How to Ski - Variable Snow Conditions

This instructional video focuses on how to ski in firm, chalky, death cookie, and compacted powder off piste variable snow conditions. With the 2023/24 winter season underway why not get on snow with some intention! If you are trying to explore more of what the mountain has to offer but conditions are not ideal then this video will help you ski off piste with more consistency and confidence. Enjoy :-)
Also for all of my online learning lovers out there... something that I am really excited about is my Projected Productions video with Reilly McGlashan - where we discuss other variable off piste conditions (typically found in Japan, North America, and Europe). So stay tuned for that to be released. Projected is the best place to view in depth online skiing educational material. In order to view our upcoming video and many other great online instructional videos sign up to the all access pass @ www.projectedproductions.com
SKIS: Fischer Skis - www.fischersports.com/alpine/ski
BOOTS: Fischer Boots - www.fischersports.com/alpine/...
SUIT: Carve Korea 'Complete Your Performance' - carvesport.com/
HELMET/GOGGLES: SHRED - shredoptics.com/
POLES (current) : www.komperdell.com/en/
POLES (used in this video) : www.komperdell.com/en/
If you enjoy and appreciate the content I put up, you can show your support and buy me a beer here: paypal.me/jdsskiing
To ski with me in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere contact:
[e-mail]
www.jdsskiing.com/
[e-mail]
www.rookieacademy.com/
Instagram:
@joshduncansmith

[@jeffbrown321]

"... in those challenging chopped up conditions." lol Seriously, great concepts and demonstrations. Wish the season wasn't over!

[@a.m.9466]

Thanks, Always great videos with excellent skiing, I used to tell my ski class to DRIVE their skis through any and every condition encountered so they could maintain a good turn shape and a smooth constant rhythm. It took awhile for intermediate skiers to learn the concept of a good strong ski platform so they could DRIVE their skis through any condition.

[@KP-dd2ci]

This is the technique that makes me a decent skier with a hockey background (so very natural to have feet together for hockey stops). So much focus on carving, carving, carving nowadays, people forget the importance of the well balanced short turns, which makes variable snow condition skiing sooo much easier. Practice along the side of the mountain or fence when you get better- that will really make you focus, otherwise you fly into the trees etc. :)

[@murrayty]

People that don't learn how to carve well end up skidding every turn and struggle in these variable conditions because they are always trying to turn too sharply and often are trying to go too slowly. Carving has always been the first step taught because it teaches you good body position, edge angles, angulation etc. If you learn to carve well then you only need to add in some additional steering of the skis with your lower body and make minor position changes in order to tighten up your turns into good short turns. If you go straight from skidded turns to short turns in off piste variable conditions you are going to struggle for a while before you figure it out and you are more likely to develop some bad habits to compensate for poor technique. In short if you learn to carve first learning to ski in variable conditions will be easier and you will most likely become a better skier overall. In short if you learn pizza, parallel skiing, carving, short turns, bumps/variable conditions, moguls, steeps, trees/glades in roughly that order the progression between each step will be easier and you will have less chance of injury etc.

[@danielluneau2936]

I was out on the mountain this morning in these conditions and was not having a great time. I just watched your video and going back out after lunch to do my best to implement your tips. The box concept, lifting the inside pole are what I will focus on. Thanks for the tips.

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

That’s fantastic, how did it go?

[@ockamsrazr]

Thank you for the video, this one sets itself apart from other instructionals in one statement "how the ski interacts with the snow;" so simple, yet the absolute truth as much as "where the tires hit the pavement." I would love to see these concepts transferred to a backcountry approach in addition to the near-bounds off piste.

[@Argue-Naught]

Josh, you present by far the most functional initial move exercises and the best elements explanation I've ever seen over the years of checking similar videos. Great methodology and just enough theory to keep the demo dynamic. Thanks a lot and best to you!

[@annluark4104]

Great to see another pro teach “not dragging the inside pole”. I teach that also. Game changer

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

It really is a simple but great little drill

[@reddottx]

Though I can see you staying in the box while you’re skiing it’s great to show what you’re doing to keep it there with Emma. Will really help taking to the mountain. Thanks

[@kaberndt]

Amazing how well this works! Better grip, better balance, much quicker turns. Easy to implement. Brilliant! Thank you so much for these tips.

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

I'm glad you enjoyed the tips.

[@bartoszt.3190]

Great video with practical tips for skiing in challenging conditions. Loved the 'imaginary box' concept for stability. Can't wait to try!

[@markwharton5226]

I've been teaching this for years but the moving of the client's ski is a great new wrinkle!!! thank you!

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

Love that, always learning new ways to help people ski. Let me know how it goes :-)

[@BuddyFichera]

Thank you for a well communicated concept of skiing under variable conditions. Your simple and informative approach is valued here.

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

Cheers, appreciate the comment.

[@austinado16]

It's a like and a sub from me! To me, this is "real" skiing technique, and it allows more of the mountain to be skied. It think it's also the beginning of the development of being able to ski in powder. There's so much "out there" both here in the YT and in other locations, about not skidding the skis, and skies are not made for carving, and your turns should look like train tracks, and knees apart, knees staggered. I get all that, and I understand where it can be enjoyed, but it seems only useable on groomed runs. I want to ski more runs, and have all sorts of variety and I really appreciate this demo. I'm not as good, but at age 60, it's how I've always skied, and I continue to learn to improve my skills. It's part of the fun!! Thank you! Great demo/lesson! It's the guys and gals skiing like you, that I always enjoy watching as I'm going back up in the chair!!

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

Thanks for the comment. Glad you are still getting back up on that chairlift for one more run!

[@willemhaifetz-chen1588]

Now I have been doing exacly this at 3000-3500m in near 0 visibility in Saas Fee, Lauchneralp and Zinal last week. It takes a lot out of you. Loved it.

[@shoes123uk8]

Great clear explanations ❤

[@jimt1575]

Wow, thank you for this!!

[@mingyuanguan9979]

Thanks Josh. Awesome contents, great teaching!

[@stevecruickshank483]

Great video and explained and very informative !

[@ianwolters1905]

Thanks Josh. Wonderful, clear explanation as usual. Can’t wait to try some of that on my next ski trip.

[@roy87345]

❤❤❤ love all your contents… pls share more

[@andrewbaggett8664]

Great video and some top tips

[@HS-ob3fz]

superb explanation!

[@nathantoney.1501]

And gorgeous technique

[@avamaude6059]

Very nice :)

[@davidbeazer9799]

Opposite of “the box” would be excessive lead with each foot exploring a different part of the mountain! They’ll each go their own way and you’ll be down!

[@northernsamba7388]

Great! I want to try this on snow.

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

Let me know how it goes.

[@northernsamba7388]

I will for sure, week end of January 12 - 14th, 2024. I am super intriqued with your ability to rotate/steer through a small foot print as little as a tiny box.

[@northernsamba7388]

It seems having the inside ski come off the snow is rather important.

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

Which part are you relating this to? when skiing normally in the crud I am trying to keep both skis on the snow haha! For the drills having the ski come off the snow can help at the start but try to get it to a place where you can keep both skis on the snow. @@northernsamba7388

[@northernsamba7388]

@@JoshuaDuncanSmith OK, I understand about getting both skis to a place when both are on the snow. Pertaining to the box concept, it is interesting in that I think our purpose is to be balanced over as small a box as possible, but no smaller than the size, front to back, side to side of our boots. A box with parallel sides varying from 90 degrees corners to some times a parallelogram. I am looking forward to trying this on snow.

[@daviddowie828]

Great video , but you dont actually ski any toxic snow conditions in your lesson. No bulletproof ice, solid wind crust or 15inches of chopped up heavy wet snow on medium angle slope....those are challenging conditions where Keeping your hips/knees in neutral is key to stay in control as resistance varies, a great tip from Rob Deslaurier.

[@user-wv3li3dd4p]

Really cool tutorial, great tips on the technical side. What spec of skis would you recommend for the conditions and turn shape you're teaching here? Most firm snow skis these days are advertised as carvers for groomed snow. Thanks, and I love your content!

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

I love using my Fischer RC4 CT 180 everywhere. I know they are more built for the piste but to me they are incredibly versatile. So my recommendation would be for something that you like using on piste.

[@jogihaug9243]

I would prefer the armbox with any movement of the wrist like you do while mogul skiing for stable upper body

[@nathantoney.1501]

What about frozen mank? mixed with occasional corn?

[@user-io5iz7dn7h]

かっけぇ〜