time-to-float will be pretty regular, which brings us back to the "metronome" thing I mentioned above. If you delay your turn entry -- i.e., you lose the rhythm -- then you have to do lots of work yourself, which tires you out, which makes you wonder why people pay thousands to go heli-skiing.

Turning... Trying to twist your skis to turn them in powder is a good way to be utterly exhausted after about 5 turns. The cleaner your turn entry -- i.e., the closer you can come to carving on groomers -- the easier it will be. Turning occurs through the pressure the snow is exerting on your skis, and you can change the turn radius by simply tipping your skis, thereby changing how your skis are being pressured. The less pressure, the straighter they'll run. You must trust that your skis are turning (albeit slowly) even though you can't see them.

All that said... Skiing powder is waaayyyyyy easier in practice then it is to describe. You will get slammed down innumerable times before you get the hang of it, but it's the softest landing you'll ever experience. And then once you get it you will understand why some people sell everything, move to Utah, and only ski the powder days.

 

[dmo]

Um, don't weight your skis like you do on the groomers! Instead of a 90%/10% approach, it's closer to 50/50 or 60/40. In that regard, pow skiing in an alpine set-up more closely resembles skiing tele.

Of course, as usual, Rivercoil is right too in trying to avoid using your edges.

(Did this really go 3 pages without coming up?)

 

[JD]

It's flight. or at least hovering.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Powder

Stay centered on your skis! A myth that will not die is the one about "leaning back" in powder......................All that said... Skiing powder is waaayyyyyy easier in practice then it is to describe. You will get slammed down innumerable times before you get the hang of it, but it's the softest landing you'll ever experience. And then once you get it you will understand why some people sell everything, move to Utah, and only ski the powder days.

I certainly agree with you about the "leaning back" thing.

Like all "new things" that people experience and try to master, there will be a "learning curve" although a "soft landing" will have you looking like a "laughing snow man" instead of bruised fruit.

Sell everything? Move? Who could that be?

 

[Birdman829]

Um, don't weight your skis like you do on the groomers! Instead of a 90%/10% approach, it's closer to 50/50 or 60/40. In that regard, pow skiing in an alpine set-up more closely resembles skiing tele.

Of course, as usual, Rivercoil is right too in trying to avoid using your edges.

(Did this really go 3 pages without coming up?)

Well with new carving technique you're not supposed to put as much weight on your downhill ski anyways.

 

[2knees]

I have no experience in bottomless powder. The closest thing i have experienced is about 2 feet on no base. The only reason i think it may compare is that there was nothing to sink down onto except the occassional rock. Needless to say, it was difficult for me to adjust. My skiing style doesnt easily lend itself to this technique.

 

[DEVO]

I disagree with the lean back as a "myth". I tend to lean back just a little and find that I work my ankles. I mean I stay centered and feel like I am usung my ankles to angulate the ski in the powder to get them to turn left or right. I also tend to rebound or bounce from turn to turn. I see a lot of people trying to stay in their normal upright position and get pitched forward.

 

[JD]

The real question is where do you feel boot pressure? If you feel your boot in the back of your calf, your technique is incorrect. If you are driving the ski from the pressure you exert on the front of your boot, and feel it in your shin, you are actually "carving" the ski properly. Personally, I felt it was nearly impossible to properly weight the ski in deep snow and not just bury the tips into the snowpack. The industry feels that the powder specific market is getting big enough to warrant designs that allow you to ski from the front seat easier, and in doing so have brought the surf back up for skiers. If you are skiing from the back of your boot, you are putting all your weight on your ACLs, and a twisting fall from that position will pop that sucker. As you bend your knee your tibial plateau acts as a cam, loading up your ACL with alot of leverage. Twisting the femur out to the side, or rotating the tail of the ski out to the side at that point is all it would take. To ski POW safely, really try to avoid this position.
You can deskin a chick leg and check it out. I did this after an ACL injury, (i work as a chef so I see lots of chicken legs). Really a clear illustration.

 

[dmc]

When you riding POW on a board - the binding stress comes off the top of your boot and your basically just standing on the deck(like surfing)... then you just shift to the toe or heel to turn...