Top 5 tips for skiing powder

Have you ever felt what it’s like to ski deep powder on a beautiful day with your friends?

Skiing has always been one of my favorite sports, but up until a couple years ago, I had never left the groomed runs. I was great on groomers, while powder was foreign and awkward. Why bother?

Then one day I got a taste of it. My friends decided to ski a powder-only run and I had nothing to do but join them. Lap after lap I cranked on my giant slalom race skis in the deep snow. By the end of the day I actually began to get the hang of it.

The next season I bought wider skis. Then, on the first bluebird day after a classic Tahoe storm, I hit the mountain. That day I fell in love with the feeling of powder skiing. My friend and I wove through the trees making big, jumping turns down a steep, deep slope. The buoyancy of the snow was so incredible I couldn’t help but laugh. That smile still hasn’t left my face.

Now, I’m a powder skiing enthusiast. But I still understand that those first turns can be very daunting - that’s why I reached out to our experts here at Northstar.

Mike Hafer is a lifelong skier and 15-year Northstar ski school veteran. He has twice been selected to the PSIA Alpine Team, made up of the top 14 ski instructors in the United States. To say that Hafer knows his stuff is an understatement. Here’s what he has to say about skiing in powder:

1. Turn Shape – There is much resistance in deep snow. If we use the same turn shape as we would on a groomed run, the energy from the last turn is lost. On a groomed run skiers will turn their skis across the hill and even slightly uphill to control their speed. In deep snow, try to release the old turn sooner and let the skis run. The resistance from the snow will aid in controlling your speed. This will make skiing powder much easier and more efficient.
   
   
2. Pole Plant – The importance of the pole plant is often forgotten when skiing. A pole plant aids in balance, timing and flow. When powder skiing, it is vital to keep your body moving down the hill. The pole plant will give you the mental edge to create continuous movement into the next turn. Swing the pole toward the apex of the new turn. As soon as the pole touches the snow, start the swing of the next pole. Every turn should have a pole plant. This will give you a smooth, free-falling sensation in the powder.
   
   
3. Equipment – Equipment choice can make or break your day, especially when the snow is deep. All ski companies are making a large variety of specialty equipment these days. Try a pair of wider skis with some rocker. Most carving skis these days will have a waist of 68mm to 85mm wide. A good powder ski will measure 110mm and more. The width of the ski will give you the flotation needed to ski powder effortlessly. The rocker technology will keep the ski tip floating on the top of the snow for easy turn initiation.
   
   
4. Ski with a Buddy – The old saying, “No friends on a Powder Day” is a thing of the past. New ski technology opens the door to terrain that was once difficult to get to. Sometimes a fall in deep snow can result in a difficult situation to get out of by oneself. When choosing a ski buddy, find someone who will keep an eye on you at all times and vice versa. That way, if someone were to need help, your friend is right there to assist. The other benefit to skiing with a buddy is the camaraderie that is built as well the story telling that will surely follow a good day.
   
   
5. Flat light, ski the trees – When an overcast or storm day shuts down the light, it can be very difficult to notice terrain changes. If you find yourself in this predicament, ski the trees. The contrast of the trees to the snow will break up the flat light and allow for a more clear vision of the snow conditions and terrain. It can also make for a most enjoyable experience during storm cycles that continue to dump heaps of snow on the mountain.