Help in Skiing Powder and Crud

Learn about two concepts that help you to ski powder and crud snow (chopped up or heavy snow).
The first centres around creating a platform at the end of your turn and the second is making the most of a float phase in the top of the turn. Simple and effective tips no matter if you ski on wide powder skis or narrow carving skis.
If you would like to gain access to 5 FREE videos from Big Picture Skiing click the link below:
⛰️ bigpictureskiing.com/yt/154-s...

[@martinnelson2137]

I love the 'Feel ' approach

[@terimcgann2408]

I'm hopeless in powder. Everyone else is having so much fun and 'woo hooing!" I'm boo hooing! Looking forward to giving these tips a try. Very clear, straight forward, and manageable content. Now...here in NE PA.....I'm might have a wait.....

[@muddyhumber]

Use these tips and you will have your "aha" moment. The bounce did it for me and then the bounce became the platform. A bit of speed is your friend.

[@bobertzoltan]

Also helps to have the right skis with a little bit of float, tip rocker, and some flex. If you’re trying to ski powder on narrow, carving skis, it doesn’t work out that great.

[@tareksadmi7153]

Definitely one of the best videos I've seen on how to ski pwoder1

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Thanks mate

[@weirdbeard1980]

I love the trampoline comparison. I use that every time I teach a student to ski powder.

[@bilgyno1]

From Holland, going to the Alps for skiing powder is always tricky. I simply dont get enough powder days to really practice enough. But I'll surely build in those sand exercises and trampoline jumps to prepare. I think that's another big part of it: develop the muscle and coordination for skiing like this.

[@lorenroot7667]

Great tips. Nothing better than powder skiing!

[@Spongeoel]

Another amazing video. Thanks for doing this and for doing it for free. Some of the best you can find on YT. Happy new year!!

[@Pebbs800]

this is a great video, and whether it was on purpose or not, you did a great job at conveying that turning is a crucial part of skiing, even when one isn't completely necessary. I'm gonna bring my 88 underfoots next time there's a pow day and figure out how bad of a skier I really am lol

[@gregmcgrath4859]

Great video. Some random thoughts. 25 years ago Lito Tejado Flores did a similar long video talking about the downward pressure at the bottom of the turn creating its own powder bump to turn on. Plus I found in Japan skiing 10 cms of light powder over the day before’s ruts and bumps that I had to weight the downhill ski more than the 50/50 advice we were all given. Finally staying light on both skis recalls Lance Armstrong talking about “dancing on the pedals” on mountain climbs. Sure he was full of juice but it’s a mindset that helps me in deep stuff. Many thanks

[@bobsolomon3934]

Yes Lito! Bumps for Boomers in Aspen - LOL!

[@shanegordon3220]

I have got two of Lito's DVDs.

[@tridoc99]

Awesome explanation and great videos of techniques. This is why you are one of the best skiing channels on KZbin!

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Wow, thanks! Kind of you to say that

[@lovetoride9646]

I've joined Tom's Big Picture online program and it has helped my skiing tremendously. I have great respect for his internet teaching method.

[@mle7891130]

Finally some practical advice and exercises to try. Thank you!

[@weirdbeard1980]

Also, I love watching really good skiing. It's so satisfying and this is excellent skiing!

[@toodddddd]

best powder skiing video I've found yet

[@francinefulton6897]

Thank you . I'm glad I happened to see your video. I'm ski race coach, I have found skiing powder difficult. You did a GREAT job explaining it.😂 Merry Christmas 🎅

[@vbsand5882]

@Tahoe it is pow one day and crud the next. Even after decades of skiing, your video is helpful and on point. Thanks

[@kaischulte9275]

Great video! A Swiss ski teacher told me once to pole plant in powder and keep the inside of my hands facing forward and down the mountain. Game changer! You know how a ski teacher can tell that the season is over? He has to undo his pants by himself!

[@ThePro116]

Great video I been skiing a long time but always struggle with crud and powder.

[@FoofyNoo]

You are so practical and inspiring. Can't wait to incorporate these ideas into my skiing. Thank you!

[@Bigpictureskiing]

You are so welcome!

[@davidhalesmith2491]

Thank you for showing the “ouch” mini crash caused by the missed hit on the bump and valley hidden under the snow. I have been there more times than I can count. Learning to “build mileage” anticipate and ski more w feelings is hugely helpful advice.

[@cams3425]

Always enjoy and learn from your videos. Could not agree more that feeling is so much more engraining to the learning process. Thank you!

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Yeah I believe so that’s why I wanted to focus on things that would help you tune into what the good feelings are

[@nathantoney.1501]

Thank you. I'm taking a season off to heal my patellar tendonitis/osis. I can't wait to get back to skiing. At first I was depressed about not skiing. But now I feel absolutely positive I'll be skiing 24/25 with no injuries. I plan to focus on removing my bad habits when I get back to skiing. Lack of upper / lower separation is my nemesis

[@noneyagdb2756]

Staying light and commitment to downhill to cut through the crud is important.

[@awakening80]

Great, great explanation! Thank you.

[@MrVidakovic]

Best video you've ever made.

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Wow thanks.

[@McQzv]

Yeah. There’s tons of carving instructional content on the internet but very little for powder and chop. Glad to be getting your expertise in both areas. Especially since offpiste skiing is the more difficult progression for most people.

[@Bigpictureskiing]

@@McQzv yea it is. However much of what makes it easier is having discipline in your regular skiing. I can ski rough terrain with ease because I’ve trained my upper body and arms a lot, I’ve trained my stance a lot, I’ve spent time really honing in my upper and down range of movement to stay balanced. All these things are massive help. Then it becomes as simple as what I mention in the video above

[@KrishnaVinod]

Another excellent video. Great that you emphasized the "outside ski pressure boots bias" even when feet are close together forming the platform. When I was new to powder, I would get my feet together just like the ski videos I had watched everywhere, but assume 50-50 weighting and wondered why it was so hard to turn. 😅

[@Bigpictureskiing]

That’s right! It’s the wrong information that 50/50 idea. For sure outside foot to outside foot with float between

[@jenniferj5324]

I was taught a trick to just completely lift the inside ski initiating a turn in powder or wet heavy spring snow That always worked for me, skiing in the Northeast USA. Excited now to learn to platform!

[@bradforddavis6497]

Great summary. Thanks. There is pow on a previously groomed run with a solid base. And there is untracked snow built up over the early weeks on nothing but the raw mountain. It would be interesting to know if your approach changes and if so, how? I find the latter tougher and don't have any different ideas on approach. But after seeing this I will think more about the platform and make sure I find it. Yes.

[@Alex_W263]

best video on how to ski pow， detailed and right on key points！

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Thanks 🙏 Much appreciated!

[@erikdarosa659]

Great vid Tom!! Did I see a few Highlands shots in there??

[@corbin065]

Love these vids!! Super and applicable advice. As an east coaster I remember my first time in powder out West and almost immediately I became a powder snob. I had lots of practice skiing icy moguls which helped me in powder. Getting that bounce and load sensation is key! If only I lived in powder heaven…. 😂❤

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Glad you can confirm it’s good advice too. I asked my wife and she said the same. Just get that bounce happening and a good pole plant and you’ll be not having to worry about 70% of the turn

[@jmedaugh]

My key thought to help with creating the platform is telling myself to "finish the turn". I would guess the hardest concept for new powder skiers is to ski on both skis close together rather than riding the outside ski through the turn. And please send us some snow in Colorado ASAP, we're a bit dry at the moment!

[@gleneverett9728]

Outstanding

[@clemfung5373]

this is excellent !

[@alexanderd3239]

Sooo good and sooo detailed 🤩

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Thank you!! 😊

[@lawrenceyoo1044]

Love this video. I assume there is almost no tippong/edging? Foot to foot is coached often for moguls and notary turns. However here the focus is more bounce and moving feet together wirh downhill foot pressure? Correct?

[@roy87345]

Super helpful. Thank you ❤❤❤

[@Bigpictureskiing]

You’re welcome 😊

[@carrierlandinghdlegacyhorn2686]

Thanks for the video! In the powder, is the weight distributed the same as skiing on the groomer? Front at the initiation of the turn and heel at the end? I always feel the tips of my skis sinking down in the powder when I go forward until I feel the shine pressure.

[@albertchen3115]

Excellent!

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@melissalund4564]

Great video thanks!

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Glad you liked it!

[@blameitonben]

Question on the theoretical side. How much of the lift in powder skiing comes from the actual snow creating a base, vs. bending your skis which then push you up when your time the weight shift?

[@simongloutnez589]

Lets hope mother nature hears the call for snow that is in the theme of it 😂 Seriously Tom your content is so helpful for a coach 😊 thanks a lot

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Thanks Simon kind of you to say this. Hoping snow too although I don’t think Mother Nature watches KZbin

[@scollyutube]

Excellent thanks Tom. Any thoughts on the speed required to maintain momentum or is that on the day, as is steepness or snow type dependent?

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Absolutely something you learn to feel. It’s snow and pitch dependent. As fast as you can handle !

[@Argetnar]

Hi Tom, another great video per usual. One question I've always wondered is, when skiing a narrow slalom/gs ski in powder or crud does one have keep more pressure/guidance on the inside ski in order to keep it tracking with the outside (as compared to skiing on groomed terrain)? I suppose this could also apply to any situation where the floatation of a given ski width and length isn't sufficient to keep you planing on top of the snow. I keep a one ski quiver and my favorite terrain is offpiste and moguls, so I've always been scared off from buying something like an SL ski due to this.

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Just keep tension between your legs. I mention that you want to try and move your legs as one unit

[@undrellx]

changes in snow conditions are a real challenge for me, n really deep powder is pretty unforgiving n difficult to recover from.. some great concepts there. Here's hoping

[@TheRausing1]

I'm curious where this was filmed? thanks! super useful tips

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Various places actually some in Utah some in British Columbia Canada

[@greabr9492]

Great video! Any tips on how to deal with that crud on freshly opened runs that a mix of frozen enough to float on top of and just unfrozen enough to sink into? Feels like I'll be skiing it and all the sudden one ski will sink in while the other continues to float or one will get pulled in a different direction than the other and I'll end up crashing.

[@jenniferj5324]

That is the worst. I fall in that type of snow too. I don't know how to ski it unless you just don't turn much, wide swooping turns are the only thing that work for me, otherwise my skies break the crust and you go underneath and get stuck, boom on the ground 😂

[@mbal4052]

Strong legs helps, keep doing those squats folks

[@alphabet6814]

still figuring this out Out side foot loading....I thought both feet needed to be balanced other wise u get inside sinking. The way he describe it I hear is 80-20 but if I did that inside ski gets drag back. yes yes do less if that happens. my take on it its heavily dependant on snow condition. if its light fluffy you'll get less force acting on you. keep feet under body more until your speed moves you through snow creating the push back The heavier the snow the slower you can go to allow the skies to drift away from underneath. there is a minimum speed for each snow condition at this point ski underneath body is recommended if you going really fast you don't sink 🤔

[@billherrick3569]

excellent

[@Bigpictureskiing]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@michaeldavis1291]

How do you get video of yourself without hiring someone to ski down with you holding a camera? I assume that's very expensive