Do you know how to ski deep powder snow and do you enjoy weightless, short, rhythmic turns through the powder? Then you’re ready for the next step: SKI KANADA & SKI USA give you the ultimate technique tips. Powder skiing for experts: big turns, powder slide, powder switch.

Even more fun in powder: Technique tips & tricks for powder skiing on skis

Wedging is nice, but not everything in powder.

Big turns

Long lines at high speed – that’s modern powder skiing in perfection. The thrill of powder skiing, however, requires a high degree of speed and stability, especially of the inside and outside regulation. It’s not radius or rhythm that determines turn changes and control, but the terrain. Plan your track – or rather line – into the terrain in advance of your ride. Slope conditions such as snow, steepness, edges, rocks, trees or other obstacles – all this determines the line. Superfluous curves are avoided – after all, the speed should be high and not too slow. If you then draw your line into the powder as planned, the sense of achievement is enormous. As always, however, safety first also applies to big turns. Approach the higher speed slowly and don’t choose lines that are too extreme and long.

Powder-Slide

Dusting powder snow during a turn looks great on photos. SKI KANADA reveals how the powder slide works: „“Crossing the skis in deep snow requires an enormous amount of feeling, because the speed, the edge angle and the angle of attack of the skis must be adapted exactly to the snow resistance. This works best when the skis are turned crosswise from a fast turn without canting. It’s a crazy feeling that conveys hovering and flying at the same time. The resulting snow dust is called spray in the freerider scene. If the sun is still right, you have a great picture in the can! Sliding in deep snow is easier the wider the skis, the higher the speed and the steeper the slope.

Powder Switch

You can do just about anything in deep powder? Then you’re ready for the ultimate kick: skiing backwards in powder. This is a truly extreme and spectacular way to ski deep powder. Of course, skiing backwards requires appropriate ski equipment, preferably with a strong full rocker, twintip and central mounting point of the binding. The wider the skis, the easier the powder switch. The demand on balance and regulation has the highest level and requires a lot of motivation. Have fun trying it out and digging it out!

Back to top powder skiing made easy

For even more info on skiing and snowboarding technique topics, check out the syllabi from the German Ski Instructors Association:

DSLV Lehrplan – Skifahren einfach, 2012, ISBN 978-3-8354-0869-2
DSLV Lehrplan – Freeriden einfach, 2012, ISBN 978-3-8354-0872-2
DSLV Lehrplan – Snowboarden einfach, 2012 ISBN 978-3-8354-0870-8