bounceswoosh
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Correction: One inch. But some places definitely got more blown in.
I've gotten some better tips this year, and have a much more solid understanding of the mechanics of how to do the whole weighting/unweighting thing to float your skis back up.
How is the weighting/unweighting thing done? Not sure how easy it is for you to explain in writing, but I'm curious to learn how. I only experienced two days of knee (not waist) deep powder this season, and since I never got any tips before, took me the whole two days to experiment until I stop doing nose dives/face plants. Luckily, the snow is soft!
From my own trial and error, my conclusion is that the ski techniques are the same as on groomed and in powder, except the body feels like it's different. For example, good skiing techniques require staying centred or on top of the skis. Powder just reminds me when I'm not centred: If I'm too forward, that's when I'm face planting. On the other hand, it's almost the body's instinct to lean back to get the tips up in powder, but that's when the skis get away from me (same as on groomed). Eventually, I figured out that I just need to keep on top of the skis, which means adjusting constantly where the centred is based on what the snow is doing to the skis. Also, I figured out it's easier making narrower turns instead of wide turns, and even if just going straight, it still helps to pretend to turn, like micro turns by going from one outside leg to another without actually turning the legs, and continue to pole plant for balance. Overall, just being lighter on the feet!
Interested to hear the weighting/unweighting technique
You got that right!It isn't that easy. The lean back thing is very old school and not a good idea.
Are these men?
ETA: I just noticed you're in Tahoe. Tahoe has the heaviest snow around! That makes it even harder.
I watched this YouTube video and tried it in six inches or so. It worked on green and blue runs but when I tried it on steeper stuff... well, it wasn’t so good, which leads me to believe it’s a user error! I am so jealous of all these people who have these amazing powder days because my experience with powder has been pretty frustrating. I hear “whoo hoo!” all the way down the run but it’s not me doing the shouting. Skiing powder makes me feel like a newbie all over again. Low visibility doesn’t help and today the low visibility, well, I’m in the lodge trying to recover. Lol.Mostly what made what people had been telling me was seeing this video (of instructing kids) on youtube:
How do you do this?! I get centered just in time to run over a hidden bump that slams my knees into my chest. That sends me to back seat and well, you know what that means.Eventually, I figured out that I just need to keep on top of the skis, which means adjusting constantly where the centred is based on what the snow is doing to the skis
I have the same issues. I just don't get to practice in powder much. I only have one day this season where it got above my boot tops and it was noticiably more difficult. I feel as if I fight to stay centered on my skis and that I am always being tossed back. I have powder skis. They help, but I wouldn't even try in waste deep !I watched this YouTube video and tried it in six inches or so. It worked on green and blue runs but when I tried it on steeper stuff... well, it wasn’t so good, which leads me to believe it’s a user error! I am so jealous of all these people who have these amazing powder days because my experience with powder has been pretty frustrating. I hear “whoo hoo!” all the way down the run but it’s not me doing the shouting. Skiing powder makes me feel like a newbie all over again. Low visibility doesn’t help and today the low visibility, well, I’m in the lodge trying to recover. Lol.
How do you do this?! I get centered just in time to run over a hidden bump that slams my knees into my chest. That sends me to back seat and well, you know what that means.