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control | balance | tactics
When you are learning mogul technique it is important to understand that there are four primary ways - or mogul skiing routes - that you can choose from when you ski moguls. Some mogul technique routes are faster than others and other mogul technique routes are slower.
You should understand each of the four mogul technique methods and the consequences of each. Here are the four primary ways to ski a mogul run:
Zipper Line: this mogul technique is where you ski directly down the fall line in a straight run (think Johnny Mosley or Jeremy Bloom). This method of mogul skiing is typified by literally bouncing off the top of every mogul and frequently the skier's knees are up around their ears and going up and down like pistons. The zipper line mogul technique requires rapid extension and contraction movements and lightening-fast reflexes.
Trough Line: this mogul technique is where you ski down the troughs that surround each mogul - much like a bobsled going down an ice track. Using this mogul skiing technique you follow the flow of the troughs around each mogul, making quick turns that connect one trough with another. The trough method of mogul skiing also requires quick extension and contraction movements and relatively fast reflexes.
Blue Line: this mogul technique is where you initiate your turn on the flat top of a mogul, but then the skiing the ridge line of the mogul that is directly adjacent to the mogul where you initiated your turn while staying high above the trough of the mogul you initiated your turn on and drift down to the next flat mogul top where you intend to make your next turn. You can think of the Blue Line mogul technique as skiing the adjacent mogul spine or ridge.
Green Line: this mogul technique is where you both initiate and complete each turn on the flat top of a mogul and then "drift" (on soft edges with your skis perpendicular to the fall line) down the secondary fall lines and/or spines to the next flat mogul top that you have chosen as the spot where you plan to make your next turn. You can think of the Green Line mogul technique as skiing the flat mogul tops.