How to ski Tahoe powder and look good doing it.

By: Blog Tahoe

There is nothing quite like it. The feeling of skiing in untracked fresh powder. It’s hard to describe. To me it feels like falling slowly, floating quickly and flying softly. Fresh powder is one of those things well worth the risk of calling in sick.

It’s an experience that will make you consider quitting your job to live out of van while pursuing the endless winter. That is, if you know how to do it. There is technique involved to skiing powder. As anyone who is able to control a powdery descent knows it’s not about pointing your skis downhill and going for it. It’s about finesse, style and trust. Here is Blog Tahoe’s guide on how to ski Tahoe powder and look good doing it:

1.Equipment and Clothes
As with most sports having the right equipment, while not totally essential, will enhance the experience and results quite a bit. You can ski powder on almost any type of ski but if you want the best experience rent, buy or demo some powder specific skis. Clothing choices can also have a big impact on your performance and enjoyment. The name of the clothes game when skiing powder is preventing snow from getting on the inside. Forget clothes that are too tight, jackets that are too short and pants that have a tendency to give you a plumbers butt. If temperatures permit a full suite will yield the best results while anything that comfortably covers all your opening will do almost as well. Take off your loose items such as sunglasses (go with goggles instead), mp3 players, headphones, hats not secured by your goggle strap and anything else you don’t want loose. Unlike a groomed run when you have an impromptu yard sale in powder finding your stuff can be nearly impossible.

2.Get in a good stance.
Skiing powder is all about balance. It’s about finessing a series of very fluid, very smooth controlled falls. As you ski towards the powder take a slightly wider stance then used on groomed runs. Flex your legs a bit and keep your arms and poles in a relaxed position slightly out in front of you.

3.Don’t lean back
For some reason first time powder skiers have a tendency to lean back. Don’t do this. You do not need to keep your tips above the powder line and muscling through a leaned back turn will not give you the floating feeling we’re looking for. Be mindful of where your weight is. Balance yourself over the center of your ski and then lean froward a bit. To ski powder you must trust your skis, which is especially fun since you won’t be seeing a whole lot of them.

4.Speed
It’s counter intuitive. When you’re a little nervous and not sure how to do something it makes sense to go slow. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work too well in powder. It’s kind of like an airplane trying to fly slow, it needs speed to create lift. When skiing powder you must build up enough speed to slice through the snow. If you go too slow powder will build up all over your ankles and skis making them heavier and harder to turn. Don’t just go bombing down the run either. Instead, as you begin to pick up some speed be conscious of how your skis feel. A moment will come when they start to feel much lighter. At this point try a nice wide turn using the steps below. If the skis respond you’ve found your correct speed. This takes a lot of practice and should only be attempted under the watchful eye of a trained professional.

5.The Turn
Skiing powder is all about your ability to weight and unweight your skis. It’s about rising and falling into and out of the snow through each turn. How is this accomplished? Each powder turn is made of a few steps which should all by linked and overlapped together to produce a fluid turning rhythm.

Turn Step 1. Stay light on your skis into the first turn. Plant your downhill pole out in front of you. Use this pole plant as guide for your turn. It may help to think of the pole as a slalom gate, imagine your ski turning around this pole.

Turn Step 2. Lean forward slightly and begin to weight your skis. As you apply weight to your skis (by subtly extending and pushing down with your hips and knees) they should begin to sink down into the powder. As this is happening turn both skis in the direction you want to turn. Use your upper body to maintain the center of balance and do not lean into the turn.

Turn Step 3. While turning and sinking through the powder begin to unweight your skis. Take weight off your skis by flexing and pulling your ankles and knees upward. Straighten out of the turn as you begin to rise in the powder. Now begin preparing the opposite pole plant.

Turn Step 4. At the top of the turn stay light. Think about your next turn. You are now back at turn step 1.

5.Practice and Instruction.
There is no substitute for proper instruction and practice. Skiing is dangerous and skiing in powder only adds to the risk. Before your venture into the Lake Tahoe powder make sure you are properly trained and outfitted. Practice weighting and unwegithing your skis while making small straight traverse in powder. Once your are able to float and sink reliably through the powder try a single downhill turn. Make your practice turns wider then normal and give yourself plenty of room. Never ski powder alone.

With all the recent powder in Tahoe we hope this guide will get you up the hill and into the good stuff. With practice and patience you’ll be skiing Tahoe powder like a pro in no time. We’ll see you on the slopes.

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