harold@hp-pcd.UUCP (harold) (03/15/85)
While I'm not the greatest powder skier in the world, I did grow up in Utah, skiing Snowbird, Alta, ParK City, etc. When skiing any type of surface, there are two styles; a) forward pressure on the ski tips that allows you to carve your turns, and b) leaning back, which allows you to "skid" or slide your turns. It is generally accepted that method (a) is the best method- it gives you more control as you ski and I have found that it is easier on the body. The mistake many people make when they are faced with three feet (or more) of powder is to "lean back" to get their ski tips up. This is *NOT* the best way to ski powder! True, you cannot apply as much forward pressure on your tips as you do when skiing packed; just as you don't apply as much when skiing soft-pack versus ice. However, the principle of carving your turns still applies. The key is to distribute your weight evenly on your skiis. Apply slight forward pressure on the ski tips, and have fun! Don't worry if you never see your ski tips- it isn't necessary if you are carving your turns properly. If you have trouble with your ski tips wandering in powder, it is guaranteed that you aren't carving your truns enough- you're "leaning back"! I *LOVE* skiing three+ feet of new powder down a *STEEP* slope. There's nothing in the world like that feeling! But, alas, I now live in Oregon and have yet to learn how to ski on rain....... Harold Noyes !hplabs!hp-pcd!harold
ken@turtlevax.UUCP (Ken Turkowski) (03/18/85)
In article <42600006@hp-pcd.UUCP> harold@hp-pcd.UUCP (harold) writes: > >When skiing any type of surface, there are two styles; a) forward >pressure on the ski tips that allows you to carve your turns, and >b) leaning back, which allows you to "skid" or slide your turns. >It is generally accepted that method (a) is the best method- it >gives you more control as you ski and I have found that it is >easier on the body. > >The mistake many people make when they are faced with three feet (or >more) of powder is to "lean back" to get their ski tips up. This is >*NOT* the best way to ski powder! True, you cannot apply as much >forward pressure on your tips as you do when skiing packed; just as you >don't apply as much when skiing soft-pack versus ice. However, the >principle of carving your turns still applies. I agree that one should lean slightly forward when skiing powder, as long as it is dry. However, some people call any unpacked snow "powder", even though it is wet and heavy, which, in California, is more often called "Sierra Cement". For this wet, unpacked snow, it is suicide to lean forward; it is difficult to turn and knee injuries are likely. The only safe way to ski the wetter stuff is to lean back and feel your thighs burn! -- Ken Turkowski @ CADLINC, Menlo Park, CA UUCP: {amd,decwrl,hplabs,nsc,seismo,spar}!turtlevax!ken ARPA: turtlevax!ken@DECWRL.ARPA