During the past week we’ve seen some crazy conditions at our local mountains, from deep fluffy powder to heavy and wet snow.
This week, we seem to be entering that thaw/freeze cycle where the ungroomed runs are crazy hard and fast in the morning, but by 11:30 a.m. we’re riding what many locals refer to as “San Juan cement.” As the snow conditions change throughout the day, it is important that our skiing and riding techniques also change in order to adapt to the terrain.
I’m sure many of you have noticed that a run down your favorite blue trail at 9 a.m. on fresh corduroy has a completely different feeling than going down that same run at 3:30 p.m. Direct sunlight, above average temperatures and skiers and boarders pushing the snow around to form little moguls are all characteristics that can greatly change the appearance of a single run throughout the day. At 9 a.m., you may be able to rip down that run with big, open turns while you’re holding a fabulous edge and carving it up. But, by the late afternoon, you’ve hopefully realized that might not be the best tactic for getting down that same run.
When the conditions on the mountain change, it is often more effective to make more of a short radius skidded closed turn than a large radius carved open turn. Emphasizing a tighter turn shape in our skiing and riding will slow things down a little bit and give us more control when the snow conditions are variable. And, if properly flexed, it will allow us to absorb whatever conditions Mother Nature might throw at us.
Properly flexed means your ankles, knees and hips are all slightly bent, with your center of mass directly over your feet so that you don’t get bucked around when you hit that bump that wasn’t there a few hours ago.
Remember, the next time you’re wrapping up a long day of tearing it up on the backside and getting back to the base area, change your turn shape and slow things down a little bit. Your fellow locals, and your ACLs and wrists will both greatly appreciate it when you hit that mogul or patch of ice you weren’t expecting.
If you have questions, comments, or a specific topic you would like to see covered over the ski season, email Tex at justin@wellsgroupdurango.com.
