 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm off to Niseko (Japan) next week for what is sure to be a genuine powder heaven experience. They have had non stop heavy snow showers recently with even more forecasted this week and into next! 
Now that is all fine and well but my only concern is that i haven't EVER skied in powder that deep before - reports of chest/head deep powder keep being reported.
Are there any special techniques for skiing bottomless powder?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Take a snorkel?
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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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make sure the slope is fairly steep and head straight down it - I skiied chest deep powder in Coumayeur last week and it was so heavy I was being slowed down on anything less than a red run
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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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Hornster, the trick is.......realise that there is no such thing as bottomless, and then try and find the bottom 
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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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Strap two snowboards to your feet and hope you float!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hornster, Fat skis and speed.  Try to be efficient - don't burm too much energy 'cos it's tiring !
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I'm assuming that the same techniques for knee deep powder apply for chest/head deep champagne powder? I just keep imagining having difficulty trying to get my ski tips above the snow when turning.
All the reports I have read are mentioning super light fluffy powder.
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Hornster, My top tip is to stop rubbing it in you lucky swine
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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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The_Hirsty, sorry.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Hornster wrote: |
| I'm assuming that the same techniques for knee deep powder apply for chest/head deep champagne powder? I just keep imagining having difficulty trying to get my ski tips above the snow when turning. |
If you have to get your tips above the snow to turn in knee deep then I suggest you're doing something wrong already - they may come above the surface but they shouldn't have to. Main points I've encountered are:
- keep a reasonable speed up (which will give you float),
- avoid twisting your feet if at all possible (otherwise you'll twist them out of the skis, or you'll trip yourself up),
- "bounce"/extend-flex the legs to get a) a bit of extra snow density/platform under you and b) bend the ski into a curve
- push the skis slightly to the side while extending to get them to ride that curve and turn naturally - never force them to turn
- invest in some powder tracers (and there was a great tip on here just recently, can't remember where - use some small accessory karabiners to attach them to your bindings so you can unclip them easily when you get to a gondola, a pair cost about a fiver)
- yelp with joy
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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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GrahamN, that's what I was looking for - thanks.
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My pleasure, And another thing...
- stance width is probably a bit controversial (some say narrow, some say wider for stability), but the most important thing is to get your legs moving equally - i.e. NO pedalling. My best runs have always been when I've pretended I'm on a monoski (not that I ever have for real), and ensured that my knees move exactly together, with no vertical separation at all. For that I find having a very narrow stance helps the most.
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You know it makes sense.
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Make sure your weight is totally even between skis as deep powder is less forgiving. Bounce and get a good rhythm, I find counting "1, 2, 1, 2" etc helps. ANd if you fall over, keep your mouth closed and remember which way is up, you may feel like you#re drowning!!
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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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| GrahamN wrote: |
| invest in some powder tracers (and there was a great tip on here just recently, can't remember where - use some small accessory karabiners to attach them to your bindings so you can unclip them easily when you get to a gondola, a pair cost about a fiver) |
I saw a chap in Courmayeur who was using lengths of that plastic red-and-white hazard tape tied onto his bindings and tucked into his gaiters
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Poster: A snowHead
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nbt, yes, I have heard of people doing all sorts of imaginative things to improvise as powder tracers. I bought some nice bright yellow tracers from S&R last week. All I need to do now is buy a couple of those really small karabiners so that I can easily clip on and off to bindings for gondola as I can't be arsed to keep unthreading and rethreading them from my bindings.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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just wrap them round your skis a few times
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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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| beanie1 wrote: |
| Bounce and get a good rhythm, I find counting "1, 2, 1, 2" etc helps. |
Me too or maybe 'one' and 'two' in a sesame street 'The count' Stylee
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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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Maybe a bit more constructive is this link...http://www.treewelldeepsnowsafety.com/ 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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kewhoward, in my experience falling into tree wells happens quite frequently. Hence my theory that each tree conceals a miniature black hole at its heart
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Yoda, I meant to say that the "NARSID" (don't you just love 'em) risk was extremely unlikely...hope so anyway!!!.
How is the skiing in "La Merde"?
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Japan snow is REALLY light, so if you can ski knee deep elsewhere, it wont matter how deep it gets, you will be fine. if you can't ski powder at all, you are in for a lot of fun learning
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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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I think everyone else should stay well away from treelined off-piste on big powder days. Let me take all the risk 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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uktrailmonster, I couldn't possibly allow you to expose yourself like that. 'Cuz I'm a caring sort of guy, see.
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