How to ski powder: An advanced guide

Powder is unforgiving to skiers who have a ‘will this do?’ approach to their equipment. You will need to be at your best in terms of balance and control so make sure all your gear is as good as it can be. That means skis that fit snugly and safety essentials that will fully protect you. It might be softer to take a tumble in powder but you can still get hurt in a fall, especially as powder can cover up hidden obstacles such as tree stumps.

If you are trying to start skiing powder then it is also possible to use wider (or ‘fat’) skis which makes everything a little easier by providing you with a bigger platform. Essentially you are floating on top of the snow and the fat ski helps to provide a larger air cushion. Some skis are also fitted with a ‘rocker’ at the top and tail which offers you more lift and greater traction when it comes to turning. Think of these extras as stabilisers on a bike. They are useful for learning and there is now shame in using them but eventually you will want to do things for yourself and take pride in your technique.

The key to success in skiing powder is to get up a good head of steam. Powder snow can slow you down which makes basic operations such as turning more difficult to achieve. In order to take control and get into your skiing groove you will need to be going fast to begin with or else your journey could end in a disappointing skid part of the way down the mountain.

You also need to keep looking ahead rather than staring down at your skis. Powder requires planning and it is vital to know what will be coming up in the near future so you can prepare in advance. Make sure those goggles are effective in a frosty cloud.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when skiing powder is leaning back. It will take the weight off your skis and the tail of the boards will start sinking into the snow making turns all that much harder. You will also find your legs starting to take the weight of your entire body and your muscles will be groaning in agony before long. Of course, being too far forward can cause the same problem in the opposite direction. Stay centred and stay balanced: easy to say but you will eventually get there and find your new stance more natural to hold.

In an ideal world the slope we travel down is consistent in terms of the type of snow. In the real world powdery snow can also include crusty snow. This happens when the powder refreezes overnight giving the surface the same texture as a good pie. That means at some moments you will be floating over the top and at others sinking into the crust. To tackle this you will need to use some advanced techniques such as jump bouncing out of turns and also adopting a wider stance. For the early learners just beware that all that glitters is not necessarily pure powder.