Articles

Off Piste Skiing Tips

Written by Simon Christy, November 2007

With winter just around the corner and the first snows already fallen in the Alps, it's time to think about skiing again. If this winter is anything like last year, then despite the doom and gloom of the media, there should be good skiing to be had right through the season. Jagged Globe runs 3 levels of Off Piste Coaching courses in The 3 Valleys, Tignes and Verbier.

To get a head start, here is a new article with some top tips to help keep you �head up and feet down� in the powder.

Gear
Make sure your boots fit! Too tight and you will suffer, too loose and you will have less control over your skis. Think of your boots like the steering linkage in a car. If this has too much play you will still be able to steer the car in a rudimentary fashion, but driving a winding mountain road would be neither fun nor safe. Aim for a snug comfortable fit which holds your foot firmly but without any pressure points.

Body
Make sure you are fit! Skiing is an intense sport. Add to that altitude, cold, wind and possibly a beer too many in the previous days apr�s ski and your body is in for a testing time. Although the best training for skiing is skiing, a good build up of cardio-vascular and ski specific (leg/trunk/core) exercise will allow you to enjoy your ski trip to the full. Whenever possible on the snow, start the day gently and gradually increase the intensity and range of movements. A gentle warm-down followed by some stretching will aid recovery of the muscles for the next day's action.

Tactics
Be aware of what you are �asking� the ski to do. Most of us have to work within the laws of physics but very often we try to get the skis to do things that simply are not possible. Don�t expect skis to turn too quickly in heavy or wind-packed snow. Accept that your turns may be wider arcs, and adjust your intentions accordingly. On steep slopes it is very difficult to turn without losing height (and if we did it would take an awfully long time to get down!). Before each turn visualise where your head/body is likely to end up and commit to moving it in that direction as you start the turn. If you try to remain where you are as your skis head off down the hill, then you may experience some �issues�.

Think with your feet
Your skis are just extensions of your feet. Think and ski with your feet and the rest will follow (within the bounds of "tactics" above). Get used to your new �feet�. Pick up one foot/ski at a time and swing it about to adjust to the new weight. Tap the tip and tail in the snow to help the body identify its new �front and back�. When skiing picture arcs in the snow where you want to go and get your feet to gradually describe those arcs.

Hang Loose
Our main aim on skis is to remain balanced as they take us toward our (intended) destination. As mountain sides are not often regular and silky smooth we need to move to maintain our balance. Aim for a feeling of looseness in all your joints whilst skiing, so you can respond to any balance challenges that come along. A good mental image for this is bouncing gently on a trampoline. We have to be strong with our muscles, but loose in our joints to be able to control the spring and stay balanced.

And finally
Remember that it�s all just a bit of fun really. Even the best skiers end up with snow in their collars every now and then. Every ski trip will have its �downs� when nothing seems to work right, but hopefully these are outweighed by the �ups� when everything falls into place and you have �wings on your feet�.

If you would like to join BASI Coach, Simon Christy, on the slopes this winter, we are running 3 levels of Off Piste Coaching courses in The 3 Valleys, Tignes and Verbier. Find out more in our Off Piste Courses section.

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