Skiing off-piste is one of the greatest aspects of skiing. From your first few turns outside the piste markers to doing the Haute Route, each new stage is fun and challenging. Although enjoyable for most skiers, it is also an area where many will find their technique coming apart.
However, the more we train ourselves to maintain good form, the more we can control off-piste and the more challenging terrain we can explore. In this article we are going to look at some areas in which we can work to ensure we are improving performance off-piste.
Absorbing
Without those brilliant piste-bashers to make a lovely smooth surface, the snow off-piste tends to be uneven and unpredictable. It’s hard to know exactly what is under all the layers of snow. To deal with this we need to be reactive and prepared to handle the changes that occur beneath us. We can then use our legs like the suspension of a car or a bike to absorb the various bumps. Our goal is to keep our skis in contact with the snow and to keep our head and core as still as possible by flexing and extending our legs. You can practise this by traversing in a mogul field and focusing on keeping your head at the same height while allowing your legs to flex and extend as the terrain undulates.
Balance
An error many people make when skiing off-piste, particularly in powder, is to sit back on their heels. We want to stay as centred on our skis as possible, just as we would do on-piste. Of course, with the suddenly changing terrain, we may not be able to maintain this position all the time; however, we want to try to recover to the centre of our skis as much as possible. For our lateral or side-to-side balance we do not need to ski exactly as we would on-piste. We can be more evenly balanced between our two skis rather than heavily committed to the outside ski.
Flow and rhythm
Especially if the snow is deep or heavy, we want to keep our performance as flowing as possible. It is easier to manage and control our skis when they are moving a little quicker. We can use this to our advantage by not slowing down completely at the end of each turn and instead allowing the momentum to flow into the next turn. Rather than fighting the mountain we let it do the work for us. Keeping a good, consistent rhythm can also help those who might find off-piste intimidating. By have a consistent and strong pole plant we have to commit to starting the next turn as soon as the last one finishes, removing that moment of agonising.
Have fun with it
Skiing off-piste in the variables is supposed to be fun. Let your skiing show it. We can mix up our turns, doing small, rhythmical short turns or long, flowing powder turns. We are going to get thrown around and knocked off balance when we leave the smooth confines of the piste. At times we have to roll with it, taking a bit of air, ending up back on our inside ski, and falling occasionally. It’s all part of the fun. Do remember if you are going to head off-piste that though it is enjoyable, it can also be dangerous, and the risk of avalanches is very real. If you are inexperienced then hiring a guide or instructor is a must to keep you safe.
The Altitude winter company portfolio includes the ski and snowboard school, the Futures instructor training programmes, and FREERIDE VERBIER, a new school dedicated to off-piste coaching in Verbier.
For more information please contact us on: 0041 27 771 6006; [email protected],
altitude-verbier.com (Ski School Verbier) – altitude-futures.com (gap courses) – freeride-verbier.com (off-piste)
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