In article , runcyclexcski wrote:

I've been a groomed trail skier for quite a while, and started BC
skiing and mountaineering a few seasons back. I've considered myself a
good skier (on trails), but I feel somewhat incapacitated going
downhill in deep powder, with a backpack. A thin crust on top is even
worse - the one not strong enough to hold you (with a 60 lb backpack
especially). Basically, a snowplow and a hockey stop just don't work
in deep powder and in narrow spaces between trees and rocks.

What works then? Telemark? Do I need "heavy" free heel telemark boots
and super-fat shaped skis for telemarking? I've been BC skiing in
Salomon BC boots (essentially beefed up skating boots) and Fischer E99
skis. My mountaineering friends laugh at my gear (saying my skis are
too narrow and long, and the boots are too light), but I like these
boots and skis b/c they are lightweight, I don't get blisters, and I
get great kick and glide. But downhills remain difficult. Will I get
more control going downhill with a backpack if I get heavier duty free
heel boots and fatter skis, or can I somehow learn to Telemark (my
spell check suggests "telemarketing") with Salomon BCs and the E99
skis?

When I'm skiing obstacle filled runs, I visualize the smoothest path I
can ski between all the obstacles and do that. When my imagined path
needs turns too sharp for me to do, I'll look for a run-out path that
turns up-hill and slows me down without resorting to snowploughs or
sitz-mark stops.

The skis I use most days are Fischer E99s mounted with NNN-BC bindings
and beefed up racing boots, which is a similar set-up to yours. As you
know, they are great for kick and glide but I can also telemark on them.
All it takes is enough practice, starting with wide, easy slopes and
progressing to harder stuff. My telemark turns work best when I am going
fast enough that I don't need to force my skis around, instead just
press them towards where I want them to go and let the skis take me
there. This works well on what passes for powder here and Spring corn.

I still can't ski breakable crust. On really bad days I use the always
reliable kick turn + traverse to get me down.

HTH.

--
K.A. Moylan
Canberra, Australia
Ski Club: http://www.cccsc.asn.au
kamoylan at netspeed dot com dot au