Powder question

I'm just back from Davos, where it snowed quite a bit. So I got the
opportunity to try skiing powder on the areas just off the piste. I
can't say that I had a great deal of success, even thought there was
only a few inches of powder.

I'm a solid intermediate. I don't have much of a problem with the
steep, groomed black runs. I'm admittedly weak on moguls and powder.
I was skiing on 169 cm X-Scream Series skis.

I would like somebody in the group to give me a quick tutorial on
skiing powder. I feel like I'm skiing in quicksand, when I'm in the
powder. I have great difficulty making turns. The pole just sinks when
I try to use it to help me pivot. It looks like people that ski the
powder well just jump from left to right and right to left to make
turns. Is this all there is to it ?

Thanks for your help.

John

--
John Bradley "I'm a realist. I always see the possibilities for
the worst event. At the same time, I'm maybe
so much of a realist that I'm quite optimistic.
What a paradox." --- Egil Olsen

John Bradley wrote in
:


I'm just back from Davos, where it snowed quite a bit. So I got the
opportunity to try skiing powder on the areas just off the piste. I
can't say that I had a great deal of success, even thought there was
only a few inches of powder.

A few inches of powder would normally be skied much like
groomed snow. Was this really powder? Was it simply new
(untracked) snow which was fairly heavy or wet? The main
trick with what you describe, if indeed it was powder is
to understand that the untracked has more resistance to
you skis than hardpack and so a bit more speed and a few
less turns is the order of the day. Also, what was under
the "powder"? Was it a smooth surface or was it all cut
up and rutted? The answer may have some bearing on your
experience.

I'm a solid intermediate. I don't have much of a problem with the
steep, groomed black runs. I'm admittedly weak on moguls and powder.
I was skiing on 169 cm X-Scream Series skis.

These skis should perform well in what you describe.

I would like somebody in the group to give me a quick tutorial on
skiing powder. I feel like I'm skiing in quicksand, when I'm in the
powder. I have great difficulty making turns. The pole just sinks when
I try to use it to help me pivot. It looks like people that ski the
powder well just jump from left to right and right to left to make
turns. Is this all there is to it ?

This sounds like a little more than a few inches. But anyway, Skiing
powder is much like skiing anything else. You should be balanced
over your skis, NOT sitting back, buy into the fact that there
is more resistance and that you need to turn less than a similar
slope of hardpack and remember that any action take longer to
reach a conclusion in the pow. Initiate your turn and your skis
will come around, eventually. Don't expect instant gratification
like you get on hard pack.

Yes, poles will sink into powder. Have someone watch your pole use.
In any conditions, except maybe very steep hardpack, you
shouldn't be using your pole as a physical pivot. You are just
touching the surface of the snow and almost simply "marking" the
spot for the pivot. No weight. If no weight, then no losing the
pole in the pow. ESPECIALLY in pow, the pole is a timing device,
nothing more.

Oh, and one more thing. For any conditions, taking a lesson
now and then is always helpful, even if the lesson is not
directed at a specific condition.

I've been dope-slapped lately by the need for correct alignment
of hips, legs, boots and skis. A specialist is need for a good
evaluation. Here in New England, the best is Greg Hoffman at
Green Mountain Orthotic Lab http://www.gmolfoot.com/ is the best.
He is at Stratton Mountain. If you don't believe me, get a copy
of Warren Wetherel's "The Athletic Skier".


Thanks for your help.

Your're welcome

RW

John

"Richard Walsh" wrote in message
. 1.4...
John Bradley wrote in
:


I'm just back from Davos, where it snowed quite a bit. So I got the
opportunity to try skiing powder on the areas just off the piste. I
can't say that I had a great deal of success, even thought there was
only a few inches of powder.

A few inches of powder would normally be skied much like
groomed snow. Was this really powder? Was it simply new
(untracked) snow which was fairly heavy or wet? The main
trick with what you describe, if indeed it was powder is
to understand that the untracked has more resistance to
you skis than hardpack and so a bit more speed and a few
less turns is the order of the day. Also, what was under
the "powder"? Was it a smooth surface or was it all cut
up and rutted? The answer may have some bearing on your
experience.

I'm a solid intermediate. I don't have much of a problem with the
steep, groomed black runs. I'm admittedly weak on moguls and powder.
I was skiing on 169 cm X-Scream Series skis.

These skis should perform well in what you describe.

I would like somebody in the group to give me a quick tutorial on
skiing powder. I feel like I'm skiing in quicksand, when I'm in the
powder. I have great difficulty making turns. The pole just sinks when
I try to use it to help me pivot. It looks like people that ski the
powder well just jump from left to right and right to left to make
turns. Is this all there is to it ?

This sounds like a little more than a few inches. But anyway, Skiing
powder is much like skiing anything else. You should be balanced
over your skis, NOT sitting back, buy into the fact that there
is more resistance and that you need to turn less than a similar
slope of hardpack and remember that any action take longer to
reach a conclusion in the pow. Initiate your turn and your skis
will come around, eventually. Don't expect instant gratification
like you get on hard pack.

Yes, poles will sink into powder. Have someone watch your pole use.
In any conditions, except maybe very steep hardpack, you
shouldn't be using your pole as a physical pivot. You are just
touching the surface of the snow and almost simply "marking" the
spot for the pivot. No weight. If no weight, then no losing the
pole in the pow. ESPECIALLY in pow, the pole is a timing device,
nothing more.

Oh, and one more thing. For any conditions, taking a lesson
now and then is always helpful, even if the lesson is not
directed at a specific condition.

I've been dope-slapped lately by the need for correct alignment
of hips, legs, boots and skis. A specialist is need for a good
evaluation. Here in New England, the best is Greg Hoffman at
Green Mountain Orthotic Lab http://www.gmolfoot.com/ is the best.
He is at Stratton Mountain. If you don't believe me, get a copy
of Warren Wetherel's "The Athletic Skier".


Thanks for your help.

Your're welcome

RW

John

Amen to Greg Hoffman - that man has put so much time into my feet already
and he hasn't even sold me a single thing yet. Granted, i'm going back for
boots and orthotics, but he knows what he's talking about.

However, you know when he's baffled (and gets that 'Oh crap!' face when he
first sees your feet) you've got really messed up feet...

Jon Bond

John Bradley wrote in message ...
I'm just back from Davos, where it snowed quite a bit. So I got the
opportunity to try skiing powder on the areas just off the piste. I
can't say that I had a great deal of success, even thought there was
only a few inches of powder.

I'm a solid intermediate. I don't have much of a problem with the
steep, groomed black runs. I'm admittedly weak on moguls and powder.
I was skiing on 169 cm X-Scream Series skis.

I would like somebody in the group to give me a quick tutorial on
skiing powder. I feel like I'm skiing in quicksand, when I'm in the
powder. I have great difficulty making turns. The pole just sinks when
I try to use it to help me pivot. It looks like people that ski the
powder well just jump from left to right and right to left to make
turns. Is this all there is to it ?

Thanks for your help.

John

Your difficulties probably stem from one word in your last paragraph
where you say "pivot". You cannot "pivot" the skis in deeper snow.
As Richard notes, there is too much resistance from that snow to allow
you to skid your ski tails sideways to start or finish a turn
comfortably. You CAN follow the suggestion to turn less.
Alternatively, you can learn to roll your skis on edge and ride them
through the deeper snow like a toboggan. Let the skis do the work.
Follow his suggestion to take a lesson.

Kneale Brownson wrote:

John Bradley wrote in message ...

I'm just back from Davos, where it snowed quite a bit. So I got the
opportunity to try skiing powder on the areas just off the piste. I
can't say that I had a great deal of success, even thought there was
only a few inches of powder.

I'm a solid intermediate. I don't have much of a problem with the
steep, groomed black runs. I'm admittedly weak on moguls and powder.
I was skiing on 169 cm X-Scream Series skis.

I would like somebody in the group to give me a quick tutorial on
skiing powder. I feel like I'm skiing in quicksand, when I'm in the
powder. I have great difficulty making turns. The pole just sinks when
I try to use it to help me pivot. It looks like people that ski the
powder well just jump from left to right and right to left to make
turns. Is this all there is to it ?

Thanks for your help.

John


Your difficulties probably stem from one word in your last paragraph
where you say "pivot". You cannot "pivot" the skis in deeper snow.

Probably also explains much about the self description "solid
intermediate." You cannot "pivot" the skis in a carved turn.

On 2004-01-20, lal_truckee penned:
Kneale Brownson wrote:


Your difficulties probably stem from one word in your last paragraph
where you say "pivot". You cannot "pivot" the skis in deeper snow.

Probably also explains much about the self description "solid
intermediate." You cannot "pivot" the skis in a carved turn.


I'm going to agree with everyone who said to get a lesson. It's pretty
hard to identify the flaws in your own technique. Rather than asking
how to ski powder, the question is, what are *you* doing that's holding
back your powder experience? Only someone else's eyes can help with
that. Now, if you have a video of yourself, that's another matter. An
instructor can tell you what you need to work on, even if you're not
skiing powder when they see you.

--
monique

lal_truckee wrote:

Your difficulties probably stem from one word in your last paragraph
where you say "pivot". You cannot "pivot" the skis in deeper snow.

Probably also explains much about the self description "solid
intermediate." You cannot "pivot" the skis in a carved turn.

Sure you can. Of course, as soon as you do, it's not a carved turn
anymore.

Likewise, you can pivot your skis in deep snow. Chances are it'll lead
to a faceplant, but you can do it. You can also set yourself on fire in
the liftline, but that's not really recommended either.

--
//-Walt
//
// http://tinyurl.com/3xqyq

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 14:42:18 CST, Walt
wrote:

lal_truckee wrote:

Your difficulties probably stem from one word in your last paragraph
where you say "pivot". You cannot "pivot" the skis in deeper snow.

Probably also explains much about the self description "solid
intermediate." You cannot "pivot" the skis in a carved turn.

Sure you can. Of course, as soon as you do, it's not a carved turn
anymore.

Likewise, you can pivot your skis in deep snow. Chances are it'll lead
to a faceplant, but you can do it. You can also set yourself on fire in
the liftline, but that's not really recommended either.


Unless you are stuck in line at Vail and would rather burn yourself
alive than wait for hell to freeze over.

nate

Walt wrote in
:


Likewise, you can pivot your skis in deep snow. Chances are it'll
lead to a faceplant, but you can do it. You can also set yourself on
fire in the liftline, but that's not really recommended either.


It's better to set someone else on fire (preferably a snowboarder). Then
while everyone is distracted by the sight, slip to the front of the
line. ;-)

Bring plenty of matches too. You may need to repeat the performance at
the end of the next run. Keep repeating until the lines are gone, or
there are no more snowboarders. Skiers are off limits. --
Chuck
Remove "_nospam" to reply by email

--
Charlie Crabb

"John Bradley" wrote in message
...

I'm just back from Davos, where it snowed quite a bit. So I got the
opportunity to try skiing powder on the areas just off the piste. I
can't say that I had a great deal of success, even thought there was
only a few inches of powder.

I'm a solid intermediate. I don't have much of a problem with the
steep, groomed black runs. I'm admittedly weak on moguls and powder.
I was skiing on 169 cm X-Scream Series skis.

I would like somebody in the group to give me a quick tutorial on
skiing powder. I feel like I'm skiing in quicksand, when I'm in the
powder. I have great difficulty making turns. The pole just sinks when
I try to use it to help me pivot. It looks like people that ski the
powder well just jump from left to right and right to left to make
turns. Is this all there is to it ?

Yes, what you describe is the first encounter with powder.
I'll agree with the posts that a lesson is good. Also, if you are
bitten badly by the experience, get a book(Adventure Skiing,
Martyn Hurn) to describe some technique.
So basically, no big pole plant (as you have discovered. Hey,
discovery is good!) and weight is now evenly distributed on
both skis. You are centered (no pressure on the tips of the
skis via pressing the chins into the boots as might be on
packed powder, although shaped skis eliminate even this;
no leaning back. A myth that you sit back in powder).
As you get going, the snow pressures the skis. As this
happens, let the skis ride up. In so doing, your knees
bend. At this point, you initiate the turn. Slightly angle
the knees to the new turn. the skis will come around.
Pressure them again. This isn't a big, exaggerated act.
Turns are more subtle.
All this should serve to just get you started. But as
Richard says, a lesson is really good. Me? I read the
ski mags, went to Aspen, found a bowl full of nice untracked
powder, skied it, fell a lot of times until I got the hang of
it. Hey, falling in this stuff is not bad at all.
/c