Skiing mogul basics

[rob56789]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on how to start skiing bumps. I havent really attempted it much so any help would be appreciated.

 

[kingslug]

http://forums.alpinezone.com/4978-n...ngs-mogul-skiing-masses.html?highlight=dipiro

This is a good start. Where do you ski?

 

[PowderDeprived]

Well the usual stuff is close up your stance (knees and legs if not tight together close
together) This can be trickey at first but you will get used to it. Ski into the bump from the top of it, use your legs to absorb the impact, turn ontop of the bump, ski into the next and to the same thing.

Take a lesson with a good instructor, and have him or her Coach you on how to atack a zipperline.

I don't know what mountain you ski at, but a Place like Sugarbush has alot of moderately pitched bump runs. Just don't be intimidated, take them one at a time first, traverse from side to side if you have to, and keep it up, and you will gain confidence, and you will gradually get better and better.

Pick a good day with good snow, at first you might want to stick to the groomers when the bumps are fields of ice cubes. A day with deep powder will fill in deeper bumps, and make them a bit easier.

Just get out there and ski them, when you are confortable in them you will have the confidence to work on some real technique with an instructor.

The best snow on a bump tends to be on the top, and in the troughs inbetween them, as the front side of the bump gets scraped bare, and that snow ends up in the trough and it can be used for speed control.

The best advice, for technically correct bump skiing, get a lesson with a qualified instructor, even 1, 1 hour lesson in the bumps will make a difference.

The best advice I can give you, get out in the bumps and ski them. You will probably fall a few times, we all do, but it is the only way you will ever get good in them.

You might be out there looking like a Gaper, or taking forever to get down one run traversing from side to side, but we have all have, and it takes is patience, a little bit of effort, commitment, and time.

A few seasons from now, you will be hammering as good as most people.

 

[bassist286]

so-many different ways. I'm purely amature at them. still i say google it. also check out barkingbear they have a lot of write-ups.......http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=33096

 

[JohnGD33]

look 2 to 5 bumps ahead of where you are skiing, depending on how fast you are skiing. You need to have a bag of tricks to slow speed: such as skiing roof tops and making quick turns on top of a bump st slow speed, but for the most part it is all about sucking up the bumps. If you are in pain from smashing in to the bumps you are doing it wrong, you gotta be cool with it.

 

[snoseek]

good posture also. long straight back, shoulders square, eyes ahead always. resist twisting from your mid section. Easier said than done!

 

[jack97]

http://forums.alpinezone.com/4978-n...ngs-mogul-skiing-masses.html?highlight=dipiro

This is a good start. Where do you ski?

I'll second this, if you want to make a zipperline. It's a great book and an excellent reference on this type of skiing. The approach used by other ski instructors can differ, as a matter of fact, PSIA RM region does not require proficient zipperline skiing to make cert 3. They focus on other techniques; different types of turns, edge control (from skidding to carving) and tactical approaches by using different lines.

 

[Sky]

I like the guidance provided in "The All Mountain Skier". Can't remember the author. ANyway, he breaks it down very well..and with his technique, his "beginner" guidance morphs naturally into his "advanced" guidance.

THe challenge I have is finding someplace "safe" enough to practice....a slope less steep and easy to bail out of when the confidence runs low.

 

[56fish]

...and, boarding the bumps?

I'm always looking for riding advice. How about some for boards in the bumps, please.

 

[rob56789]

http://forums.alpinezone.com/4978-n...ngs-mogul-skiing-masses.html?highlight=dipiro

This is a good start. Where do you ski?

I think i will be mainly skiing at windham this year

 

[2knees]

its been mentioned already but a big thing is picking the right trail/conditions to practice on. Dont go for something real steep or with monster bumps. Its not gonna happen for you that way. Ideally, spring conditions are the best, imo, because speed is naturally kept in check. If you're close to sundown, i would recommend a trip there. they have a perfect beginner bump run set up. they seed bumps on a low intermediate trail. nothing hairy about it at all. other then that, i think you'll find the standard advice pretty straighforward. Stacked position, practice on flats, get your skis real close together, hands in front. I've been going at it for years and years and i still have alot to learn so dont get discouraged. and dont be afraid to crash. you will, often.

 

[Greg]

its been mentioned already but a big thing is picking the right trail/conditions to practice on. Dont go for something real steep or with monster bumps. Its not gonna happen for you that way. Ideally, spring conditions are the best, imo, because speed is naturally kept in check. If you're close to sundown, i would recommend a trip there. they have a perfect beginner bump run set up. they seed bumps on a low intermediate trail. nothing hairy about it at all. other then that, i think you'll find the standard advice pretty straighforward. Stacked position, practice on flats, get your skis real close together, hands in front. I've been going at it for years and years and i still have alot to learn so dont get discouraged. and dont be afraid to crash. you will, often.

Most of the technique basics have been mentioned, as well as what type of terrain to practice on. Many resorts offer seeded bump runs on intermediate pitch slopes. Those are the places to start.

A few comments about "mindset". Skiing bumps well takes a lot of dedication and to some extent an acceptance of pain. Chances are early on you're going to crash hard and often, but once the basics start to "click" it can become very addicting. Just realize that you need to put in a lot of time and actually "practice" like Pat suggests above. You're not going to learn to ski bumps well if you hit the mogul field once or twice per outing. Find a bump run that you can handle and ski it over and over. Eventually you will learn the lines which eliminates once aspect of bump skiing (i.e. choosing the best line). Similarly, since you'll already know the line, you will be more comfortable with looking 3 or 4 bumps down the run. That's a critical part of skiing moguls - if you look at the bump you're on or the one you're approaching, you're done.

Try to ski bumps with shorter poles. Too long a pole can force your hands up when you're planting and that can throw you off balance.

Before you even enter a mogul field you should be able to take very short snappy turns on groomed terrain. You should also practice absorbing small moguls or LGR/crud piles that form late in the day on many groomed runs.

Ski with other good bumps skiers. They can help dissect your technique and offer suggestions. Watch how good skiers do it and try to emulate them. All good bump skiers will have a few things in common; tall/"stacked" position, quiet upper body, light pole "touches", proper hand position, and of course good absorbtion/extension.

Again, once you discover how good proper A&E feels and can hold a line through the bumps, you may very well become addicted to skiing them. But again, remember it takes dedication and logging many many miles.

 

[Bumpsis]

Dan DePiro's book mentioned earlier is a good start. In addition, try to find some instructional videos/DVDs. Seeing the actual techniques, especially when they are slowed down can really help you access a great teaching tool: visualization.
Take what you see in the book and on tape/DVD and do a mental bump run.

This may sound new-agey but it really can be of great help. If your mind's eye can capture the necessary movements and deatils of the various techniques - mogul absorption, turns, speed checks, pole planting, etc., take some time during the your day, close your eyes and see yourself doing what you saw. Try to image it with as much deatil as you can recall.

This will help you translate the image into motion once on the slope. Combine this with a lesson or two when conditions are good and if there actually is a moguled slope that has an easy pitch. As you get more experience on the moguls, bring those deatils into the exercise of running mental bump runs.

 

[Greg]

Dan DePiro's book mentioned earlier is a good start. In addition, try to find some instructional videos/DVDs. Seeing the actual techniques, especially when they are slowed down can really help you access a great teaching tool: visualization.
Take what you see in the book and on tape/DVD and do a mental bump run.

This may sound new-agey but it really can be of great help. If your mind's eye can capture the necessary movements and deatils of the various techniques - mogul absorption, turns, speed checks, pole planting, etc., take some time during the your day, close your eyes and see yourself doing what you saw. Try to image it with as much deatil as you can recall.

This will help you translate the image into motion once on the slope. Combine this with a lesson or two when conditions are good and if there actually is a moguled slope that has an easy pitch. As you get more experience on the moguls, bring those deatils into the exercise of running mental bump runs.

Speaking of visualization, something that helps me understand extension better is thinking of yourself pedaling a bicycle backwards, but with both feet together. This concept is called backpedaling and helps me visualize A&E. Here's another thread on this:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/10316-backpedaling-bump-technique.html

 

[SkiDork]

I did a couple of runs with Roark yesterday, and I was feeling pretty good in the bumps/

I mentioned a couple of things I was trying: I kept saying to myself

"stay tall stay tall stay tall" over and over. I tend to crouch in the bumps and once I do that I'm finished. If I stay tall I can really absorb much more easily.

I also was trying to look ahead at least 3 bumps/turns.

And lastly keeping those hands out front.

But the biggest of the 3 for me yesterday was staying tall.

 

[Marc]

I did a couple of runs with Roark yesterday, and I was feeling pretty good in the bumps/

I mentioned a couple of things I was trying: I kept saying to myself

"stay tall stay tall stay tall" over and over. I tend to crouch in the bumps and once I do that I'm finished. If I stay tall I can really absorb much more easily.

I also was trying to look ahead at least 3 bumps/turns.

And lastly keeping those hands out front.

But the biggest of the 3 for me yesterday was staying tall.

It definitely is a process. I think staying tall is the one of the last places I really need to focus on and stay conscious about.

To the OP, I'd recommend the search function. Moguls and mogul skiing have been discussed here ad naseum, and there is plenty of valuable knowledge floating amongst th pages of my posts and other random drivel.

Try this thread for starters:

Everything Instructors Never Told You About Mogul Skiing

 

[Greg]

Moguls and mogul skiing have been discussed here ad naseum

Okay...now you've crossed the line. :-? There is no way bumps can be discussed ad naseum... :-x

 

[Marc]

Okay...now you've crossed the line. :-? There is no way bumps can be discussed ad naseum... :-x

Talk about crossing the line, using frowny faces on a snow day.

For shame!

 

[2knees]

now that you've heard all the proper advice and correct technique, i'll suggest one more way. Just point 'em and slam off the faces like a madman. lol. It works.

 

[Greg]

now that you've heard all the proper advice and correct technique, i'll suggest one more way. Just point 'em and slam off the faces like a madman. lol. It works.

Indeed. Madman: