 Poster: A snowHead
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I've been lucky enough to get a go at skiing in thigh deep powder in the Pyrenees today, but unfortunately I spent half the day wallowing about trying to retrieve my skis from beneath 70cm of snow. Probably this is down to my awful technique, but everyone else seemed to be using massive fat skis and I like to think they would have helped. Do they make a big difference?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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SMALLZOOKEEPER,
Hey, do the guy a favour and give advice (I'm an avid reader of your posts)
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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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holidayloverxx, That post as with 2/3 of his other's advertising his company for free, not clever and not particularly subtle 
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Oh dear, we are all tetchy today?
Mountainbug, yes, phat skis will make a difference. It's why powder is easier for boarders than skiers. But there is also a technique involved; weight has to be back rather than forward, so that the tips stay on top (hence your frequent retrieval problem!)
Now that is just my observation and (inexpert!) opinion - I'm sure others will be along with more supportive and supported views... SZK, shame on you!
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BTW boredsurfin, where exactly is the advert in SZK's post? 
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TallTone, Check his other posts it's pure advertising, if you ran a mountain business I think you would know the answers!!
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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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Mountainbug, here are some key points for powder skiing:
- A very calm upper body, not twisting around.
- Good forward and wide hand position
- No sitting back (a good powder skier looks to be sitting back, but actually has weight centred or in the balls of the feet)
- More compressed in the legs, to generate more 'unweighting' to lighten the skis when turning
- Lots of turning of the feet
- Lots of rhythm in the turns, to economise on energy (end of one turn automatically starts the next turn)
- In a nutshell, it's actually carving technique but more bouncy
- Lots of instruction!
- Yes, big skis help, but not on steeper slopes where speed control is very important in deep snow.
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TallTone, I refer to the first post in this thread which is advertising subtle but not that subtle.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| David Goldsmith wrote: |
- Lots of rhythm in the turns, to economise on energy (end of one turn automatically starts the next turn)
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Hear him! Hear him!
There are some other tricks, like forcing the tips down into the snow to find the hardpack, but they are vastly dependent on specific conditions (density, crust, depth, skier weight).
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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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| TallTone wrote: |
| But there is also a technique involved; weight has to be back rather than forward, so that the tips stay on top (hence your frequent retrieval problem!) |
I would not follow that advice. Stay centered over your skis as per normal... sitting back is simply not a dynamic position to be in and your quads will soon start screaming at you to go get a lesson. There is no reason at all why you can't ski powder really well on "thin" skis.
It's a personal thing but I prefer fattish as opposed to obese. Go rent first and make your own mind up but get the technique sussed first.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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YES
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Poster: A snowHead
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dme, NO!
Powder is best appreciated on a pair of 205cm race department slalom skis.
If you can't get the real thing (as they haven't been made in a few years) then a pair of 165cm, 60mm underfoot, RD slalom skis will do in a pinch. The nice thing is that these are also ideal for piste cruising, bumps, spring snow, crud, ice and the park.
Honest, you know I'm right 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hey, SMALLZOOKEEPER, you still got any of those Stockli DP Pros to play with? I saw a guy at the weekend wearing a pair of (I believe) 201s. I'd say he was skiing on a pair, but, well, IMHO he wasn't, really, err, skiing. If you know what I mean.
They were a lovely colour though!! ((Mountainbug, they're quite fat - and I believe quite entertaining in the deep and fluffies.))
[I have reluctantly concluded that the Dobermanns weren't really designed for powder. Shame.]
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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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| Bode Swiller wrote: |
| TallTone wrote: |
| But there is also a technique involved; weight has to be back rather than forward, so that the tips stay on top (hence your frequent retrieval problem!) |
I would not follow that advice. Stay centered over your skis as per normal... sitting back is simply not a dynamic position to be in and your quads will soon start screaming at you to go get a lesson. There is no reason at all why you can't ski powder really well on "thin" skis.
It's a personal thing but I prefer fattish as opposed to obese. Go rent first and make your own mind up but get the technique sussed first. |
Good advice Bode. You want to be balanced on your skis even if on steep slopes it can look like people are sitting back (their c.o.g. is still over the middle of the bindings). Generally this means you should at least feel your shins on the front of your boots.
This winter I've skied on 65mm waisted skis but something a bit fatter like the Atomic Diran is better for powder... I wouldn't go too extreme. The skis don't need to come out of the snow to turn, they just need to be pivoted by unweighting just like on the ski slopes.
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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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Mountainbug,
Yep, you need fat skis because in deep snow you need help to get the skis to rise up and float to the surface. This will help the next turn intiation. If its that deep you will be going pretty straight so a bouncey motion will help unweight. If it is really hard work and not happening for you then a punch upward of the outside hand/arm will bring the weight round in a better place to follow through. Not text book and people here may argue why you shouldn't do it but it helps if you are in it and struggling and actually need a here and now way of coping. After that you can argue the toss about a deep snow lesson but its after the fact.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| JT wrote: |
| If it is really hard work and not happening for you then a punch upward of the outside hand/arm will bring the weight round in a better place to follow through. Not text book and people here may argue why you shouldn't do it but it helps if you are in it and struggling and actually need a here and now way of coping. After that you can argue the toss about a deep snow lesson but its after the fact. |
Or just tilt the head.
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"Do "phat" skis make a big difference in powder? "
That is the first question I have ever seen posted on snowHeads that made me laugh out loud.....I actually applaud you subtle trollishness...you even got a bunch of serious answers!
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parlor, phat if y' please. 
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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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Bode Swiller, davidof, I did say I was no expert... 
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| boredsurfin wrote: |
| holidayloverxx, That post as with 2/3 of his other's advertising his company for free, not clever and not particularly subtle |
Mountainbug - care to respond? we can see you are online.....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Mountainbug - care to respond? we can see you are online.....[/quote]
whoops - now he's gone
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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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He's had a flurry of enquiries about availability.
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Boys and girls, let us please be friendly and welcoming to all newcomers  .
Mountainbug, is doing no more advertising than many others - and links to external websites are allowed in signatures.
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You know it makes sense.
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Who reads sig lines this century?
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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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Ray Zorro,
I really would have liked to hear Mountainbug's side of it, hence my  I probably frightened him off.
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Poster: A snowHead
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holidayloverxx, don't listen to boredsurfin - he's a troublemaker .
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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can not believe people can be so tetchy on here
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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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nice web page though
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| TallTone wrote: |
| Bode Swiller, davidof, I did say I was no expert... |
Sorry TallTone, I wasn't criticizing what you said just agreeing with Bode.
Speaking generally I think the problem with “online” advice, like reading books, is that it is hard to apply. An instructor would be able to provide feedback and there are some good ones in the Bareges area such as Stephane Delpech who works with the ESF.
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I have no comment on this but one request. Can we do away with this "phat" thing? It's Fat
end of
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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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Arno, hooray... so true...
If Mountainbug does return - I hope he/she will take some constructive criticism of his/her website. Comic Sans is a pretty awful font for anything except mildly nauseating newsletters from friends at xmas. Too many images next to each other. Variable width pages etc. Could do better.
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Fat skis are fun 
I finally came to the conclusion that since I ski for fun I should get myself some skis that make life a bit more fun for me. I'm a 95% off piste skier who has spent the last years skiing on 2m Völkl P30 RCs. Not a powder ski as such! The difference on my new Mantras is amazing. In fresh powder the difference is not so big, but in carved up crud and heavy stuff the Mantras just shine. Recommended!
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FAQ
