Arinsal Andorra

Skiing on the steeps

The majority of advanced inbound runs at ski resorts have a pitch of less than 40 degrees. However, if you want to ski anything steeper than this, then you are going to have to develop a whole different set of skills. Steep skiing has some similarities to other types of skiing such as tree skiing and mogul skiing in that you need strength in the abs, upper legs and lower back, and that you need to be good at making short radius turns.

Most steep slopes consist of a combination of snow types, including crud, powder, and hard pack, so you will need to use a mix of skiing techniques in order to conquer them. Different snow types call for a different set of techniques, and when skiing steeps you will need to combine all of these. Even advanced skiers often have problems skiing on unfamiliar snow types, as techniques that work well on one type of snow may well cause you to tumble and fall on other types.

Crud is a catch all term used to describe unusual snow conditions that could otherwise be described as being crust, sticky, grabby, mush or slush. As it contains a mixture of snow types, you will need to use a combination of the techniques you would use in powder and hard pack snow. In addition, the condition of crud can change depending on the temperature, altitude, time of day, exposure to sun, and moisture content.

Powder is lightly packed snow that hasn't been groomed. Generally, you will find that your skis lie a lot deeper in powder than they do with other types of snow. Skiing on powder feels a lot more like you are floating than when you are skiing on hard pack snow, and most hard pack skiing techniques will not work well on it. A more two footed approach will be called for, and short turns will require quite dynamic movements with a good rhythm.

Ice is perhaps the least pleasant surface to ski on. Falls are more painful and it is harder to slow down. As your skis make little or no impression upon the ice, it is difficult to make the skis grip. The best thing to do is let the skis slide sideways between turns to control your descent. Make the turns short and skiddy without too much pressure on the skis. If there is a small patch of ice you can slide over it and make a few turns once you get back onto the snow in order to reduce your speed.

So before you take to the steeps, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with all these different conditions on lighter inclines. Also, it is recommended that you work on your cardiovascular fitness, strength, and stretching exercises during the off season, so that you can be adequately prepared for these tough conditions when the ski season rolls around.

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