Skills and drills for successful mogul skiing

[@benhamroberts]

Deb has some of the best skiing content on the internet...period. She is a wealth of experience and knowledge, and the bonus is she is a great teacher/communicator. Thanks and keep it up!

[@FX51]

benhamroberts agreed. Heres to more views for Deb!

[@fearlesssfcappuccino]

Hear, hear!!!!

[@greganderson2741]

Agreed!!!

[@garyschomberger2291]

But seriously!

[@dravenomar4032]

i realize it is kinda randomly asking but do anybody know of a good website to stream new movies online ?

[@theuhlanddoddamaniclan5351]

Deb, I wish we lived more near so we could shake your hand and more properly express our gratitude for your unbelievable passion and commitment to skiing. May you always feel our appreciation. Cheers!

[@brucehorn4636]

Thanks!

[@hawklerfalco9067]

Deb you are sports engineer, your explanation and voice are so clear. Bring me totally new concept of ski practising. Now I am anxious to ski to practise what you have taught. Love your videos!👍

[@bearclaw5115]

Deb's mogul videos are finally giving me the confidence that I can get good at them. Thanks so much!

[@YAOZYVIDEO]

Great video! Keep them coming! As an absolute amateur, I feel that foot to foot skiing and loading the new outside ski early in moguls effectively prevents banking.

[@mattsmith1185]

Yea!!! Another awesome mogul video from Deb!!! Can’t wait to get out there! Thanks, Deb!!

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

Thanks for another great lesson. Love the way Deb breaks it down and demonstrates. Interesting that you mentioned shortening your poles. I have Backcountry adjustable poles so I have shortened from a 115 cm to 110 cm. Normally when we sized skiers for poles we have them hold a pole under the basket ant look for a 90 degree angle at the elbow. I have been sizing skiers down one pole length down from that on the opposite side hand and they usually choose the shorter length. I know it works better for me so I can maintain my “Triangle of Power”. Please keep up the great videos. ⛷⛷🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🙏🙏

[@alyssajordancrowe3364]

Deb! Outstanding video as per usual. The visual of your foot without the boot was especially helpful! I can easily say that your videos have helped me dramatically. I’d absolutely love to have a lesson with you in Steamboat in the near future! Can’t wait to get back on the slopes soon. Thanks Deb!

[@marg1919]

Love this video thank you. Playing it over so I can take it all in. In the 70s and 80s I would ski moguls on the White Lady at Cairngorm Mountain, Scotland with confidence. Now I have just turned 60, it is a different story; the bumps seem to come so quickly these days! I notice you really control your speed and are in control at all times. Wonderful

[@jamacianmecrazy1987]

Hey Deb, your content has transformed me from a scared, terrified beginer skier, to doing my first double black last year in the space of a couple seasons. Thank you so much for doing this! YOU DA BEST BAY BEE!!!

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

YES!!!💪💪💪💪 love that

[@bobf5360]

i love this lesson, but i wish she would address how to deal with the moguls most of us are going to see more often- they are usually much (2-3x) higher (troughs deeper), covered in ice not powder, closer together and steeper. At least that is how they are at A-basin, Breck, Steamboat, Heavenly, and even places with infamous powder like Park City and Alta.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

@@bobf5360 ok a video for deeply defined, firm moguls. I can do that😉

[@bobf5360]

@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong OMG! wow that would be really great. Those are where I (and I suspect a lot of other) intermediate skiers struggle; I feel like once I lose confidence on one set or get "out of rhythm", its....all over. hehe. Thank you so much for replying!!!

[@jamacianmecrazy1987]

The technique appears to be the same. The difference appears to be building our confidence up to be able to do that. I see everything she always starts small and gets more complex. @@bobf5360

[@falllinemaniac]

I love the falling leaf, that and pivot slips constitute my primary approach to skiing choppy bumps and gnar.

[@baoguodeng7680]

The best of all I have visited mogul-skiing videos.

[@davidspear6682]

I am really liking the bump tips.

[@antknee8695]

Your ability to share your expert knowledge is impressive and effective. Thank you!

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Thank you

[@jllaforce]

This is a very good video. Most videos I have seen on mogul skiing talk about what line to take and that you should absorb as you go up and push as you go down the moguls. This video is different because it explains the mechanics of how you do that. If you don't understand the mechanics, you will never be able to do it.

[@gordonfinlay4430]

Came to skiing very late (57) and with a fussed ankle it's no wonder I struggle on moguls! to be honest I struggle all over the slope :-) however absolutely love the sport.... thanks for all the advice

[@dr.pedersen9952]

Aha - I got to skiing when I was 60, but am very often up there as I'm living close to the mountains - I just lo-o-o-ve it even I know I'll never be as good as I would have been if having started earlier :-) Am enjoying the beauty, the air, the skiing - and am sure to say: Security before speed !!

[@bradleyanderson247]

I started just before my 50th birthday. Folks I worked with thought it was nuts. I have some knee issues and also really struggle on moguls. But, I try to view as more about the journey than the destination. Have fun and good skiing.

[@garyhopper8183]

As a professional ski instructor and member of PSIA-E I have had the opportunity to ski and train with members of the national team and I am truly impressed with Deb's videos. As a teaching pro we lear and trade technical and ski knowledge with each other and these are some of the best. I am actually looking at going out west to go to one of her clinics.

[@falllinemaniac]

Great job Deb, Another video on handling chopped off tail slappy bumps would be appreciated. These are the terminator bumps with no escape to the neighboring bump line.

[@Premierskis]

I've used your falling leaf drill for years. It works great!

[@bethbosheers8096]

Way out of my league, just yet, but I'm still learning so much about ankle and knee absorption. Thanks Deb! 😎👍🏼👏🏼⛷

[@mathewdistefano2489]

Very excellent and in depth explanations. thanks Deb!

[@stexecutor1]

Really liked your instructions! One suggestion: apart from a static video camera, have you considered using a drone that could follow you down the hill? The drone can either stay behind you shooting your back, or stay ahead of you shooting your front side and flying backwards down the mountain at the same time. This way it would offer a better view of the track you choose for the moguls, as well as your body movements. If your budget permits, I highly recommend adding a drone camera. Again, thanks for your great contents.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

great comment. Thank you

[@johnsagnella7445]

If you can take one boot off with the other still in the ski , that's a super power. Nice video!!

[@BobE_Nagesh]

I love how you break things down. I'll be working on this. Thanks

[@davidbeazer9799]

Going to take me a minute to absorb all that!. It was great practice last April at Big Sky on those slow motion spring snow moguls on Congo and Africa. Skiing with Stephen Helfenbein tomorrow. Bringing him in to Cherry Peak to work with my instructors!

[@randylange]

Deb..you rock!! This is great stuff!

[@stephaniemarkey7606]

Absorb absorb absorb… 👍😊 that will absolutely be in my head skiing today.

[@Jolinator]

Incredible skiing Deb.Thanks for these tips!

[@paulcicchetti3868]

Best ski instruction out there, such an awesome way to communicate such detailed information

[@blackestjake]

I do the same falling leaf exercise, I call the Xmas Tree exercise because of the track it leaves. Great for separation and fore-aft movement!

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

awesome!!!

[@stevenbaum8689]

Thanks Deb! I teach adult bumps lessons - PSIA - I’ve incorporated several of your drills and tactics with good results! Thanks for sharing your passion!

[@tinyskier6250]

"if you can't make controlled turns on the groomers you won't have a prayer to make it in the bumps." no truer words have ever been spoken. I tell everyone who asks me how to ski moguls that they have to practice short turns (i have 3 drills) on groomers til they can do it in their sleep .... i also tell them not to start at the top of the mogul run, but the bottom 10 moguls, and progress to the top ... no one ever listens to me, lol, ... You are the best deb, i tell everyone who asks for people on youtube who to follow ... you are at the top of the list. Thanks for all your videos, i've learned soooooooo much, and i've been skiing 57 years (62, no certification, though) ... doesn't matter how good you ski, can always learn more ...

[@hzhang454]

Best ski coach👍

[@draathelvete8332]

I'm going to Austria in one week from now and I can't wait to go ski some moguls. Thanks for these tips btw. I think I'm in the process of learning the technique so I won't get instantly exhausted.

[@danielpardiac2260]

taking off your boot to show the range of motion and emphasizing that althought you do not get this total range it is the intention that drive the ski ,everything in this video is right on point, i will watch this over and over.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

love it. pass the video along. Glad you like

[@robbeverbeke]

She is next level. Great videos - thanks!

[@MrDogonjon]

Beautiful! I make "gulping" sounds for each "absorb" ... super power ankles... the boot off... Brilliant! glad she took her ski off to de boot. French availment "swallowing" the bump. Ramp it up with ollies!!!

[@Atrium134]

Nice lesson,Tks.

[@dreamfactoryindustries8754]

thank you for you! this is exactly what i've been looking for! :) simply the best.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

GREAT. This is what I like to hear!!

[@canterburytaekwondo]

I love this video channel, I also loved the ‘I’m gonna place my boot here for the sponsorship’. Fair play I’d do the same thing if I was good enough for a sponsorship deal.

[@vc3694]

Another great explanation 👍

[@rezanazari9687]

Deb love you videos. Very helpful. Thank you

[@fourftr]

I’ve played all sports. Two sports I eat,drink and sleep is Golf+Skiing. Watching this video proves to me that both of these sports have a huge common denominator. To do it right it’s from the ground up. I’ve been in an intermediate rut for at least thirty years, because at 6’1” I ski like the Tin Man that Dorothy found in the Wizard of Oz. In golf if you don’t move the lower body you don’t play well and you just pointed out it’s a major part of skiing. I would like you to do a video for us tall stiff people to free up our feet, knees, hips. My mind tells me I’m bending my knees but I been told I’m bending very little

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Nice

[@liamvanluchene8174]

Love your videos Deb

[@rafaburdzy449]

Thank you Deb Ski-Professor.

[@pamagee2011]

Excellent light for this vid

[@munkeepilot]

Excellent instruction and great video quality. You make it look so graceful. Skiing bumps is a much more violent process for me haha

[@cswalker21]

Fantastic video, Thanks Deb!

[@danielmiceli383]

You are an amazing teacher...I appreciate you!

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Thank you😉😉

[@cbro_]

Great video. Subscribed!

[@brucebowles2020]

Hmmm, I got to try your "Falling Leaf" exercise with completion of segment pointing the ski tips back up hill.

[@djsdownhill2010]

Thanks Deb! You’re AWESOME!💙⛷🔥

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Sending love. Thank you!!!

[@ziggymatuszewski2803]

Deb, you are a very technically oriented instructor. I wish there was a lot more instructors of your caliber out there :))))

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Thank you. Spread the word😉

[@d.c.cutler6922]

A big incentive for learning to ski bumps is that it opens up the whole mountain to a skier. But guess what, it's so much fun!

[@lumbaracres3587]

your videos make me want to get back skiing with my outdated skinny skiis!

[@datukalex]

I make it a point to watch this video a couple times a year.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Love it!!!!!!

[@Here_Today_]

Loving these lessons, thanks Deb!

[@kevinrowe8193]

Deb. You are my go to source for high end teaching. If you're ever at Whiteface I'd love to see that knowledge in person. And we desperately need it.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Awesome. Thanks Kevin!

[@kevinhoule6547]

I’m always in the back seat Deb in the bumps and seem to struggling (Mary Jane yesterday was just humiliating) I need to practice. Practice practice-

[@grizzkid795]

Deb, get some adjustable poles. Good to see an ex-racer skiing bumps- mark of a versatile skier.

[@sunvalleylaw]

Interested in some compare and contrast thoughts on movement of center of mass, and belly button, in relation to the path of the skis, and overall direction of travel. I think (off the top of my head) you touch on it a bit toward the end of the video where you turn your boots and legs up in the air with your hips on the snow and not moving very much. Of course line makes a big difference, and perhaps the answer lies in not trying to “counter” per se, but letting counter be developed with path of the skis, as related to overall direction of travel. Hmm. Getting my intentional/active ski head going early season. Good stuff to get back into it.

[@Nordicjumper]

Deb! I wish you are in Colorado so bad! Wish I have an instructor like you. Skiing moguls scare me so much!

[@gspice71]

Thanks Deb!

[@garrytruman6954]

Огонь видео !!!! Очень полезно.!

[@josiegriess9725]

Thanks so much! This is really helpful.

[@MrDogonjon]

Foot to foot is a two way street. Phil and Steve both went the wrong way on transitions hanging out on the outside edge on fall away terrain falling way far too long ... passing the fall line sometimes... see how it got them to the bottom first? Same in bumps Ski the inside ski more on transitions with the out side ski raised in a little wedge. It looks stupid but it's fun and very controllable.. "Charlston" (or kick you ski back "Ruel Christy"" like Plake). Don't forget to snowplow through bumps kids do it, try it, it looks stupid for an adult to snowplow through bumps it's super hard but if you can do it you can ski bumps fast too. Little gullies and ravines, tree runs adapting to fast changing terrain. One ski drill... flat spins, Ollie, Fakie.

[@MrDogonjon]

Orient reference frame to gravimetric effect.

[@vicinvesta8349]

Deb is phenomenal

[@susanrodway6203]

I love watching you. I am a 63 year old skier 5'4" 120lb and live in Revelstoke, having moved from Mt. Hood (which I climbed, but not skied - loved watching that video - kudos to you and the team!) What kind of Blizzards are you skiing on for moguls? Blizzard Fire.... As I tend to be between sizes, should I go with the 160 length?

[@PlaneImpactGolf]

Hi Deb you have discussed with Bobbie about the type of skis for moguls , both mentioned width as most important. I ski a Head i magnum supershape 72 under width. Is this ski able to perform in the moguls ?

[@oakland439]

Do you have any tips/drills on keeping skis super close during moguls? I find that I often revert back to shoulder width on my skis when trying to zip down, which cause them to react asymmetrically because they are reacting to different terrain + heights.

[@TimTheMusicMan]

At 3:25 it was very understandable, I think I need to see the images to help and I was always confused, do you ski over the peak of each mogul or do you follow the twists and turns of the valleys of the moguls, kind of like follow the river in between the mountains approach?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Actually both. have to be able to adjust line in moguls. Have fun!!!!!

[@dennismalkowski4132]

What is your take on John Clendenin's method of migrating your balance to the inside ski after the turn reaches the fall line and finishing the turn on the inside ski? You then touch the pole and tip the light old outside ski to the little toe edge to the initiate the next turn. It makes sense from the standpoint of preventing stemming but it seems more intuitive to finish the turn on the outside ski. Any thoughts?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

I have not watched his stuff closely, or with a critical lie at all. Attention to balance is hugely important. The ability to affect different body parts at different phases of the turn with intention is also hugely important. He focuses on balance and attention to body parts at different phases of term return and this has merritt. He also focuses his attention from shifting from 1 foot to the other. I called that foot foot skiing which also has Merritt. I question his method, rational, as a foundation for progressing in skiing. You can’t deny physics and the outside ski is critical. But I have not paid close enough attention to be fair. I’m not a big fan of anyone’s “method”. Good skiing is good skiing and no one owns that. Communicating effective ski movements is just that, effective communication. No one owns that either.

[@MrDogonjon]

You need longer poles for more explosive pole push out of the starting gate.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Ha! What video are you watching? Not guessing I'm racing? I need shorter poles. But I love my old poles and haven't gotten around to shortening them. Where do you ski?

[@markmd9]

I like her motivation

[@Osnosis]

Donna Weinbrecht told me to think of bicycling backwards when speeding through the bumps.

[@lucbernard9755]

i will try the drills tomorrow, will let you know how it went

[@skiandscytheguy]

Where did you find a slope with so many moguls?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

this was shot in Breckenridge

[@stevenschwartz5162]

I was at Breckenridge today. This looks like Peak 9 where I was working on rotary.

[@davidsvimo665]

real true knowledge always free :)

[@marcreasoner7617]

Nice, Deb! And looks like you're on American and Peerless under the C at Breck?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Yep. Good eye

[@marcreasoner7617]

@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong those are perfect teaching bumps, as I am now doing with my 9-year old grandson. That, Dukes, and Crescendo have "bail outs" for beginners, which is a nice-to-have. Not my favorite mountain, but it's where they ski. No bailouts on Norther, Twister, or Nelson's at Steamboat! Except getting to the catwalks along the way ;-) Really enjoying your series!

[@franciscooper4771]

Another great video Deb, thanks. You commented on pole length in this film. Sounds like there's some wisdom around ideal pole length in the bumps versus on the groomers. Is there a good way to calculate a compromise?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

we used to say a 90 degree bend in the elbow. Now between an inch or two less than that. I am going to cut my poles down an inch and start from there. I probably need to cut them down more than that.

[@franciscooper4771]

@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong Thanks Deb. I'll get the hacksaw out!

[@teddyt1]

Question...spent some time in vail trying apply this...deb...as it relates to foot to foot and steering...when I go down the side of bump and I target the downside of adjoining bump to use for speed control...I realized I wasn't as Good at foot to.foot in bumps as other areas...i.began to apply a mini hockey stop...say 60 percent of full hockey stop...that approach forced steering and foot to foot and i found it absorbs as well...then i extend down the next bump...is that a reasonable approach?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Difficult for me to follow this description to give you an informed answer however when I hear hockey stop as it relates to bumps it doesn’t sound ideal to me😉

[@ianbird3849]

In the falling leaf and short radius turn exercises- which ski should be "weighed" throughout the stages of the turn?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

weight shifts between the feet for sure all the time. It is always a matter of degree for each situation. the falling leaf more more two footed however there is a small weight shift tot he outside foot. for the short radius turns there is a significant weight shift, that is the foot to foot idea that I comment on in the video.

[@ianbird3849]

@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong Thank you!

[@dillonrobertson9806]

I failed a level 3 teach exam once for even mentioning steering below the knee.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Im sorry to hear that. Have those examiners watch this video. Take good care!!

[@joeverschoor9234]

Hi Deb-I’m a huge fan of you and your content. I’ve been skiing for about 8 years (self-taught) and can only make it out west to ski once a year or so. I’m at a point where I am really trying to push myself into more challenging terrain, but I feel like my technique needs some work. I’m wondering how I’d be able to go about booking a day with you next winter? I will be in Steamboat the third week of January and it would be an absolute pleasure to get instruction from you. I’ve searched all over Google but can’t seem to find anything.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Hi Joe, thans for reaching out. As yiu can imagine, I get many requests and there is ony one of me. Please touch base in early November. I will be looking into some options. Take care. Very glad you appreciate the videos.

[@joeverschoor9234]

Deb Armstrong I’ll plan on that, I appreciate the quick response! Is there anywhere else that I should go to get in touch with you?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

@@joeverschoor9234 this works well. Take care.

[@padenzimmermann1892]

automatically fell in love

[@stevegarret7500]

Deb, could you explain what you mean by 'foot to foot' skiing?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

when one walks they walk foot to foot, they do not bunny hop, two feet at a time. when skiing the feet and leg work independently complimenting each other. One foot has carries more of the load with pressure. this is not fixed, not static. just as one walks, walking is fluid moving through a range of motion. this is one example. hope this helps.

[@jazz19101]

Nice video. How far apart should your skis be? It looks like they are shoulder width apart? Why do some people ski with their skis together? How can you edge or carve well if your skis are together?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Yep, you got it. when feet and legs are together range of motion is limited.

[@jazz19101]

@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong Thanks! That is so cool how you reply to me and others so quickly. I'm surprised you don't have thousands of likes on your videos but that will change. Just be patient because the word about your videos is spreading.

[@stevedoe1630]

East Coast moguls = Ice waterfalls. I can navigate these moguls, with confidence, but never gracefully. Unless it’s a snappy turn (for me), then it’s getting stuck in the backseat. How I long to ski moguls with grace.

[@quillaja]

Yea, these look fun. =) I've been working a lot on my bump skiing lately just to survive the usual moguls at Mt Hood Meadows, which are usually 2x as deep and made of solid ice.

[@stevedoe1630]

@quillaja You know you’re skiing East Coast moguls when.... - you’re planning the line around other fallen skiers/riders, instead of planning you’re turns around proper moguls. (Haha)

[@tilbie64]

So, lately, I back slid big time.... I somehow get confused about where I need to go on steeper moguls. I just don't know how small of turns I should be making. I do not mean to make them so short that I bump into them; however, I want to control the speed by not going straight too long either. By thinking too much, the rest is history - a huge mess of a mogul runs. Also, I have a hard time facing forward in steeper mogul by fear of going too fast. All I want is to go down rhythmically and slowly on them, but I am just about to give up. Getting too frustrated and not fun anymore. I am two different people when i am speeding down the groomer like a racer like slalom way of skiing and going down mogul like I just started to ski yesterday. What in the world! Maybe a video focusing on speed control might be helpful? I don't know what would help...... I am lost in moguls....

[@tilbie64]

Also, how close should we put our feet together? How soon to transfer the weight before turning? Should we be on flat footed instead of using any edges? You can tell I am thinking too much, can you? Ugh!

[@elainenilsson5472]

I notice you are absorbing but that absorption should really slow you down shouldn't it?

[@hbgap3596]

In your video of 2015 with a mogul coach, "How to ski, coach, teach moguls," kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3rHZpavqMSDnbM, the coach makes an important point about absorption at the 3-minute point in the video: rather than lifting the knees up with the hip flexors, you should pull your heels up toward your butt using the hamstrings. This keeps your feet under your center of mass and points the shovels down into the trough. Lifting the knees toward the chest puts your center of mass behind the feet and will result in unweighting the shovels and accelerating. Good tip about pointing the toes downward during absorption, which also helps keep the shovels in snow contact.

[@benohsten9323]

I thought she was going to ski those bumps with a single ski. Slightly disappointed she put it on again. Great teacher!

[@bonniedeibel1546]

Sure wish I could ski again! My health now won’t let me.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Im sorry. At least you can enjoy the videos? I hope you enjoy the content. Take care

[@bobby9476]

Absorb. Absorb. Absorb.

[@darrenmassey3176]

Using active rotary movements will keep you stuck in an intermediate rut. Expert skiers tip their feet & do not use active rotary movements. Any rotary in expert skiing is passive & is a by product of the correct movements. Deb take your pivoting intermediate movements & your Blizzard skis & pivot your way through deep powder see how far that gets you.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Wow you are one rigid fella. You and I see things differently

[@chucksharp4831]

I have problems with the long spiney moguls (cliff on both sides of it). If its very long and steep I pick up too much speed turning on the neighboring bump. Any advice?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Tricky tricky tricky. Savy feet managing edge angle to smear smear smear but the bumps you describe sound extremely tricky.

[@raymondgilkie2551]

@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong Some people call them banana bumps

[@ryancmclaughlin]

LEGEND

[@MorganBrown]

when you try to "absorb", are you trying to minimize up and down movement of the torso?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Yes

[@falllinemaniac]

Think of yourself as an airplane, after takeoff the plane retracts the landing gear. This unweighting movement is similar. Push down a bit then retract the legs quickly enough to match the contour of the mogul. This is also effective (particularly in deep powder) when transitioning from one direction at the end of a J turn into the next.

[@MorganBrown]

julian lobato thanks this was very useful. I was able to put it into practice on rollers and had some excellent tree runs. My quick turns in the trees were so much safer with the tips in snow! A big day of improvement for me!

[@tinyskier6250]

think of it like shock absorbers in the car.

[@woodhoud]

I got a set of those Scott world cups in my shed

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

I'll take them!! I think they should come to me. have an awesome season!!!!