12 common mistakes (and how to avoid them) when skiing in powdery snow conditions

Master the back country with these proven tips…

Jan 20, 2023

Skiing in powder snow is an exhilarating adventure for many, but it can be difficult to master.

Learning the right techniques and avoiding common mistakes are essential for a safe and enjoyable experience.

Here are 12 common technical mistakes people make when skiing in powder:

1. Not turning enough - Many skiers struggle to make enough turns when skiing in powder due to the amount of drag from the snow.

Therefore, it is crucial to focus on making more frequent and shorter turns close to the fall line, as they are easier to execute here than longer, wider turns.

2. Not keeping your ski tips up - Skiing in powder requires you to keep your tips up so that you can effectively float with your skis instead of sinking into the snow throughout every turn.

To accomplish this, keep your feet flat & relaxed, spread your weight evenly across both skis and then curl the feet up and down.

But a pair of fat skis will help as well, of course. 😉

3. Not adjusting your edge pressure - To make sure your skis fit perfectly in the powder and carve through it effectively, you need to adjust the pressure you apply to the edge of your skis during each turn; this is also known as edge pressure adjustment or “ski pressure adjustment”.

If you don't apply enough pressure while making turns in powder, you won't be able to edge properly, quickly losing control of your line and often taking an uncontrolled fall.

Adjusting your edge pressure also means that you should not ‘over-edge’ your turns. Try to get a feel for it and only edge as much as necessary.

4. Not staying centred - When skiing in powder, you must always stay centred on your skis; also known as 'dynamic balance' or 'centring' during each turn by making subtle adjustments to the position of your feet relative to your torso.

This keeps you balanced over both feet and ensures your centre of gravity stays between them, giving you much more stability in deeper snow conditions, where the snow frequently offers a lot more resistance than in firmer conditions such as groomed slopes or hardpack.

It’s the big secret to avoiding a disproportionate amount of sitting back.

5. Not steering with angulation - When skiing in deep powder, you should also apply angulation, as it allows you to edge and turn more efficiently, leading to less fatigue.

Proper use of angulation when making turns in powder implies a slight bend centred around the hip joint during each turn.

This helps you make much tighter turns through deep snow, saving energy while you’re still able to control your speed better than if you would rely on your legs/knees alone!

6. Falling forward – Falling head-on over the tips of your skis.

This is often caused by a sloppy torso. You can improve this by enhancing your core strength.

Start planking or perform some dead bugs regularly (my personal favourite).

Do you enjoy reading my newsletter?

Please consider making a small donation to me, entirely without obligation.

deposit some money at BE 63 0013 0885 0908 - BIC: GEBABEBB

or buy me a beer via Paypal

7. Leaning in too much - You overincline or lean too much in the turn and end up with excessive weight on the inside ski. The outside ski ends up running straight, and diverging skis are the unfortunate result.

Always start a turn by rolling the ankles and knees inwards first, keeping the upper body upright and stable.

Remember: the inclination should be executed by the lower body first and foremost.

8. Stance is too wide - Your skis open and close through the turn.

Always try to keep your skis closer to each other by creating a sustained tension in your legs, squeezing your feet and knees together. This way, you create a platform that allows you to float on the snow.

9. One ski starts to sink - When one ski tends to snag, this can make you fall forward as well.

The way to improve this is good weight distribution, i.e. 50/50 weight on both feet.

10. Not handling speed control well - Usually this means your turns are very straight, making the stance wider and causing loss of control.

Best practices are to develop your skills in turning and to try things out on easier terrain first.

11. Oversteering your turns - This can lead to frustration as you move too slowly to take good advantage of momentum to initiate your turns, and the skis will quickly sink deeper than the Titanic.

Always aim for a turn shape where the skis curve from apex point to apex point along the fall line, and exit your turns earlier.

12. Popping up & down too much at high speeds - The sight of this is an exaggerated jerky and nervous silhouette with the skier jumping up and down excessively to free one's skis from the deep powder snow.

When skiing fast enough, try to perform a retraction/extension motion instead of bouncing up and down. It feels smoother and is more stable.

Nobody's perfect, but all of these technical mistakes should be avoided in deep snow where possible. If you know your weaknesses, try to eliminate them.

It takes even experienced skiers some time to adjust their technique from one type of terrain (e.g.: groomed slopes) to another (e.g.: unprepared deep powder); but with practice comes perfection, so don't get discouraged if it seems difficult at first!

Learning to ski well in powder takes some time and effort, but once you master it, it can be incredibly rewarding!