 Poster: A snowHead
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Interested in any comments from SHs who may be much more expert than me. I am posting this as someone with a little bit of ski instruction but no knowledge of any ski philosophies- this is something I have stumbled on myself through my personal experience, so would be interested in seeing how it fits with mainstream philosophy or more expert skiers/ instructors thoughts.
To me, there are basically 4 different types of snow, each requiring a different skiing technique. Of course, this statement is a massive oversimplification. In practice there are infinite permutations of surface and a blend of techniques is nearly always required.
1. Piste. Assuming smooth and firm/ hard , fundamental technique is carving with rhythm
2. Powder. Assuming light and homogenous consistency. Requires you to flatten skis and put weight on both. Use the bounce. Rhythm with your up-down.
3. Crud/crust. Need vigorous vertical movement or jump turns after sustained pressure buildup.
4. Moguls. I don't know what is best way to ski these.
I am including wet sticky crust with hard crud. Even though they may appear v different surfaces, a similar technique is required. Similarly proper corn snow and slush would be same category as powder. But yes of course I know that snow can exist as a continuum between powder and crud. All conditions may be found on piste. And any of first 3 can be bumpy, which totally complicates things. But for me it has helped to try to decide which of the 4 surfaces I am trying to ski which can then dictate my default technique, which in turn is varied / blended with other techniques according to the actual variables of the surface.
Thoughts?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Totally agree that you are always varying the blend but being told and realising the same fundamentals apply everywhere was a breakthrough moment for me rather than thinking in terms of different techniques for different terrain. Struggling off-piste, bumps, white-outs is telling you that you need to do more work on the fundamentals and then you are good to go everywhere.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@peanuthead,
A. I feel you are over simplifying.
B. moguls. There is a technique. Discussed frequently here.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@stewart woodward, my description of technique must be taken with grain of salt!. In that kind of terrain I find myself trying to jump on every turn to make sure I can my legs around. I will gladly take your tips though. But I am particularly interested in your thoughts on 4 fundamentally different horses for courses. Acknowledging it is complete oversimplification as@under a new name, points out also
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Talking philosophically what is needed is a tune for each.
Anything from Strauss will do for powder, while a friend of mine swore by singing Night-fever when skiing moguls, the theme from Mission Impossible would be appropriate for me skiing crust.
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@peanuthead, thank you for acknowleding
My favourite instructor once pointed out that there is only one way to turn but many forms of snow. Helpfully.
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You don't need to bounce in powder, and you definitely don't need to bounce on corn and slush! Best thing about slush is the ridiculously high edge angles you can get away with when carving, and the way any lumps of snow or wahtever jsut disintegrate when you hit them...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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There are way, way, way more than 4 types of snow, or was that just Glencoe on Saturday? 
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@clarky999, I know you don't have to bounce in powder. But you are right about corn/ slush. I put it with powder because it's a similar light style of skiing. I probably should not have tried to describe the techniques as not only am I not very technical but not good at describing either.
@lynseyf, I am sure you won't be last to repeat the point that there are more than 4 types of snow but consider this like there being 3 basic colours which you can mix to make all colours
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| lynseyf wrote: |
| There are way, way, way more than 4 types of snow, or was that just Glencoe on Saturday? |
Yup. Turn to turn this time of year you can be in winter chalk through set up crunk to spray slush.
The key elements are hard or soft snow and degree of conformity imv.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Addendum. Rotted out snow is in a class of its own. You just punch through with no resistance.
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May I suggest a few more
corduroy
hard packed icy
sheet ice
mid morning floury
side of piste pile up
mid piste worn away
mud with rock croutons
Refrozen end of day rutted
sticky new snow
creaky new snow
cracked with streams
cracked with rivers
Late season stepping stones
Avi debri concrete
Yellow snow
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You know it makes sense.
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You need to start pushing and scraping some of that snow @peanuthead, 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@cameronphillips2000, also heather, grass and rocks.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@peanuthead, you've completely missed the gradient aspect off your philosophy.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Raceplate wrote: |
| @peanuthead, you've completely missed the gradient aspect off your philosophy. |
+1000
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Raceplate, yes, was thinking about that after and the more I think about it I agree
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