Understanding Terrain Tactics

Finding the right line in the moguls is a major challenge. There is no "one right way" to ski the bumps nor is there one "correct" line to ski.  How a skier determines the optimum mogul line depends upon who the skier is and what their goals are. Younger skiers with fast reflexes might choose one line while older skiers with slower reflexes might choose a different line. And, the steepness of the run, the snow conditions on the run, the skier's level of fatigue, current visibility and weather conditions and the skier's "frame of mind" (courage vs.

Learning to ski moguls and powder can be intimidating. When you are learning to ski either, minimize the number of simultaneous "yikes" factors - those things which raise your anxiety level. Your own personal "yikes" factors might include: flat light, ice, an overly steep run, whiteout conditions, wind, poor visibility, crowds of skiers, etc. You will learn faster if you are not distracted by these conditions. Example: don't try and ski a steeper run on a flat light day.

Conventional wisdom says that that one should avoid skiing into clumps of snow because you could catch and edge and/or get tripped up.

However, let us offer a different perspective. Clumps of snow represent friction and friction is your friend because friction helps slow you down. I actively seek out clumps of snow and frequently use the clumps as the location of where I make my next turn.

If you study mogul terrain, you realize that all moguls have flat tops (think of the flat top as a green run). And a mogul run consists on a series of flat tops, much like a staircase, which you can use to walk down the mountain. Even more to your advantage, the tops of most moguls have clumps of snow on them, which represent friction, and which will slow you down.