How to ski in deep snow

1. Choose fatter skis
With technology borrowed from snowboarding they’re easy to use and tend to float on the snow. Most modern fat skis are also rockered, which means they have a reverse camber (shaped like a banana) and turn more easily.

2. Spread your body weight across both skis
It is important to keep the outside ski weighted and active throughout the turn but it can help to focus on the inside ski. Once you feel a platform of snow under the inside foot ensure the ski is tilted as much as the outside ski and then steer it through the arc.

3. Move your centre of mass inside the line of the turn
This helps you to use the shape of the skis to steer them and make long open turns.
It feels a little like riding a bike round a fast open bend in the road. Have the confidence to let the skis run; the faster you go the more you can lean in. Get it wrong and it’s a soft landing, so go for it!

4. Let your skis do the work
When the terrain is less open, the rocker allows you to control your speed and direction by pivoting the skis, even in deep snow.
Smearing and skidding used to be ways to control things on smooth pistes but now you can use these moves in the deep stuff. Simply turn the feet across your direction of travel and see how much spray you can create.

5. Don’t lean back too much
Skiers often think they should lean back in deep snow, however too much will result in thigh burn and a loss of control. To maintain balance along the length of the skis try pushing them forward as they sink into the snow. This allows you to drive the skis rather than being taken for a ride.

6. Master your line
If you can stay balanced as the skis sink into the powder then there is no need to turn the skis too sharply across the slope. Choose a line which results in a speed at which the skis float, but they don’t run away from you. This might be slightly faster than you think!

7. Short Turns
Shorter turns in soft snow are suited to a narrower ski, like an all mountain type. Allow the skis to sink in to the snow and as they do, steer strongly from the thighs and hips. The skis will rebound out of the snow if you lift the tips of the skis at this time. The light period at the top of the rebound is the time to change edges and prepare the next turn.

8. Poles
Whatever skis you are on, use of the poles in the deep snow is essential. A strong pole plant will control the upper body and give you the confidence to let the skis keep moving through the end of a turn. It’s worth having larger baskets on your soft snow poles.

NB. Off-piste skiing should always be practiced with appropriate safety equipment and in the presence of a professionally qualified instructor or guide.

Tips and tactics for skiing that awesome phenomenon known as powder… leave your frustrations behind.

1) A more two footed approach…

Do you ever get frustrated skiing in powder because your outside ski plunges into the snow and runs away on you? The solution is to ski with a little more even pressure on both skis which will help to create a larger platform to stand on.

2) Round turns…

If you try to turn your skis too quickly across the fall line in deep powder… the result will be a face plant. Instead try to make your turn shape round like the letter “C.”

3) Speed is your friend…

You may notice that powder will slow you down quite a bit compared to a smooth groomed run. Unfortunately, if you are going too slow, you will not be able to float to the surface between turns and this will make it very difficult to initiate a direction change. Take a more aggressive line down the fall line then you would in harder conditions… Speed is your friend!

4) Groove to the Rhythm…

Whilst skiing in powder, making rhythmical turns will help you take the energy from one turn into the next… you’ll be bouncing right out of the snow.

5) Tight core…

Often powder will vary in consistency and you may not be able to see what lies underneath. Keeping a tight core will help stabilize your upper body and minimize how much you will get thrown off balance when you hit that unexpected bump.

6) Be mobile and ready to adjust the feet…

Keep the feet moving in order to maintain balance. As you enter the snow your feet will want to slow down so you may need to push them ahead a little. When your skis bounce back out of the snow between turns your feet will want to take off. Reign them in by pulling them back underneath your body.

7) Just like skiing the bumps…

Skiing powder is just like skiing in moguls. The difference is you are making the moguls as you ski. You will need to extend your legs through to the middle of the turn as you push your skis into the snow. This will compact the snow until it pushes back on you. Then you will need to aggressively flex your legs just like in the bumps.

8) Narrow it up a bit…

The trend amongst ski instructors these days is to preach a wide stance. This may be more stable, but narrowing your stance a bit in powder can help keep your skis from having a mind of their own. Don’t take this one too far… it’s not the 70’s anymore!

9) More inclination, less angulation…

In powder your goal isn’t to grip on a flat surface so there is no need to lay hard on the edges like on groomed run. In powder you are creating a bigger platform in the snow almost like riding a berm or a luge track that tilts with the turn. This means that turns in powder can have a little more lean with the whole body and a little less edging with the lower joints.

10) Pick your terrain…

As I said before powder will slow you down. So ignore your instincts! The steeper the terrain, the easier it will be to ski.

11) Fat skis and rocker…

If you want to make life easy in the powder you can always get yourself a pair of fat skis. Fat skis create a bigger platform and help you float on top of the snow making the skill set required much closer to that of skiing a groomed run. For even more float and easy turn initiation you can try a pair of skis with reverse camber at the tip and tail (AKA “Rocker”). They sure are a lot of fun and have opened up a whole new world of possibilities on snow… That being said, on certain days I still crave the old school style of sinking in and bouncing out of the white stuff.

As skiers and snowboarders who spend almost all of our time in the Canadian Rockies, naturally we have a love affair with powder. The magical lure of deep powder skiing is everywhere, in the winter it’s in movies, on posters, and in your Facebook feeds. The pros may make it look natural, but the truth is no-one is born an expert at powder skiing. Whether you’re a veteran skier who just needs a few reminders, a beginner skier, or an intermediate who is starting to venture off the groomed slopes these 4 powder skiing tips will have you skiing like a pro in no time:

4 easy powder skiing tips for your next ski vacation

1. create a large surface area to float on

When skiing on hard-pack or groomed snow you’d usually use your downhill ski to start the turn, but if you try that in powder you’ll just end up driving one ski down into the snow like an anchor. Instead, you need a body position that lowers resistance and increases floatation so you keep moving and don’t get stuck.

How to create a larger surface area with your skis in deep snow

Weight both ski evenly, keep a centred (but agile) stance and keep your shoulders over your toes. Spreading your body weight evenly across both skis will help you keep your tips above the snow.

2. Forget edging, learn to steer with your body weight

Edges are useless in deep snow because there’s nothing for them to grip on. To change direction without increasing resistance on your downhill ski, you have to switch techniques and focus on steering with your body weight instead. You do this by weighting and unweighting as you would in moguls.

How to turn using weighting and unweighting while skiing powder

In the apex of the turn bend at the knees and weight the skis as if you’re trying to push the snow away underneath you. Then when you’re ready to finish the turn and start the next one, extend your legs to unweight the skis making it easier for your body and skis to change direction.

3. Push yourself to spend more time in the fall line

In powder, speed is your friend. When your skis are on the top of the snow you glide along with little to no resistance, but when your skis are under the snow your tips will start to nosedive (as we’ve all experienced) grinding you to a halt. Think of your skis like an aeroplane… you need speed to generate lift.

How to use speed to stay afloat when powder skiing

On a powder day, on a piece of terrain that you’re comfortable with, practice turning your skis down the slope into the fall line to pick up speed. When you want to slow down start making a turn across the slope. Repeat this while each time increasing your time spent in the fall line.

It’s important to remember that speed is a relative term. What seems fast to you might not be fast to someone else, but the most important part of learning to be comfortable at speed is to always be in control. When practising, it’s very important to maintain the correct body position outlined in skill 1.

4. Lengthen your turns

Now you’re feeling better about skiing with a little more speed it’s time to link everything together. You’re going to go from fast fall line skiing with slow turns, to elongated, smooth, flowing turns that maintain the same speed throughout. This is best practised on wide open runs or in bowls where you have a long run ahead.

How to lengthen your turns to keep speed and momentum in deep snow

Make sure you have even weight on both skis, a centred stance with your shoulders over your toes. Start by completing whatever size turn you feel comfortable with, as you weight and unweight through the turn as described in skill 2. Once you feel comfortable, start allowing the radius of your turn to get longer and combine that with a shorter transition between turns. Shorter transitions between turns will keep your skis facing down the slope longer and help you keep momentum, rather than skiing across the slope which will ultimately slow you down.

If you still have questions about skiing powder or you have some great powder skiing tips of your own, please share them with us and our followers on Twitter , Facebook or Instagram .

Still having trouble? Maybe it’s time for powder skis

If, after all this, you still don’t feel like you’re floating, it might be time to look at your skis. What width underfoot are they? Are they too short? Too long? Skiing powder isn’t just about technique, having a ski that creates a large surface area but is also easy to move around is a sure-fire way to improve your powder skiing.

A brief history of powder skis

In 1988 Atomic tasked one of its engineers, Rupert Huber, to come up with a better powder ski. So, Huber sawed a snowboard in half, turned its steel edges inward, attached ski bindings and the fat ski was born. After few rounds of refinement the first powder ski was born, the Atomic Powder Magic (or Fat Boy as they lovingly became known). You might also say that he created the first splitboard.
At 115 millimetres underfoot the Fat Boys were the first super-wide powder ski of their kind and they revolutionised skiing forever. “They made it easier to ski fluffy powder snow because they had so much more surface area underfoot. They were also much shorter than the lengths people were skiing on in that day, making them easier to manoeuvre.” – said Jake Strassburger, alpine commercial manager for Atomic.

Photo courtesy of Wolf Creek / Jason Lombard

The Boneyard never looked better. It was mid-April, a week after Steamboat’s closing day, but winter wasn’t heeding the shutdown: Three feet of fluff had just fallen on top of the 489 inches we’d gotten that season. So I hiked up at dawn—well before the springtime sun warmed the cold, dry snow into sludge—to stand atop the Boneyard, where a glittering white blanket hid the nest of fallen trees that gives this stash its nickname. I gazed at the aspens’ pale, spidery branches, then tipped my skis over the ledge and dropped in.

And I kept dropping. Everything disappeared from view—the sky, the trees, and even my hands were hidden in a sea of white. The powder was deeper than I am tall, and for a second I couldn’t tell if I was moving or stalled in a snowdrift. But I felt my legs bobbing beneath me, my skis flying on autopilot while my eyes searched the fog for my intended line. Two turns, then three—all under the snow, until I gained enough speed for my head to broach the surface, like the periscope of a submarine. And not a moment too soon: The Boneyard is salted with trees, which I could now see in front of me. I gulped some air, mapped my next few turns, and savored waves of snow washing over my helmet.

Sure, I’d counted on powder that day. But I discovered something even wilder, a new type of deep snow that proved just how three-dimensional the white room really is. Pow isn’t a road you ride on top of but a sea you swim through. You’re in it, and it’s in you, stuffing your mouth as you hoot with giddiness. And when it’s really deep, the snow’s surface isn’t the earth beneath your feet—it’s your sky.

Want to experience the white room without getting lost in all that snow? Take a cue from the pros.

Powder Skiing Tips

Learn how to ski powder to reap the rewards off-piste.

Photo credit: Keri Bascetta

Speed is your friend

“Don’t be afraid of speed. Go too slow and you end up mired in the snow, fighting it. Speed lets your skis float to the surface, where it’s easier to turn. Think of your skis as the wing of a plane: You need speed to get lift.” —Aryeh Copa, ski photographer

Widen your stance

“Thanks to wider powder boards, you can keep legs farther apart in the powder than skiers of the recent past. Skis are wide and buoyant enough that it’s no longer necessary to clamp them together to make a bigger platform.” —Michael Rogan, PSIA Alpine Team Coach

Flex, don’t squat

“Your stance should make you look like a boxer, not like you’re sitting on the toilet. With your weight forward, over the balls of your feet, you’ll have much better balance and stability than when you sit back on the tails of your skis.” —Michelle Parker, pro skier

Load and unload those skis

Marcus Caston demonstrating his signature move: bouncing through pow.

Photo courtesy of Helly Hansen

“As you progress through a turn, exaggerate the weighting and unweighting of your skis so you feel like you’re bouncing. Don’t work too hard steering your skis with your upper body—instead, focus on loading and unloading them.” —Jessica Sobolowski, Alaskan heli-guide

“No longer do you have to keep your weight distributed 50/50 between skis. Trust your outside ski and stand against it.” —Rogan

Lengthen your turns

“Instead of making lots of short, thrashy movements, make smooth, long-radius turns that let you stay inside the white room for as long as possible. That way, your face shots last three times as long as they do with dainty little turns.” —Shroder Baker, pro skier

Aim for higher edge angles

Warren Miller athlete Kaylin Richardson knows a thing or two about slashing high edge angle turns in pow.

Photo credit: Scott Markewitz

“Get your skis out from underneath your body, where they can bend and work for you. When your skis stay under you, bending them only causes the tips to point up. When your skis are out from under you, they bend and arc in the direction you want to turn.” —Rogan

Practice patience

“In deeper snow, you have to be extra patient. It takes some time for the snow to compress enough to bend your ski and start the turn. Stay balanced against your outside ski and give your equipment and the snow a chance to work together.” —Rogan

Looking for more ski instruction tips from the pros? Check out SKImag.com’s Instruction channel.

Originally written by Kelly Bastone and published in Skiing Magazine in 2009. The article was updated in Nov. 2019 to reflect current ski instruction and techniques.

Photo credit: Keri Bascetta

Skiers have long chased after the sacred powder day. They anxiously await those times when the heavens open and blanket our mountains in white flakes, though those days are often few and far between. Despite how it may feel right now, powder days are just around the corner, so to celebrate the upcoming season, here are some of the best deep snow edits and ski films that will make any skier drool.

‘AFTERGLOW’

In collaboration with Philips TV and the Swedish Agency Ahlstrand & Wållgre, Sweetgrass Productions produced one of the most visually stunning and logistically impressive films on this list. Featured athletes Chris Benchetler, Pep Fujas, Eric Hjorfleifson, and Daron Rahlves adventure into Alyeska’s fluffy powder after sunset. From skiers wearing light suits to rainbow lit backdrops on the mountain face, this film pulls the viewer into a different world. Deep pow shredding and backlit big air shots will make every skier watching yearn for colder days and bottomless snow.

‘Rejoice’

Oregon native Sammy Carlson rips the backcountry near Revelstoke, B.C. in this film shot by Bryan Metcalf-Perez, Clay Mitchell, and Kaleb Weston. Carlson hardly needs an introduction, but if his name doesn’t ring a bell, he is most well-known for landing the first triple cork 1260. Although “Rejoice” is short and sweet, watching Carlson drop deep pillow lines and enjoy endless face shots will get snow lovers stoked for winter.

‘Valhalla’

“Valhalla” is not your average ski film. With an interesting screenplay that accompanies the gnarly shredding, everyone can enjoy this edit, no matter their interest in the sport. Directed and written by Ben Sturgulewski and Nick Waggoner, this film takes viewers on a journey through a fictional world including a ski camp named Valhalla. From unlimited powder to a naked ski segment, “Valhalla” keeps watchers engaged and begging for more. Watching athletes such as Cody Barnhill, Sierra Quitiquit, Alex Monot, Pep Fujas, Eric Hjorleifson, Kazushi Yamauchi, Zack Giffin, and Molly Baker blow through piles of powder will both soothe and ignite your snow cravings. To access the full movie online, head over to Sweetgrass Production’s website.

‘Solitary: Piers Solomon’

Piers Solomon, a Swiss freeskier and Patagonia athlete, shreds through the powdery backcountry in Japan, British Columbia, and Switzerland in “Solitary.” Filmed by DPS Cinematic, the edit begins with calming shots of Solomon skinning through breathtaking mountain scenery contrasted with sweet crash reels in deep snow. The edit is a mere five minutes, but packed into that short time are insane face shots, technical lines, and big air. Solomon’s smooth, effortless style creates a seamless ski film that not only shows off the athlete but showcases the beautiful snowy environment.

‘Attack of La Niña’

The Matchstick Productions film “Attack of La Niña” showcases the historic snowfall that occurred in 2011 around North America. From Alaska to Colorado, MSP highlights amazing locations during one of the snowiest seasons of the past decade. Featuring athletes such as Cody Townsend, Gus Kenworthy, and Ingrid Backstrom, “Attack of La Niña” is packed with talent. Throughout the production, it seems to never stop snowing. The film has everything: big air, gnarly lines, infinite snow, and a great cast and crew to give a classic ski movie feel. To access the full movie go to Matchstickpro.com.

Check out Matchstick’s Latest Trailer: “Huck Yeah!”

Want to ski pow like these athletes? Take your powder skiing skills to the next level this season with SKI and AIM AdventureU’s new online learning course Go Deep: How to Ski Powder. Learn tips and tricks for skiing powder from professional ski instructor Ann Shorling and ski legend Wendy Fisher. Learn more about this online course here.

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prefered techniques for skiing in deep, wet heavy spring snow

Last year I encountered a day or two of some heavy spring snow, maybe 3 to 6 inches in depth. The snow always seemed to drag my skis under, and as such caused my upper body to pitch forward. The only way I was able to navigate this was to try to do a sort of up un-weighting or hop turn, alll the while trying to stand on my tails to keep the tips up, compounded by the fact I was simply not strong enough to last for more than a few turns at a time. Either way you look at it, I was inefficient, awkward looking and exhausted. Does this sound like a Normal experience for the rest of you in these conditions? If I remember correctly, I even tried reducing my turn radius by quite a bit, even to the point of going nearly straight down the fall line and still struggling. Once the skis get sucked under they seem to have a life of their own.

What do you guys do for handling these conditions? Any ideas are greatly appreciated..

Last edited by Toby; August 22nd, 2011 at 06:02 AM .

In most heavy, wet snow, the best technique I’ve found is to get both skis on edge and keep them there. Your moves and edge angles MUST be simultaneous, as any kind of stem moves will have one ski crossing the other, or one heading off on its own.

When I was at Stowe, the boss (who coached the US demo team at the time) gave us some interesting ideas about skiing in the big, heavy dumps of wet snow we were getting. Rather than up-unweighting to start the turn, he instead advocated a lot of steering, driving both skis through the turn, and it worked.

I’d skiied heavy wet snow in Australia for years, and jumping around was the usual way, but this new way was more efficient, and used the capabilities of the ski so much better. But you have to be really definite with your edges. A flat ski gets deflected by the glop and the lumps. You have to be slicing through the snow.

Of course this all went by the board on a spring day at Alta a few years back. I was teaching at Snowbird, and Alta was closed during the week and opening for weekends. It snowed heavily during the week, and this stuff sat, untouched, being baked and then frozen, until we got at it come Saturday. We were on High Rustler, and it was knee deep, with about 6 inches of styrofoam crust on top and dry light underneath. NASTY.

That’s where my old speisser turns came in handy. as-did the knowledge to head for that line of pine trees skiiers left! Phew.

Follow-up questions on skiing in heavy spring snow

My understanding of carving is that it creates less friction which seems useful since your going through a denser medium as apposed to using steering which creates more friction.

I will definitely try the steering though. Since I’ve been working with Rick on steering concepts this will be another good experiment. Speaking of steering,

Did you find big radius turns more affective than short radius turns? Since I was working mostly on short radius turns last year that’s what I mostly tried doing.
I also agree that up un-weighting and jumping up and down is a heck of a work out in itself. I probably looked allot like a kangaroo out there.

Thanks very much for the information ANT!

What is a Speisser turn?

Last edited by Toby; August 23rd, 2011 at 10:06 AM .

Carving involves steering. The degree of steering vs edging depends on the circumstances and what you’re trying to achieve. The only turn with no steering is a passive railing of the skis, the railroad tracks. I probably wouldn’t be using railroad tracks in difficult snow. Unless it was the end of a hard day, I was tired, and skiing back to the lodge and being lazy. actually I have done that on occasions.

As for balance, when you are free-skiing, you balance the same. You should not be changing where you stand on the skis, being in balance is an absolute, if you are exaggerating your forward position or back position, then you’re probably not in balance any more.
Balance in skiing is dynamic, you are always moving to maintain your balance.

In difficult snow, I am finding (and my various trainers are advocating) more two-footed skiing works better. In free-skiing, there has been a move away from the idea of having everything on the outside ski, and more active engagement of the inside ski. Since in this technique you are actively driving and tilting and steering both skis, you need to have some weight on the inside ski. Being stronger on the inside ski means both feet are strong. However, I don’t think we ever have equal weight on both skis, the outside ski is always our primary platform.

In racing, as opposed to free-skiing, the rules are probably a bit different, but I’d hope you wouldn’t be trying to race through deep, wet snow.

As for turn radius, you shape your turns to suit the snow, the slope, what you want the turns to do, and what feels right at the time. Every turn you make should be your choice, with you driving, and be able to be adjusted mid-turn should you want to.

Skiing powder is a totally different experience from skiing groomed runs and if you’re new to it, you can sometimes feel like you’re battling the snow rather than riding it.

Dispense with all the things you think you know about skiing, especially skiing groomers. Instead, embrace an open mind and try these tips for perfecting your powder skiing.

Buy lift tickets in advance on Liftopia.com and save.

1. Maintain a relaxed stance.

As soon as we cannot see our ski tips, we all tend to tense up. Get used to not seeing them. Find a comfortable slope, feet hip-width apart, balance over your skis (neither forward nor back), and relax. We tense up because we don’t know what is “under all that snow” that we might hit. But that is the last thing we want to do. Skiing relaxed allows our legs to absorb and feet move through unseen bumps and inconsistencies in the snow.

2. Keep your weight balanced on two feet.

Unlike skiing groomers, you will not as heavily weight your downhill ski when skiing powder. If you do, that ski will tend to sink or dive under significantly, sending you tumbling off in a cloud of snow. Rather, weight your skis more evenly, and initiate the turn by tipping the ski.

3. Start with baby turns.

With your skis pointed down the fall-line, allow yourself to pick up speed and then start with small little turns. Get a feel for the weight of the snow and as your speed increases, increase the radius of your turn.

4. Keep your skis, hands, and eyes all pointing in the direction you want to go – which should be down the run.

Powder is less forgiving. If you get caught in the back seat, or with your hips and shoulders pointing across the hill too far, it will be difficult to transition into the next turn.

5. Make round turns.

Many skiers, turn too quickly across the slope, resulting in a face plant or other similar crash. Rather aim for turns shaped like the letter C or S.

6. Speed is your friend.

Especially if the snow is heavy or deep, you will need greater speed so your skis can more easily slice through the snow. As you become more experienced skiing powder, you will become more comfortable with greater speeds.

7. Always ski with a buddy.

Many riders don’t know that falling head first in a treewell is just as common and dangerous as avalanches in the backcountry. In powder it is easy to become disoriented and truly stuck after a fall. Stay within line of sight (or voice) of your ski buddy and communicate about where you are headed next.

Learning how to ski off piste in deep powder snow can make fairly accomplished groomed run skiers feel somewhat like beginers again.

The following off piste skiing tips will help you cut through the frustration quicker and help you on your way to skiing deep powder snow with the flow and comfort you would like to feel.

Use a two footed platform of pressure

Aim to push both skis into the snow when intitiating your turns, this will help distribute pressure onto both skis which provides a more predictable feeling with the skis when deep in the snow. This is because snow creates resistance around the skis. The deeper the skis are in the snow, the more snow resistance is felt by the skier around the skis. By pushing both skis into the snow with a more equal distribution of pressure, the snow resistance around each ski also becomes more equal, thus making it much easier for the skier to make both skis do the same thing at the same time.

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Make smooth shaped turns

Go for smooth fluid movements and turns with a smooth, curved shape. This will encourage a more fluid off piste skiing run. Any abrupt movements or turns will have an abrupt effect on your balance. Smooth turns and a good rhythm are essential for a fluid powder skiing run.

Push the heels downwards

Not to be confused with leaning back! Dont lean back!

In very deep snow, we should aim to push the heels downwards a little to help keep the ski tips up out of the snow. This movement is very subtle, but very effective. It WILL stop the feeling of the ski tips wanting to dive deep into the powder snow which is oftern followed by the well known forward face plant. This movement of pushing the heels down also allows the skier to maintain a relativley centered balance point along the skis length, which is far more comfortable than leaning back.

Remember to pole plant

Smooth, coordinated and well timed pole plants are a very important part to off piste and powder skiing. This will help you to build fluidity and rhythm into your run. The pole plant also helps for commiting to the turn and helps the skier move the body forwards and in the direction of the new turn.

Join Mark on an off piste ski course!

Speed Control In Deep Heavy Snow?

Can’t Twist the Skis, & Can’t Run Straight!

Hope you don’t mind the email. I have followed read some of your comments on Snowheads and В skied with Charlotte Swift in LdA a couple of years ago and she introduced me to your DVDs – only got the first two so far.

I am OK when the snow is flat and groomed – but really struggle when it gets steep, particularly when the snow is heavy and soft.

If I try and rotate the skis – they won’t twist – or they start and then I trip up. My friends say just point more downhill and go for it!!В But I gain too much speed and end up doing sudden brakes to control speed.В

When it is steep and soft I usually end up transversing across the piste – taking a deep breath and doing some type of snatched turn to get round.

I know there must be a way out of this, but try as I might I’m stuck

Can you point me in the right direction?

Sure, I’m happy to help if I can. В

You have my first two DVDs, so you know from the Basic Edging DVD that your two primary speed control tools are skid angle and turn shape. В On groomed snow you can use both of them, and the full spectrum of possibilities within each. В You can steer a turn as tight as you desire, and you can inject as much skid angle as you like, to the degree of being able to ski very steep terrain at extremely slow speeds. В

That luxury does not hold true in deep and/or heavy snow. В Trying to inject significant skid angle in that type of snow is a futile endeavour. В It’s very hard to twist your skis into much of a skid angle, because the snow fights your efforts to do so. В If you do manage to achieve much skid angle, you promptly become a virtual snow plough, and come to a quick stop. В Your only practical options are to steer using a very small skid angle (what I call narrow track steering), or to use no skid angle at all (called carving). В

When it comes to turn shape, your options are more limited there too. В Remember, there are two means of shaping your turn; В radius, and degree of turn. В The smallest radius turns are only achievable through steering, but as you’ve discovered, steering a small radius turn in deep or heavy В snow is very difficult. В The snow resists your efforts to aggressively twist you skis and turn sharply. В It fights back. В You’re therefore rather resigned to employing turns longer in radius than those possible on groomed trails. В В

Fear not though, Garth, all your speed control tools are not gone. В I said there are two means of shaping your turns. В Degree of turn was the second, and in heavy/deep snow you still have full use of it. В Remember, degree of turn refers to the angle you are to the falline when you finish your turn. В The bigger the angle, the more you control your speed. В In a 90 degree turn, you finish your turn with your skis pointing perpendicular to the falline. В In turns that are over 90 degrees, you actually continue turning until you’re pointing somewhat uphill. В The bigger the degree, the more you turn up hill. В Degree of turn, is the tool you must fall back on when skiing heavy/deep snow. В

When using degree of turn to control your speed, expect to experience the roller coaster effect. В Through the first half of the turn, until you reach the falline, you will feel yourself accelerate. В It’s that feeling you get as a roller coaster crests the top of the track, and begins to drop. В Your stomach migrates to your mouth. В Through the second half of the turn, after you’ve past the falline, you’ll begin to slow down. В It’s similar to the feeling you get when the roller coaster has reached the bottom of the drop and is starting to climb again. В The longer you continue to turn, the more you increase your degree of turn, and the more your speed drops off. В

Bottom line is, you have to be patient. В Don’t struggle and fight, trying to tighten your turn, beyond what the snow wants to yield. В Go with the flow. В Go with what the snow will allow, which will be a bigger radius turn than you may be used to, and expect to experience the roller coaster sensation. В In time you will come to like it, just as people come to enjoy roller coasters. В Like on a roller coaster, you will come to trust that the acceleration will be followed by a slow down period, taking you back to a speed you find comfortable. В When you understand that, and know you have the skills to create that slowdown after the falline, anytime, and to whatever degree you want, you’ll come to enjoy the acceleration phase of your turns. В It’s the “wheeee”, sensation, one of those things that make skiing fun.

You can somewhat experience the roller coaster effect on the groomers. В Do you remember the part in Basic Edging where I present the “start long radius, finish short radius” drill? В If not, go back and have another look. В Doing that drill will produce the roller coaster sensation. В The longer radius at the start of the turn allows the skis time to accelerate more, and the shorter radius at the end of the turn quickly bleeds the gained speed off. В Doing that drill will allow you to get a taste of the sensation you’ll be experiencing up on the steep and deep, in a more comfortable environment. В

Hope that helps, Garth. В If you have anymore questions, don’t hesitate to write. В I’m always happy to help.

Tree well and deep snow suffocation is a serious problem in the Western USA and Canada.

Incidents occur with deep snow accumulations and tree well immersions, where a skier or snowboarder falls into an area of deep, unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized.

Since 2001, there have been more snow immersion deaths in California than any other state.

A tree well is a void or depression that forms around the base of a tree, and most likely under the branches that hang from those trees, disguising the void. This void may contain a mix of low hanging branches, loose snow, and air. While skiing or snowboarding, it is very difficult to determine if a tree well exists, so skiers and riders should treat every tree the same.

Skiers and snowboarders must understand the risks of deep snow, educate themselves, and strictly adhere to safety recommendations, including always skiing or riding within sight of a partner, especially when off a designated trail, within the trees, or a gladed area.

Tree Well Rescue. Image: National Geographic

Key Safety Tips for Resort Guests

• Each skier or snowboarder controls his or her own level of risk. Only you can prevent this type of accident from happening. Always ski or ride with a partner, and within close sight. To minimize your risk, you must know how to travel safely with your partner(s) in these ungroomed deep-snow areas.

• Always stay in visual contact so that your partner(s) can see you if you fall. Visual contact means stopping and watching your partner descend at all times, then proceeding downhill while he or she watches you at all times. It does no good if your partner is already waiting for you in the lift line while you are still descending the slope.

• Stay close enough to either pull or dig out. If you have any questions about what “close enough” to assist someone in a tree well is, hold your breath while you are reading this. The amount of time before your partner needs air may be how much time you have to pull or dig the person out of danger. Other factors such as the ability to create an air pocket or the position of the entrapped skier may also affect this critical timeframe.

• Remember, if you lose visual contact with your partner you could lose your friend. It is important to know that most people who have died in deep snow or tree well accidents had been skiing or riding with a partner at the time of their accident. Unfortunately, none of these partners was in immediate visual contact, so they were not able to be of help in a timely manner.

• Use appropriate equipment to minimize risks. When skiing or snowboarding in high-risk areas for deep snow or tree wells, wear a helmet, enter the ski patrol’s phone number into your smartphone, and carry a whistle in case you need to get someone’s attention if you become entrapped in deep snow or a tree well.

• If you still have questions, contact your ski patrol. Ask your ski patrol what the current risks and conditions are with deep snow at your local ski area before you explore risky terrain such as tree areas, glades, or off-trail terrain where deep snow and tree well risks exist.

Stay Safe Out There. Image: Ski California

Follow these helpful tips to stay safe on the Mountain. All the recent snowfall in California and the west, along with more in the forecast makes for dangerous conditions out there, so always take necessary precautions and never venture out alone.

California is known for its big storms and deep snow. During many storms, Ski California member resorts can get upwards of three to four feet of snow. Often these storms come one after the other, creating a powder mecca for skiers and snowboarders. But the enjoyment of deep snow also comes with inherent risks. Incidents occur with deep snow accumulations and tree well immersions, where a skier or snowboarder falls into an area of deep, unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized. Since 2001, there have been more snow immersion deaths in California than any other state.

A tree well is a void or depression that forms around the base of a tree, and most likely under the branches that hang from those trees, disguising the void. This void may contain a mix of low hanging branches, loose snow, and air. While skiing or snowboarding, it is very difficult to determine if a tree well exists, so skiers and riders should treat every tree the same.

Skiers and snowboarders must understand the risks of deep snow, educate themselves, and strictly adhere to safety recommendations, including always skiing or riding within sight of a partner, especially when off a designated trail, within the trees, or a gladed area.

Key Safety Tips for Resort Guests

• Each skier or snowboarder controls his or her own level of risk. Only you can prevent this type of accident from happening. Always ski or ride with a partner, and within close sight. To minimize your risk, you must know how to travel safely with your partner(s) in these ungroomed deep-snow areas.

• Always stay in visual contact so that your partner(s) can see you if you fall. Visual contact means stopping and watching your partner descend at all times, then proceeding downhill while he or she watches you at all times. It does no good if your partner is already waiting for you in the lift line while you are still descending the slope.

• Stay close enough to either pull or dig out. If you have any question about what “close enough” to assist someone in a tree well is, hold your breath while you are reading this. The amount of time before your partner needs air may be how much time you have to pull or dig the person out of danger. Other factors such as the ability to create an air pocket or the position of the entrapped skier may also affect this critical timeframe.

• Remember, if you lose visual contact with your partner you could lose your friend. It is important to know that most people who have died in deep snow or tree well accidents had been skiing or riding with a partner at the time of their accident. Unfortunately, none of these partners was in immediate visual contact, so they were not able to be of help in a timely manner.

• Use appropriate equipment to minimize risks. When skiing or snowboarding in high-risk areas for deep snow or tree wells, wear a helmet, enter the ski patrol’s phone number into your smartphone, and carry a whistle in case you need to get someone’s attention if you become entrapped in deep snow or a tree well.

• If you still have questions, contact your ski patrol. Ask your ski patrol what the current risks and conditions are with deep snow at your local ski area before you explore risky terrain such as treed areas, glades, or off-trail terrain where deep snow and tree well risks exist.

There are more ways than you might imagine to describe snow. Snow terms run the gamut from cauliflower to dust to smud, to the traditional powder. If there is a type of snow, there is a term to describe it. Here is a list of terms to describe snow and skiing conditions.

Snow Terms

• Artificial Snow: Snow manufactured by snow cannons or guns, which create tiny granules like hair or grits. These machines are becoming cheaper with increased technology.
• Ball Bearings: Little firm balls of snow that form around or under skis.
• Blowing Snow: Grounded snow that has been moved around by the wind.
• Blue: Clear ice, the ground is visible underneath it.
• Breakable Crust: The top is frozen solid, but underneath there is soft powder.
• Brown Snow: Mud showing through, often during springtime.
• Bulletproof: White, but so densely packed it is hard to put dents through it.
• California Concrete: Heavy wet snow that is created by a Pacific storm.
• Chokable: Powder that is so fine and deep you could drown or “choke.”
• Chop: Freshly fallen powder that has been skied on enough to be chopped up, but there are few bumps.
• Chopped Powder: Powder snow that has been “cut up” by other skiers/snowboarders.
• Chowder: Heavy, wet, lumpy snow.
• Colorado Super Chunk: Heavy wet snow about two days after a spring storm.
• Cornice: A formation of windblown snow, also known as an overhang. It is important to recognize cornice in alpine skiing and climbing because it is often unstable and hard to see from the windward side.
• Cauliflower: The newly made snow found near the base of the snow gun.
• Champagne Powder: Snow with extremely low moisture content, often found out West.
• Cold Smoke: The airy trail of powder that follows skiers in fresh powder.
• Corduroy: The snow made by the snowcats that groom the trails.
• Corn Snow: Pellets of snow that are not as icy as hail pellets and that often fall in the spring.
• Crud: Sometimes looking like cookie dough this type of snow is created from powder being skied over.
• Crust: Snow that is hard packed and frozen, yet not icy.
• Dust on Crust: When there is a light covering of loose snow on top of the snow that has a hard, icy outer layer. This type of snow can cause a lot of falls.
• Flake: Flake is slang for snow, for example, “I shredded some flake.”
• Freshie(s): The fresh, un-skied snow on the mountain found first thing in the morning.
• Granular Snow: Snow that has big snowflakes that often looks like rock salt.
• Grapple: Small hail, or sleet that may be rounder and thicker than typical hail or sleet.
• Hardpack Snow: Firm compressed snow that is almost icy.
• Mashed Potatoes: The effects warm, often springtime weather, has on snow. It can make for slow skiing.
• Penitents: Tall blades of snow found at higher altitudes.
• Pillow Drift: A snow drift across a road that is usually 3-5 meters wide and 1-3 feet in depth.
• Poo Ice: Dirty snow which is packed down and overused.
• Pow Pow or Pow-Fresh: highly desirable powder—loose and fluffy.
• Packed Powder: Snow that is compressed and flattened either by skier and snowboarder traffic or by grooming equipment.
• Powder: Fresh snow that is light and fluffy because of its low moisture content. It is the ideal snow for skiing.
• Salt on Formica: Looks and feels like loose white salt granules sliding on top of white formica.
• Sierra Cement: Similar to mashed potato snow but it isn’t melting. It is still cold, very heavy, wet, and often found in the Sierra Mountains range.
• Slush: Snow that is starting to melt, and it’s very heavy and wet.
• Smud: Brown or muddy snow usually resulting from warmer weather.
• Snirt: Snow covered in dirt, most often during the spring months, in states like North Dakota or on the prairie, where winds will pick up black topsoil from uncovered fields and blow into towns that have slower melting rates. It is very quick; you can go to sleep seeing white snow and wake up to black snow.
• Snowdrift: Large piles of snow near walls or curbs caused by wind pushing it against vertical surfaces.
• Spring Snow: Late in the skiing season, the sun melts the top of the snow base creating a soft layer that is the idea of long slow turns. The melted area usually becomes too deep for enjoyable skiing by the end of the day.
• Souffle Dure: Naturally packed, firm snow that occurs after a snowfall on a north facing, steep, rarely skied couloir.
• Styrofoam: Looks and feels like skiing on Styrofoam, and sounds very hollow or empty.
• Surface Hoar: Corn-flake shaped frost that forms on the surface of a snowpack on cold, clear nights. Additional snowfall can bury layers of hoar, creating a weak layer, also known as hoar frost.
• Watermelon Snow: A reddish/pink snow that smells like watermelon, caused by red-green algae.
• Wet Powder: When rain covers powder, it becomes really fast and does not create the best conditions.
• Wind Slab: A layer of stiff, hard snow created by deposition of wind-blown snow on the leeward side of a ridge. Wind slabs form over weak, soft powder snow, creating avalanche concerns on steep slopes.
• Yukimarimo: Balls of fine frost formed at low temperature in places like Antarctica during weak wind conditions.
• Zastrugi: Snow surfaces created by the wind into ridges and grooves.

From packed powder to granular, it can be difficult to know what kind of snow is being mentioned. However, knowing the types of snow is important if you want to know what you’ll be skiing on.

Unforgettable skiing holiday in the Ski Arlberg ski area

This makes every freerider’s heart beat faster: 200 kilometers of untouched nature, safe terrain and many different marked Powder runs. The Lech-Zürs am Arlberg region is one of the most beautiful and popular Ski areas throughout Austria and attracts freeriders from all over the world.

Freeride checkpoints and marked routes

When it comes to freeriding, it’s not just fun and action that count, but of course also safety. For this reason, Ski Arlberg ski area. Various information boards that give freeriders and ski tourers all the information they need for a perfect day of skiing on the Arlberg. The boards mark the most popular and most beautiful routes for freeriding. They also provide information on the subject of avalanche warning levels, the rules of conduct in Austrian nature and various checks and safety precautions.

Safety when freeriding in Lech

As with any sport that is practiced in nature and in open terrain, freeriding also entails certain risks. So that you have an unforgettable day in nature, a variety of safety trainings are offered in the Ski Arlberg ski area. Of course, in the Ski Arlberg ski area you can buy complete safety equipment in the many different sports shops and winter sports shops in Lech am Arlberg. And don’t forget your cell phone or camera, because the wonderful view of the snowy Alps should definitely be captured.

A tip from Lech: Try heli-skiing, the Arlberg is the only ski area in Austria where it is possible!

Freeride enjoyment in the finest powder snow

Untouched powder snow in the Austrian Alps – this is your unique freeride holiday in Lech am Arlberg. Enjoy the soothing sunshine and a unique sporting experience in the winter sports region of Lech-Zürs on fantastically beautiful descents. Share your lunch or in the evening at Martinstüberl to your friends from your incredible day of skiing. Or leave your soul in the wellness area dangle to start skiing on the Arlberg in the best possible way the next day.

Ready for your adventure in the most beautiful ski area in Austria? Send us your non-binding inquiry or fix it Your ski holiday in Lech am Arlberg directly and conveniently with your online booking ! The entire team at the Hotel Tannbergerhof is looking forward to seeing you!

You’ve spent years dialing in your skills at the ski area, and now you’re ready for the next step. You have your backcountry essentials – beacon, shovel and probe – and you’re signed up for an avalanche class as soon as the snow flies. Now all you have to do is figure out how to get up the hill.

Climbing skins are a necessary tool when it comes to accessing the backcountry. These adhesive backed strips of fabric stick to your skis or splitboard and have tiny rearward facing directional hairs to let you slide forward without slipping back. With practice, you’ll be able to skin up almost any slope you’d care to slide down in almost any snow conditions.

Skin to Win

Before you head out, make sure your skins fit your skis or board and are trimmed properly. (You can also buy pre-cut skins, offered by select ski brands). Familiarize yourself with the tip and tail hardware and make sure they’re adjusted properly. Check that you have them facing the right direction – the hairs in the plush surface should face rearward, giving a smooth feel when brushed from tip to tail but standing up and providing friction when brushed from tail to tip. Once you set out on the trail, remember to unlock the walking hinge on your boots and switch your bindings into tour mode before you start uphill, both for mobility and comfort.

You should carry an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe when travelling in avalanche terrain and know how to use them. Backcountry travel requires an acceptance of the risks involved (avalanches are not the only danger) and implies a willingness to take responsibility for educating oneself about these dangers and ways to mitigate them. We recommend that backcountry travelers take an AIARE Level One class or the equivalent, and practice the skills they learn there regularly with their partners. You should always do a beacon check as you’re leaving the trailhead as you learned in your avalanche safety course.

It’s just walking up the hill, right?

Well, yes and no. Once you’re properly set up with skins, alpine touring bindings, and alpine touring boots (or a splitboard with hinging bindings), it’s pretty much like hiking with a bunch of gear on your feet. Instead of picking up your feet, though, it’s more efficient to slide or shuffle your skis without lifting them. Think smart about choosing your uphill route—pick a line that minimizes your risk from exposure, avalanches, and weather. Make sure your group communicates your plan and spreads out for safety.

Aim for a long, smooth and rhythmic stride when possible. If you’re first in line and setting the skintrack for others, try to keep your line of ascent smooth, consistent and not overly steep – look ahead and plan your line around trees and rocks before you get there so you don’t have to make last minute corrections. Just like hiking, it helps to develop a rhythm of skinning and breathing, for instance inhaling on each forward step. Shorten your stride when it gets steep or the traction gets sketchy. When uphill kickturns (read below) are necessary, try to space them well apart if you can; multiple kickturns within a short span of time will have your companions grumbling if they could have been avoided.

If you’re following someone else, stay in the track and take advantage of the path of less resistance. Following a well set skintrack is almost always easier, both physically and mentally, than going it alone. Offer to take over the trailbreaking periodically in deep snow or when you sense the leader tiring. If you need to bootpack for some reason or relieve yourself, it’s considered poor etiquette to do it in the skintrack – move off to the side so as not to spoil the track for the next person in line. If you happen to bring your dog along, don’t let them do their business in the skin track, either.

Skinning is an art and an acquired skill. Flaws in technique are usually revealed pretty quickly when the track gets steep or icy. When you begin to feel yourself losing traction, concentrate on standing up straight and weighting your heels just in back of your bindings – this is where the bulk of your climbing traction comes from. Some people find it helpful to think in terms of pulling their toes up while skinning on steeper slopes. This technique seems counterintuitive to many people – their natural instinct tells them to lean forward over the tips – but leaning back works. It also feels natural to put more weight on your poles as the terrain gets steeper, but this reduces the ability of your skins to grip the snow. Learn to trust the grip of your skins. This will come with practice. If you find yourself on a sidehill with lots of pressure on the very edge of your skis, it often helps to relax and “roll” your ankles so that you have more skin in contact with the snow surface.

Rise above It All

Most alpine touring bindings are equipped with risers that allow you to adjust the angle of your boot for skinning. Most have two or more levels to choose from, depending on the angle of the slope. Don’t be afraid or too lazy to use these when the going gets steeper. Using the right level reduces strain on your hamstrings, helps prevent blisters by reducing the movement of your heels inside your boots, and makes it easier to put weight on the rear of the ski for better grip. While risers shorten your step, they allow you to stand up straighter, adding grip and comfort on steeper terrain. Like changing gears on a bicycle before you get to a hill, anticipate terrain changes when you can and flip your risers up BEFORE you reach an especially challenging section; adjusting them in the middle of a steep slope adds a degree of difficulty.

Learning how to ski starts with the all-important prep work before you hit the slopes, like getting the right equipment and dressing for all kinds of conditions. This guide will help you gather everything you need and will teach you some essential techniques for that exciting first day out.

Ski Equipment You Need
Getting a good idea of the equipment used for skiing will help you understand the sport a lot better, and it will make your first days on the slopes a lot easier!

Ski Rental Equipment
When you’re a beginning skier or just trying out the sport to decide if it’s the right one for you, it makes sense to rent ski equipment.

What to Wear Skiing
If you aren’t sure what to wear skiing, it’s best to start with the basics and then move on to the accessories. Here is a guideline for what to wear to skiing, which you can use as a checklist when you begin to assemble your ski wardrobe.

Skiing tips and techniques to help you get started on the ski slopes if you’re a beginner, and to refine your technique if you’re a more experienced skier.

Learn to Ski Videos
Freeskiing instruction videos to help you get on and off a ski lift and a magic carpet and to develop essential skiing techniques.

Learn to Snow Plow
The traditional learning stance for beginning skiers is called the snow plow position. You’ll need to use the snow plow to slow down and to stop, so it’s one of the first techniques you should learn.

Point Your Way Down the Slope
When you move up from the snowplow turn, you can learn to begin a more advanced way of turning your skis by pointing with your arm.

Sometimes Mother Nature can be a tease.

For much of last week, the weather at village level in the western Alps was grim: strong winds, unseasonably mild temperatures and – in places – pouring rain. Yes, anyone who cared to look at a webcam or a snow forecast could see that it was dumping higher up. But still: the mood across the region was subdued to say the least.

Then, at the weekend, temperatures dropped and the sun came out…

This was Val d’Isere, which opened on for the season on Saturday.

Photo: © Simon Meredith Hardy

Photo: © Simon Meredith Hardy

And this was Val Thorens, which opened on November 19, but saved the celebration for its Grande Premiere party of November 25-26, which served up free ski and snowboard testing and live music. 15,000 snowfiends showed up to join the fun.

In other words, parts of the western Alps have been absolutely walloped. In my last snow report I posted an unlikely-looking forecast which suggested a few high-altitude spots along the French and Swiss border with Italy would get 150cm of the white stuff in 24 hours. Well, Radio Val d’Isere has reported two metres fell on the Pisaillas Glacier in 48 hours. The snow wasn’t quite as heavy elsewhere across the area, but at altitude the settled, on-piste cover is now 155cm. 155cm on November 28!

By contrast, below about 2100m the cover is now thin or non-existent across much of the region. The rain and mild temperatures took care of that. But at least now it’s cold enough for the snow cannons to run at full pelt.

Cervinia in Italy was another high-altitude resort that had heavy snow last week. This was the Chalet Etoile restaurant on Friday.

And this was how Cervinia’s ski area looked on Saturday. Up high, there’s an impressive 160cm of snow packed-down on piste.

Meanwhile, further east in the Alps, there was less precipitation last week – but higher temperatures. That did bad things to the snow cover, lower down, but temperatures have dropped significantly now: and the snow cannons are running at full pelt.

What’s more, it’ll be staying cold for much of the week. Whereas in the French Alps the daytime freezing point may briefly touch 3000m on Wednesday, in Austria it’s not likely to get much above 1600m, thanks to a cool northerly airflow.

Here’s how it’s looking in Ischgl today, which opened on Thursday last week.

And here’s evidence snow-making from Lech-Zurs in the Arlberg, which opens at the weekend – with two new lifts connecting them to St Anton.

As you can, there’s plenty of snow in the ski area, higher up.

The cannons are firing in the Italian Dolomites too: this is the Passo San Pellegrino above Moena in Trentino.

As for the medium-term outlook – well, it’s going to be sunny for much of the week and colder in the east than the west. The best chance of snow is at the eastern end of the Austrian Alps, but that’s not yet certain – and the the trend seems to be for high pressure to dominate over western Europe for at least a week (and quite possibly two). So if you’re planning an early-season ski trip, you’ll need to aim high.

Meanwhile in North America…

Winter may have got off to a slow start in the Rockies: but conditions are improving rapidly. In Utah, the resorts of the Wasatch mountains are getting their first proper winter storm – with up to 60cm forecast for Snowbird and Alta by the time the clouds lift. “Monday should get better and better and Tuesday morning should be money. If only we had a bit more terrain open…” says Opensnow.com reporter Evan Thayer.

Here are a few snowy moments from Snowbird’s opening day, yesterday.

And this was the 5am snow stake today at Beaver Creek in Colorado.

Colorado snow guru Joel Gratz reckons most resorts should have at least 25cm of snow by the time the storm clears. A week of settled and sunny weather is expected after that.

North of the border, Whistler reports 6cm of fresh snow this morning, after a wonderfully snowy week. Over two metres fell on the upper slopes on either side of opening day. There’ll be more snow flurries this week, but the outlook is drier and sunnier.

There’s been a repeat performance of last week’s snowstorm in the south-western Alps. Slightly less snow has fallen: but it hasn’t been quite so warm in the immediate aftermath. Those who were lucky enough to ski it in the immediate aftermath have had a rare old time.

Here’s how it looked above Champoluc in the Monterosa ski area this morning. The area reported 50cm of fresh snow on April 1 and 2.

This was the Solaise, above Val d’Isere, yesterday.

Pictured below is Montgenevre yesterday, at the western end of the Milky Way ski area. Children’s racing had to be cancelled because there was too much snow on the course.

And this is how it looked at little Bonneval-sur-Arc, near Val Cenis, this morning.

Bonneval is one of my favourite small ski villages, and when it’s like this it can feel like your own private ski resort. I have happy memories of a morning skiing snow very similar to this…

What’s striking about this storm is how localised it was. At the southern end of the Haute-Tarentaise (home to Val d’Isere and Tignes) there was 40cm of new snow at the weekend. On the other side of the Col de l’Iseran, in the Maurienne Valley (home to Val Cenis and Bonneval), there was 40-80cm. Meanwhile, Serre Chevalier, further south, had around 15cm of snow. Chamonix, to the north, had just a couple of centimetres.

So while some lucky resorts reported fabulous conditions this morning, the vast majority have been scratching their heads and wondering what all the fuss is about.

We also have to remember that this is April, and as soon as the sun comes out fresh snow starts to moisten and grow heavy. Generally speaking, it’s now cooler this week than last, but with the daytime freezing point at the 2500m mark, even the high-altitude resorts will be suffering. You’ll need to be skiing close to 3000m if you want to find snow unaffected by the thawing process. Otherwise, despite the fresh dump, you’ll need to adopt spring-skiing tactics.

Meanwhile, in the eastern Alps, resorts with most or all of their skiing below 2000m have suffered from this year’s long, mild spring. Austria’s Skiwelt has already closed, and the Ski Juwel is offering only a few skiable pistes today. But at least the big melt-off will slow down in the second half of this week, when a cold front hits Austria from the north, and – for one day at least – the daytime freezing point will be down to 1700m. Nevertheless, this is still the time of year to be skiing high-altitude resorts. Spring temperatures have a habit of bouncing back quickly.

Here’s how it was looking in Kuhtai, Austria today.

And this was the Stubai glacier yesterday.

Here’s our latest snow forecast for Thursday, April 6.

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A Deep Issue

Ask just about any skier, and they’ll agree that the ultimate ski experience is to slash, float, and surf through deep, pillowy powder. But nothing will kill that buzz faster than the wrong skis—think narrow-waisted carvers that sink like stones under the snow and turn what should be heaven into a wet, frustrating hell. Enter the powder ski.

Fat skis have been around since the late ’80s, but it really was the development of modern sidecut (thanks, snowboarding) in the late ’90s that started the move to fatter dimensions in skis. Since turning no longer required shins of iron and quads the size of pot-bellied pigs, skis could be made wider without making them simultaneously harder to maneuver. Width became the new hot thing, and around 2006 skis simply exploded, going as wide as 140mm and beyond before people realized that human leg geometry actually has limitations.

Rocker hit the mainstream next, and ski designers did the same thing: took it to the extreme. Banana-boat profiles reigned in powder-heavy ski towns, giving gondola operators migraines and making the slopes look like a clown school on recess as the earliest adopters floated and slashed and smeared their ways downhill.

In the last few seasons, we have witnessed a slight shift back to center, away from super-duper-fat and hyper-rockered designs toward a compromising middle ground. Rocker is omnipresent, but not as exaggerated, and while the gigundo-fatties are still out there in limited numbers, optimal width seems to have settled somewhere between 105 and 120 millimeters, depending on where and how you ski. It’s here where you’ll find your new “powder” skis, so-called despite the fact that you will only ski them in powder when the powder is there to be skied. The best part is that if chosen correctly, today’s powder skis can be used effectively all over the mountain in almost all conditions.

How Wide Should I Go?

The question of width is one of purpose and personal preference. Depending on the manufacturer, the definition of a powder ski now includes anything from 98mm-waisted models all the way up to 130mm and beyond, so the choice is yours. An East Coast skier who sees only a few powder days per year might want something narrower, in the 95 to 105 millimeter range, or 105 to 110mm if they want a pair of “powder-only” skis. Yes, Jay Peak is awesome and the storms there are the stuff of legend, but the fact remains that East Coast powder is relatively rare, so while a super-fat ski can be a blast in deep snow, the sheer width will make it a bone-rattling, teeth-chattering nightmare on ice (which is not rare). The slimmer the ski, the more control it will offer, not only outside the trees but in them; narrower skis sink deeper, which means they go slower, which means extra reaction time in tight woods. Go fatter at your own risk.

In the Rockies, which include not only Colorado but Utah’s Wasatch Range and Wyoming’s Tetons, extra width adds crucial float in the region’s ultra-dry “blower” pow. Some say it’s about getting down into the snow a little more, and that skimming the surface is denying oneself the experience of powder skiing, but others go as fat as possible, seeking the exhilaration of flying atop a cushion of cold smoke. While the ski industry seems to be retreating from the insanely fat dimensions that were omnipresent a couple of seasons ago, the rule in the Rockies is still around 110mm and wider for a true powder-day ski. Your opinion, however, is valid and may vary. Feel free to discuss.

Moving west again into the coastal weather patterns of Tahoe and all the way up to British Columbia, overall design becomes just as crucial as width. This is the birthplace of rocker and reverse sidecut, which came about because the region’s denser, heavier powder can keep even the fattest skis from making a fluid turn. Therefore the question of surface area becomes less critical than the ability of a ski to maintain maneuverability, and while having 130 millimeters underfoot might be amazing for the first few morning runs, a surfy rocker profile and releasable shape will serve you better as the day progresses. As further experiments with ski design keep changing perceptions of float, maneuverability, and stability, the skiers on the west coast will truly reap the most benefit.

Don’t Stop The Rocker

So what’s rocker again? That’s another article in itself. The short story of rocker is that lifting the tip and tail of a ski away from the snow makes it more maneuverable in powder, because powder acts much more like a liquid than a solid. This was some mind-boggling stuff in 2002, but now that ski designers realize rocker offers as much value on the horizontal axis as width brings to the vertical, every manufacturer is using rocker in various ways. Tip rocker helps a ski plane faster and aids turn initiation in all conditions. Tail rocker makes a ski easier to “release” from a turn, allowing it to slip sideways and control speed. While too much rocker can hurt performance, for the average skier the result is better powder handling from narrower skis, and therefore more versatility for all conditions and terrain from a single pair.

Tracks from skiers and snowboarders on an off-piste slope

Powder skiing (or backcountry/off-piste sking), is skiing on naturally fallen snow that has not been prepared by a piste basher. It is often referred to as powder as it is generally soft deep powdery snow that you will sink into. This is often thought to be the ultimate type of skiing, as it can require a lot of practice to get good at, and floating across the top of the powder can give you an amazing adrenaline rush.

Skiing in powder can be quite different to skiing on a piste due to the fact that you now have to try and make the skis float, and you can’t really use the edges on the skis any more. When you start skiing through powder you need to lean back slightly to try and keep the ski tips above the snow, and then as your speed builds up you bring your weight forwards to the middle of the ski. Also keeping the skis closer together will help you float above the snow.

Avalanches

A slab avalanche that happened at Avalanche Danger Level 3

Skiing off-piste also presents the danger of avalanches. Because of this off-piste skiing is best done in groups, with everyone equipped with transceivers, shovels, probes and other avalanche equipment. Skiing off-piste can be perfectly safe, it is just important to know what you are doing before you try anything too risky.

To minimise risks when skiing off-piste it is advised to keep a distance of at least 10m between skiers, never to traverse over another skier, and to take steeper slopes or higher risk areas one by one waiting for and watching each other from a safer area out of the way that an avalanche would travel.

Avalanche Danger Levels

Depending on the snow conditions, there are 5 levels of avalanche danger. These levels change with the altitude of a slope and can also change through the day as the snow conditions change.

Level 1 – Low

Avalanches are only likely to be triggered by high levels of additional stress on very few, extremely steep slopes. Generally safe off-piste skiing conditions.

Level 2 – Moderate

Avalanches are only likely to be triggered by high levels of additional stress on steep slopes. Good off-piste skiing conditions as long as local danger zones are taken into consideration.

Level 3 – Considerable

Avalanches are likely to be triggered even by low levels of additional stress especially on steep slopes. Spontaneous medium-sized avalanches are possible, and large avalanches happen occasionally. You should be very careful when off-piste skiing, and try to stay on moderately steep slopes assessing each slope before skiing it.

Level 4 – High

Avalanches are likely to be triggered even by low levels of additional stress on many steep slopes. Spontaneous medium-sized avalanches are quite likely, and large avalanches are very possible. Off-piste skiing is only possible on flatter slopes with a very careful avalanche assessment.

Level 5 – Very High

Large spontaneous avalanches can be expected, even in moderately steep areas. Skiing off-piste is generally not possible.

For more information on avalanches please refer to Avalanche.org

On to the Learning to Ski section.

This section will be updated with more information on technique and graphics in the future.

Finding yourself fully buried, or even partially buried can not only be extremely frightening, but is also seriously life threatening. The best way to avoid getting caught in a dangerous deep snow or tree well situation is to always remain on the groomed runs. However, if you plan on venturing off-piste and seeking powder turns, be sure to check out our tips and guidelines first.

Avoid Deep Snow Hazards

The most effective prevention step is to remain on groomed runs, resisting the urge to ski or snowboard through the trees during deep powder conditions, no matter how inviting the untracked powder looks.

If you do decide to venture off the packed or groomed main runs, remember this information and use these guidelines.

Always Ski or Ride With A Partner

REMAIN IN VISUAL CONTACT AT ALL TIMES! It’s absolutely critical to keep visual contact with your riding partner. If you lost visual contact with your partner, you could lose your friend.

What does it mean to remain in visual contact?

Visual contact means stopping and watching your partner descend at all times, then proceeding downhill while he or she watches you at all times. It does NO GOOD for your safety if you are under the snow and your partner is waiting for you at the bottom of the lift.

By skiing or riding with another person, identifying each other as partners, and remaining in visual contact you can greatly reduce the time it takes to help if someone falls in deep snow or in a treewell.

“90% of people involved in tree well/SIS hazard research experiments could not rescue themselves.”

Carry Rescue & Safety Equipment

Carry the same basic essentials as backcountry skiers or snowboarders. This equipment is readily available and many of the items can be purchased in our gear and gift shops.

• Mobile phone with ski patrol emergency number saved in contacts. Ours is 425.434.6794.
• Whistle
• Shovel
• Probe
• Avalanche Transceiver/Beacon
• Recco reflector
• Avalung

“70% of all snow immersion suffocation accidents involve tree wells.”

Reduce Your Risk While Riding

• Skiers should remove pole straps.
  • Trapped skiers have difficulty removing the pole straps, which can hamper efforts to escape or clear an air space to breathe.
• Ski or ride in control.
• Give trees a wide berth. Look at the open spaces between trees not at the trees.
• Take heart and talk about it with your partner on the lift or before you descend. Increased awareness reduces risk of snow immersion suffocation.

What To Do If You or Your Partner Go Down

Snow Immersion Suffocation

if you decide to leave the groomed trails you are voluntarily accepting the risk of a deep snow immersion accident. A deep snow, or tree well immersion accident occurs when a skier or rider falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized and suffocates. Deaths resulting from these kinds of accidents are referred to as a SIS harzards or Snow Immersion Suffocation.

More About Tree Well Safety

Some of the deaths on mountains in North America which have occurred due to tree well incidents may have been avoided had:

• The person been with a partner.
• The partner saw the person fall.
• The partner was close enough to assist digging the victim out in a timely manner.

If you have any question about what a “timely manner” is to assist someone in a tree well, hold your breath now as you are reading this and the amount of time until you need air is approximately how much time your partner has to help get you out of danger. Other factors such as creating an air pocket, having and using an avalung, or the nature of how you fall into the well may extend this critical time frame.

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By UnofficialNet December 1, 2016 3:45 pm

By UnofficialNet | December 1, 2016 3:45 pm

Alta Ski Area has just picked up 54″ of snow in 48 hours. This video from Marcus Caston shows just how deep the snow is.

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Val Thorens in France on Wednesday night. Photo: Val Thorens/Facebook

Thank goodness. The French Alps got some snow this week, which has perked up the pistes no end. In the north, over the Portes du Soleil, they had about 30cm on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Chamonix valley had about 20cm, and in the Tarentaise (home to the Courchevel, Val d’Isere et al) about 15cm fell. It’s been cold too, so the snow has settled to down to the valley floors.

However, you wouldn’t call these snowfalls heavy. What’s more, on the lower slopes, they’re lying on a thin, hard-packed underlayer, which will start to re-emerge as the new snow is scraped away by passing traffic. So wrap up warm, stay high – and stick to the deeper, softer cover at altitude. This photo, posted this morning in Val d’Isere by John Yates-Smith of YSE, shows you what’s waiting if you know where to look.

By contrast, they’re desperate for the snow to ease up in Austria and eastern Switzerland. Here, the white stuff has been falling almost continuously since December 30. As a result, across the Tirol the avalanche warning is almost universally 4/5 today, which precludes any off-piste skiing. Even so, Austria has seen a steady run of avalanche fatalities in recent days. Be careful if you’re skiing there now or in the near future, and take all avalanche warnings seriously.

The snow depths tell their own story. Above St Anton, there’s now 445cm of settled snow on the Valluga, and 230-330cm mid-mountain. In the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, there’s 170cm mid-mountain, and 325cm of snow at the top. Meanwhile, the Nordkette above Innsbruck is closed again because of the avalanche risk.

Pictured above is how it looked earlier today above Ellmau in the Skiwelt. When the skies do eventually clear, and the snow settles….wow. However, there’s now sign of an immediate change in the weather.

Meanwhile in North America…

Whistler announced recently that this season it’s broken its December snowfall record: 384cm in one month, compared with the previous high of 380cm set in 1994. The season total so far is 678cm. The current mid-mountain snow depth is 287cm.

Pole planting is where the ski pole on the inside of a turn, is put into the snow briefly during a turn. For general parallel turns, pole planting helps us with timing our turns, but when used with short turns, in moguls or in powder, pole planting also helps us to turn. This page concentrates on using pole planting while making parallel turns. Using pole planting in for short turns, in moguls and in powder are covered more in their own sections.

When first learning to ski, using poles or even having them with you, is not important as they distract people from what they should be concentrating on, and are generally more of a hindrance than help. Once you are at the standard where you are doing parallel turns though, they start to become a lot more important. For a decent skier pole planting is used a lot of the time in the manoeuvres that they perform.

How and When to Pole Plant

A pole plant should always be made on the inside of a turn, with your arm out in front and just to the side of you, with the elbow slightly bent. The pole is put into the snow as your movement comes to straight forwards along the skis, at the same time as you change the edges on the skis. This point is not when you are pointing straight down the fall line, but is before then (as shown in using resistance). It is the point at which the skis are traveling straight along their length after having stopped sliding sideways from the initial traverse, and are about to slide sideways in the other direction, out of the turn. The pole touches the snow close to inside ski, within the first quarter of the skis length. Once the pole is planted, it should be pushed straight backwards by the snow, and is allowed to move back by letting your wrist move, the arm should stay where it was. If the pole is put into the snow too early (i.e. before you change your sliding direction) the pole will be pushed towards the inside ski, and you may find that your ski hits the pole. If the pole plant is too late the pole will be pushed away from the ski more, and will not travel straight backwards. It is important that the pole is allowed to move backwards from the wrist, as this side of the body needs to come across the skis while coming out of the turn, to keep the correct stance. If the pole is allowed to make the upper body move, it will push the shoulder back twisting the body out of position.

For pole planting in parallel turns it is not important to put any real pressure through the pole into the snow, the point at which the pole plant is made, marks the middle of the turn with the skis traveling straight forwards, and enables the skier to get into a nice rhythm of making turns. Although letting the pole touch the snow lets us know if we have made the pole plant at the right time or not, by the direction the pole gets pushed in. Especially when traveling faster, whether the pole even touches the snow or not, is not so important, as you can find that the pole just gets pushed away too quickly, and that it is easier just to use the motion, without letting the pole actually touch the snow.

In powder, moguls and short turns, is where the pole plant is the most important. In these the poles can be used as a pivot, providing some resistance to help turn your skis. This uses a slightly different technique though and is explained further in the off-piste skiing, mogul skiing and short turns sections.

Walk Through Explanation

Below is a walk through explanation of how to make a pole plant while making a parallel turn as described in the parallel turns section.

Coming across the slope we have our body turned slightly towards the fall line, with our arms out slightly in front of us just to the sides, our elbows slightly bent, and the poles pointing behinds us at about a 45 degree angle to the snow, as with the normal stance for traversing across the slope. As we initiate the turn by bringing our weight evenly to both skis and leaning forwards, we bring the inside arm forwards more, bringing the pole vertical or even slightly forwards, in preparation for the pole plant. Note that we bring the arm forwards without twisting the body, as to maintain a good stance. As we turn more our body will start to flatten off to the skis letting the pole come further forwards naturally. At the point where we are just changing the edges on the skis, and are traveling straight forwards along the skis, we push the pole down into the snow gently. We allow the bottom of the pole to move backwards until it comes out of the snow by letting our wrist move, keeping our arm in the same position. We then steer out of the turn putting our weight on the outside ski and bring the pole back to pointing behind us diagonally to the snow, moving our body in to the correct stance for going the other way across the slope.

Pole Planting Animation

The animation shows the 3D skier doing 2 turns with pole planting on the virtual ski area. On the first turn you see the pole plant from in front, notice how the pole plant happens before the skier points straight down the slope. On the second turn you see the pole plant from the side, notice that the pole plant is made just as the skis become flat to the snow.

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Common Mistakes:

• Making the pole plant on the outside of the turn – The pole plant should be on the inside of the turn, think of the point where you make the pole plant as a pivot which you turn around.
• Not putting the pole far enough forwards into the snow – The pole should be put into the snow within the first quarter of the ski’s length.
• Making to pole plant too early or too late – As explained before you can tell if you have made the pole plant too early or too late by the direction the pole moves in, pay attention to the direction the pole moves in so that you can correct yourself.
• Letting the arm come back and bring the body out of position – The arm needs to stay out in front with the pole coming back from the wrist, if the arm comes back it will push the body out of the correct stance.

More general common mistakes can be found in the Common Mistakes page of the Learning to Ski section.

The next thing to learn about is pressure applied to the edges. If the weight of you and your skis is spread over the entire base of the skis, that puts the least possible amount of pressure into the snow (pressure = force / area), as your weight is spread over the whole area of the base. If you take your weight off of the base of the skis and tilt the skis onto their edges though, your weight has a much smaller area to get transferred into the snow with, and puts more pressure into the snow. The added pressure makes the skis sink further into the snow, and the further they sink the more resistance they can provide. The diagram below shows how the area that the weight is transfered through decreases as the ski is leant over, and how the ski digs further into the snow the more it is leant over.

Pushing Sideways

Also the more the skis are leant over the more the base and edges can push sideways on the snow. This is because the force from the base and edge of the ski into the snow, acts at a right angle to their surface. The more the ski is leant over the larger the sideways component of this force becomes, so the more the ski will be able to push sideways on the snow. When we want to change direction or slow down, we need to push sideways on the snow, so the more the ski is leant over the quicker we we will be able to turn or slow down. This becomes very important when carving and stopping . The diagram below shows how the components of the force from the base change as the ski is leant over more.

Leaning The Skis Over Too Much

Although leaning the ski over digs the edges in more and lets the ski push sideways more, if the ski is leant over too far the snow may not be strong enough to hold the edge in the snow, and the top layer of the snow can just get pushed sideways by the ski, making the ski lose all its grip.

Mammoth Mountain and June Lake snow resorts reopened Wednesday and are now contending with as much as 11 feet of new snow and temperatures hovering around 0 after the biggest storms of the season left behind more than 10 feet in some places.

All lifts at Mammoth were expected to be up and running Wednesday. But skiers early-day skiers faced biting cold. The temperature early Wednesday was 5 degrees heading toward an expected high of 18.

1:40 PM, Feb. 05, 2019 Updated with new photo

Mammoth’s website warned skiers about snow immersion suffocation, or SIS, because the snow is so deep, and it recommended skiing or boarding with a companion. It also promised “extensive patrol work. for the safety of all guests and employees.”

At June Mountain, the temperature Wednesday morning was listed as -10; the high was expected to reach 18. At least two lifts were expected to open Wednesday; several trails remained closed.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows expected all lifts and runs to be open Wednesday, noting that it had received 7 feet of snow, according to its Twitter feed.

Closer to home, SoCal ski resorts were reveling in new snowfall.

Big Bear reported 2½ feet of snow the last three days, bring its season total to 6½ feet. The high on Wednesday was expected to be 27, according to the Weather Channel.

Mountain High in Wrightwood got as much as 3 feet from the most recent storms, and its website said the east resort was expected to open Friday. The high on Wednesday was expected to be 29, its website said.

Snow Valley Mountain Resort in Running Springs said it received more than 3½ feet. The opening of its upper mountain was delayed Wednesday because of icing. Highs today were expected in the mid-20s.

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As Los Angeles Times assistant Travel editor, Mary Forgione writes and edits stories for the digital and print Travel section. She loves tips and stories about running, hiking and anything to do with the outdoors.

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With all of the major ski resorts now open in North America, we’ve been checking to see where you’ll find the best early season snow conditions. If you’re looking to chase some powder turns over Christmas, then here are our top three recommendations.

In Canada, Whistler opened a week early for the second year in a row, enjoying 315cm of snow in November. Snow conditions on opening day were superb and the resort has already accumulated 400 cm to date with a base of 139 cm. That’s a base of nearly 5 feet already and its still snowing!

Whistler on opening day (17th November 2017) When we say deep……. we mean deep!! (Whistler Nov 16th 2017)

Alberta has also been enjoying some great conditions, with Lake Louise having a fantastic start to their season. Check out this tweet posted at the end of November.

So far this season Lake Louise has over 280cm accumulation in the back bowls and it’s only mid December!!

Lake Louise (photo taken Nov 20th 2017)

In the USA, Jackson Hole in Wyoming has had an amazing start to their season. The resort has an enviable snow record and this season is no exception. Due to the record breaking early snowfall they opened up the resort early on November 25th and they currently have 139 inches – that’s nearly 12 feet of snow.

Enjoy! RT @tomwintermedia: 139 inches! That’s the snowfall to date at @jhski and that’s also why they’re opening the tram on Saturday for true top-to-bottom skiing. #skiing

To keep up to date with the snow conditions in our featured ski resorts in Canada and the USA Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter

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Wilderness & Environmental Medicine

Non-avalanche-related snow immersion death (NARSID), or snow immersion asphyxiation, is a significant winter mountain hazard for skiers and snowboarders. This phenomenon occurs predominately in western North America, where large tree wells and deep snowpacks develop. Although statistics are difficult to procure, snow immersion asphyxiation has resulted in more than 70 documented deaths in the past 2 decades. The primary purpose of this review is to examine the existing literature on NARSID to help prevent such dangerous accidents through educating wilderness medicine professionals and fostering public awareness. The exact duration of burial to time of death and the cause of death are not precisely known but can be postulated from accident reports, experimental snow burial studies, and avalanche literature. In most cases, death probably occurs within 15 to 30 minutes from the time of burial. However, survival after prolonged burial in a tree well and deep snow is possible. The cause of death is asphyxiation, probably due to one of the mechanisms that produce asphyxia in avalanche burial victims: positional asphyxia, airway obstruction, or carbon dioxide displacement asphyxia. Prevention of snow immersion asphyxiation begins with skiers and snowboarders staying within the limits of their skills, using the proper tools for deep powder, staying in control at all times, and employing a buddy system. A skier or snowboarder who falls near or into a tree well should tuck, roll, and try to land upright, grab the tree trunk or a branch, and yell or blow a whistle to alert partners. If buried upside down, the person should stay calm and create an air pocket, which is probably of paramount importance. Skiers and snowboarders should use avalanche safety equipment to lessen the risk of snow submersion asphyxiation.

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There are only a couple of weeks left to run in many Australian and New Zealand ski resorts. But there’s still plenty of fizz left in the season.

Pictured below was The Remarkables last Thursday. The resort’s near Queenstown on the South Island of NZ, and was walloped by 65cm of snow last week.

It was shut for a day as a result, but the sun came out quickly, temperatures rose, and someone had the bright idea of skiing powder in their underpants…

Meanwhile, in Thredbo, in the Snowy Mountains of Australia, inclement weather meant there was only one day of sunshine in which to run the One Hit Wonder event – over the biggest jump on the AFP World Tour. But it didn’t disappoint. 17 year old American Alex Hall of Park City, won it, after landing the first ever switch triple cork. “Now I have to go back to school and – hopefully – graduate,” he said afterwards.

The video highlights are mind-blowing.

This is also the time of year for fancy dress. Both the Remarkables and Valle Nevado in Chile had Vintage Days last weekend.

This was The Remarks.

This was Valle Nevado.

And this was Gran Catedral in southern Argentina on Saturday. No neon-coloured clothing here. But plenty of the white stuff…

Meanwhile, in the Alps…

I was walking in the mountains above Canazei last Friday, in the Italian Dolomites. Walking…and eating the odd slice of cake, too.

The weather was dazzling: as hot as mid-summer in the valleys, and just refreshing enough to make hiking easy, higher up.

This week, it won’t be quite so summery. It’ll start warm, but there are likely to be afternoon thunderstorms in the western Alps today and tomorrow, followed by a more widespread deterioration in the weather as an area of low pressure washes in. It’ll be cooler too: but only the highest peaks and ridges are likely to see snow.

Popular Articles

There are two types of skier: Those who enjoy skiing in the resort on popular, groomed slopes and those who crave the excitement of exploring the backcountry and untouched powder.

If you’ve mastered on-piste skiing and are looking for a new challenge, why not consider off-piste skiing? With the proper training, hard work and safety knowledge, you can gain the skills necessary to ride virtually any terrain in the world.

Understanding Off-Piste Skiing


While the name changes from person-to-person and location-to-location (some call it powder or backcountry skiing), the heart of off-piste skiing remains the same everywhere. The goal is to enjoy the beauty of nature in an untouched, non-commercialized manner.

When looking at off-piste skiing in light of regular resort skiing, it’s sort of like comparing primitive wilderness camping to camping in a populated campground with public restrooms and pre-made fire pits. With off-piste skiing you’re left to your own devices, albeit in more demanding circumstances.

Reasons to Try Off-Piste Skiing

While many seasoned skiers and snowboarders jump at the opportunity to try off-piste skiing, others need a little more coaxing to get started. If you would label yourself as a member of the latter category, skim over the following three points to get an idea for why off-piste skiing is so exhilarating and rewarding:

• Challenging. Most off-piste skiers initially become interested because of the perceived challenge. It’s exponentially more difficult than regular skiing and is a true test of skill, talent, and ability. Furthermore, it’s physically demanding and a great form of alternative, yet rigorous activity.

• Beautiful scenery. Because off-piste skiing takes place in the backcountry and on uninhabited slopes, the scenery is almost always superior to that of resort trails and public slopes. This is especially true in Whistler and British Columbia where the views are incredible and picturesque.

• Fewer people. The third reason to try off-piste skiing is for the peace and serenity. You’re almost always out on your own and only occasionally come into contact with other skiers. This diminished traffic allows you to dictate the speed, direction, and pace of your descent.

Off-Piste Skiing Tips for First-Timers



If you’re interested in off-piste skiing but have yet to try it, you should start by learning as much as possible. Here are a few basic tips to get you started:

• Never ski alone. When proper safety precautions are followed, off-piste skiing is relatively safe; however, there are inherent dangers associated with traversing backcountry snow. You should never attempt to ski alone, especially on your first few runs.

• Tell people about your plans. But even though there are risks, many people do ski alone. If you eventually make the personal choice to ski alone on off-piste trails and mountains, it’s critical to at least tell people about your plans. This ensures that – if something were to happen – people would know you’re missing and have an idea of what general vicinity you can be found in.

• Have a plan. Never head off-piste without some sort of plan. You can usually find a print guide, local, or other resource to explain the best areas to ski, terrains to avoid, and what conditions to expect. This information may prove to be invaluable, should you find yourself in a compromising situation.

• Carry the proper equipment. Every off-piste skier should have a few basic tools and pieces of equipment with them in case something happens while in the backcountry. These include a beacon (or avalanche transceiver) that allows you to be found should you get buried in an avalanche, a shovel to help you get out of deep drifts, a backpack with food and water, and adequate clothing to stay warm.

• Welcome the speed. Whether you like it or not, you’re going to pick up some speed when skiing on fresh powder. “Don’t be afraid of speed. Go too slow and you end up mired in the snow, fighting it,” says ski photographer, Aryeh Copa. “Speed lets your skis float to the surface, where it’s easier to turn. Think of your skis as the wings of a plane. You need speed to get lift.”

• Pay attention to posture. Posture is of supreme importance when it comes to off-piste skiing. Even the slightest imbalance can cause you to fall and injure yourself. Your stance should be narrow and slightly crouched (almost like a heavy weight boxer) with your weight pushed forward on the balls of your feet. If you sit back too far on your skis, you’ll lose balance.

• Perfect turning skills. Because of the speed and softer snow conditions, turning requires some practice. They should be long, sweeping turns, as opposed to short, abrupt changes in direction. This decreases your chance of burying your skis or stalling into a drift.

• Don’t use your hands after a fall. While your natural instinct after a fall may be to use your hands to get up, this could cause you to sink deeper into the snow. Instead, cross your poles into an “X” formation and grab onto the intersection with one hand and push yourself up.

• Review snow conditions. In order to minimize the risks associated with off-piste skiing, you should always review snow conditions prior to hitting the slopes. There are five levels of avalanche danger – low, moderate, considerable, high, and very high – and they can change throughout the day. Anytime snow conditions reach level three (considerable), extreme caution should be taken.

• Take a look around. Finally, don’t be afraid to look around and enjoy the views. Off-piste skiing offers incredible views and you don’t want to be so focused on your technique that you forget to immerse yourself in nature.

Alltracks Academy Off-Piste Courses


At Alltracks Academy, we believe nothing is more exhilarating than gliding across pristine, untouched powder and carving our own trails through the backcountry of Whistler and British Columbia. If you’ve never considered off-piste skiing and snowboarding, now is the time to make it happen.

At Alltracks, we offer both two and six week training courses (or an 11 week course that combines off-piste and instructor training) with some of the top instructors in the industry. For additional information on these opportunities – or any of our other training courses – please don’t hesitate to contact us today!