 Poster: A snowHead
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I am shortly off to the snow for a couple of weeks and would appreciate any advice for technique when skiing in spring conditions previously I have struggled a bit once conditions become become very soft and slushy.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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kevinrhead, soft and slushy can be the biggest blast going.
The big problem with warmer conditions is that a water film forms under the ski that can suck the ski down, taking all the run out of the skis.
My top tips for keeping things moving and having fun are
Wax your skis - dry bases are a nightmare in the slush
Stay on the edges and on the turn. Keeping on the turn allows the water to clear from under the base. You'll go slower pointing straight with flat skis and if you hit a wet patch could launch over the top.
Go faster. Soft wet snow is heavy and going slow is very fatiguing, a bit more speed lets your momentum do the work of blasting through it rather than being bullied around by it.
A more even weight distribution between your skis also helps.
Use the terrain to help you, if there are small bumps don't avoid them, use them to unweight the skis at the start of the turns.
Don't take any advice that says lean back.
Most importantly, smile 
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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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rich, Thanks for that just the sort of advice I was looking for. Is it better to ski in these conditions with a shorter stiffer slalom ski or a longer softer all mountain ski.
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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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kevinrhead, Biggest ski you can find!
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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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kevinrhead - important factor is to remember that you're generally skiing through the snow, rather than on it (unless you go the SMALLZOOKEEPER route!). This means it's going to:
- slow you down more quickly than if you're on top of it
- make "twisting" the ski harder
- trip you up if you try to do things too suddenly.
As rich says, speed certainly helps - as does tipping the ski on it's edge, rather than trying to twist it. Other things that will help are:
- being more gradual with the turn - i.e. don't "hoik" the skis around
- if sks straight down the fall-line is "zero", then try not to bring the skis more than 40-45 degrees - otherwise the slushy stuff will trip you up.
As SMALLZOOKEEPER says, if you're struggling then a wider (and softer) ski will help.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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boredsurfin, alternatively have a nice lie in until all that horrible frozen stuff melts and the fun really starts
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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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Frosty the Snowman, Just brought a pair of B3's so I live in hope 
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Rich wrote: Don't take any advice that says lean back.
Rich, let's not misconstrue leaning back with slightly tilting up the ski tips, a technique essential when waterskiing and very effective for skimming over very wet patches and puddles on the lower runs.
The skier will only use the toes to tilt the ski tips up whilst still retaining a central stance on the skis. We all know of that age old story of the powder skier seemingly leaning back when in actual fact he is simply tilting his ski tips.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Oh how I wish this thread has started before I went away last week. Three heavy falls, two caused by my ineptitude in the soft and slushy, the other by a fat German coming too fast over the brow of a hill while I was happily traversing on the other side. Still there's always next year to try out these techniques 
Any advice on how to ski on grass?
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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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Clive, Skiing on grass rocks, i makes or breaks the day. Helps you to relax and with your MP3 player can have you dancing on the piste. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Fast and sure-footed. B3's will be fine
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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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Soft and slushy is far far better than hard and icey 
I find soft slushy snow is fun and forgiving (on piste that is) if you ski it reasonably fast and keep your momentum up.
Be careful though if it freezes again overnight. In that case a late start following the sun around is the best approach.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Basically good conditions to practice carving in since you will slow down a lot in the turn and have plenty of grip. Carving is also the best way to cut through the slush mounds without bouncing over them too much.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Get your self on a Monoski in the afternoon and enjoy the slushy stuff when all the (2) plankers have wimped out 
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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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maybe get on a snowboard???
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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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pam w, in deep powder that had become slush I was working a heel to toe turn and the entire board, on its toe edge, dug into the slush up upto my bindings and I ground to a halt, I was stuck at 45 degree angle and it was bug to get out. Under a chair lift of course
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FAQ
Go hard and stop for a v. late lunch then give up 'cos the snow will be slush 
