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Achieving Better Speed Control
Print This PageHow To Pick The Best Line When Skiing Moguls
Finding the right line in the moguls is a major challenge. There is no "one right way" to ski the bumps nor is there one "correct" line to ski. How a skier determines the optimum mogul line depends upon who the skier is and what their goals are. Younger skiers with fast reflexes might choose one line while older skiers with slower reflexes might choose a different line. And, the steepness of the run, the snow conditions on the run, the skier's level of fatigue, current visibility and weather conditions and the skier's "frame of mind" (courage vs.
Pick A Focus And Improve Your Skiing Skills
Good mogul and powder skiing requires good skiing fundamentals. And, the best way to develop good fundamentals is to periodically work on improving your basic skiing skills.
On the first couple of runs each day it is a good idea to start out by focusing on one or more key skills. Examples of specific skills you can focus on include:
1. Hand Position: hands wider than elbows and elbows in front of your spine.
Skiing Tip - Be Keenly Aware Of Your Edge Angles
When skiing moguls you must try extra hard to avoid having high edge angles. Why?
If you are on easy groomed terrain - and you are standing directly on top of your skis without adding angulation - the bases of your skis wiil be relatively flat to the snow. However, if you are skiing in a mogul run and you are standing directly on top of your skis the edge of your skis will likely have a high edge angle relative to the slope on the downhill side of each mogul.
Skiing Tips - Friction Is Your Friend, Use It
Conventional wisdom says that that one should avoid skiing into clumps of snow because you could catch and edge and/or get tripped up.
However, let us offer a different perspective. Clumps of snow represent friction and friction is your friend because friction helps slow you down. I actively seek out clumps of snow and frequently use the clumps as the location of where I make my next turn.
Skiing Tips - Drifting Is A Valuable Ski Technique In Moguls And Powder
In our Mogul and Powder Skiing Tip series we talk a lot about the importance of a "drift" or "drifting" to control speed in the bumps. So, what exactly is the definition of a drift?
A drift occurs when you use a combination of rotation (steering the skis perpendicular or higher to the fall line) and edging (using less edge angle - which creates lateral movement - in order to create friction) for the purpose of reducing, or better controlling speed.
Skiing Tips - Are You Carving Or Drifting ?
Do you ever find yourself having to stop in order to regain speed control after just 4 or 5 turns in a mogul run?
If so, stop and look back at your ski tracks. If you see two sharp parallel lines in the snow it means that you were carving. And, if you were carving, that is most likely the primary reason you ended up skiing on the "edge of crazy".
Carving promotes speed and it is the polar opposite skiing technique that you want to use in bumps (unless, of course, you are aiming for speed - and are young, athletic, and have fast reflexes).
Skiing Tips - Good Edge Control Is Essential For Mogul Skiing
Edging and edge control are two commonly used term in skiing. But, do you know what edging and edge control mean - and why this understanding is important for mogul skiing and powder skiing?
Edging and edge control are commonly viewed as being synonymous with having the ability to create high edge angles - a technique that produces carving. But, edging and edge control really isn't about high edge angles. Having good edging or edge control skills actually means being able to dial in the appropriate edge angle (whether high or low) for the task at hand.
Skiing Tip - Finish Your Turns
Often, speed control problems on groomed runs, or in moguls or powder, are a result of skiers not finishing their turns. It is actually a very simple problem - if you do not turn your skis across the fall line (so they are perpendicular, or more - e.g. ski tips equal or higher than perpendicular) - then you will likely gain speed with each and every turn. On average, if you don't finish your turns, you could potentially gain 1% - 3% in speed on every turn. Under that premise, 5 turns down the hill you could be skiing 15% faster.
Skiing Tip - Develop Your Drifting Skills
Develop your "drifting" skills. A great practice drill to develop your ability to ski with a soft edge is to select a spot about 30 feet in front of you on groomed terrain and see how many turns you can make between where you are standing and the target. If you carve your turns you will not be able to make as many turns than if you use a drifted turn (the combination of a rotary move with less edge angle - e.g. on a flatter ski). Hold a competition between you and your friends to see who can make the most number of turns between any two points.
Skiing Tip - Boomer Advice On How Not To Ski Moguls
Conventional thinking says that the way you are supposed to a ski mogul run is to ski the troughs between moguls. That can be a good strategy if you are in your 20's or 30's but it is not the optimum approach if you are in your 40's, 50's or 60's. Here are two good reasons why:
