Powder Skiing Can Be An Exhilarating Experience
For avid downhill ski fanatics, nothing compares to hitting the slopes and finding them fresh and clean with a new dusting of powder. Others, however, find the conditions a little difficult to navigate and prefer to steer clear until a bit of packing is present.
Powder is simply fresh snow. Its properties are light and dry, much like talcum powder, thus the name. The fun in skiing in fresh powder is the fact that no one else has paved the way, so to say. But it can be tricky for newcomers to the sport to navigate. So, many stick with slopes that have been groomed for action.
For those who want to try their hand at powder skiing, there are some typical problems that arise. The key to solving those problems is to know what to do under different circumstances. The biggest problem new powder skiers face is the fact they tend to sink in the snow. Rather than glide across it with the smoothness and grace of a gazelle, they sink, stumble and fall. Where’s the fun in that? Well, there is none!
There are a number of factors that can create a sinking problem. And for every possibility, there is a fix. Learning what to do and how to do it, can help open the doors for some great powder action.
When skis get stuck, or dive, in the powder, it is possible there is an equipment failure. That’s right … check your equipment. Maybe your boots or bindings aren’t fit properly. Perhaps the skis need a more thorough waxing. To glide properly in the snow, especially fresh powder, its important for skis to have a slick presence. The boots and bindings, too, must be right to assist in proper weight distribution.
Another area that can create issues is in the stance the skier takes. If the stance isn’t correct for powder, diving will almost always take place. If you have to much forward lean going on, your skis will in fact sink in the powder. If the skis are waxed and the boots and bindings are correct, perhaps adjusting the stance will make all the difference in the world.
Skiing on fresh powder is a dream come true for many Alpine enthusiasts. There’s something breathtaking about hitting a slope that hasn’t been tampered with and being the first to make tracks in freshly fallen snow. Learning how to handle powder can make all the difference and help skiers avoid frustrations.
Source: https://positivearticles.com