BOSS THE BOSSES!
Learning to read bumps takes time, but once mastered it’s the most fun you can have on a pair of skis, says New Generation’s Amy Twigge
Bumps, bosses, moguls – whatever you want to call them, love them or loathe them, they are an inescapable part of skiing. Whether you’re trying to avoid bumps like the plague or you’re a hot-dogging, onesie-clad bumps fanatic, they are well woven into the rich tapestry of skiing.
Many a time have I asked clients how they ski bumps and have received the answer: “Generally I avoid them!” However, if you want to get your monies-worth out of your lift pass it pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve to be able to navigate your way through any bumps without the characteristic thigh burn (or complete meltdown).
Knowing the route to take through the bumps, and practising your skills, can go a long way if you inadvertently end up on a bumpy piste. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll actually enjoy them! So here’s how to navigate them in style…
GETTING STARTED
BEGIN ON-PISTE It’s best not to try and hone your skills in a mogul field filled with bumps the size of Morris Minors. Once you’ve got to grips with a few key skills you can then move into a shallow bumps field to put them into practise.
Practise some shorter, quick-feet turns on the piste, trying to maintain a flatter ski throughout. Too much edge in the bumps and you may find yourself picking up speed against your will! Keep your upper body still, facing down the hill and let your legs rotate underneath you with your lower body doing most of the work.
ALL ABOUT ABSORPTION Use a ridge-line (at the side of the piste, in between the piste markers) to start the motion of absorption. Keep your upper body strong and upright and allow your knees to rise up towards your chest as you go over the hump of the ridge. Always remember – knees to nipples, not nipples to knees! If you let your upper body fold in the bumps, you’ll soon be spat out.
TIMING IS KEY Time the absorption to the bump you’re skiing. Approach the ridge-line/bump positively and absorb through the ankles and knees in a ‘backwards-peddling’ motion as you move over the bump. Try to keep in contact with the snow, extending your legs and pushing your feet firmly but smoothly down the backside of the bump. Lose contact with the snow and you lose any ability to control your speed.
POSITIVE POLE PLANT Using a positive pole plant in the right place is a great way to work through the bumps without needing to have too much knowledge of your line. Pole plant over the apex of the bump – make it a positive one and it can provide a useful third point of contact with the snow to aid stability. Pole plant over the top and turn around the bump, walking the poles down the bumps to help you move from mogul to mogul and maintain a rhythm. Shopping for nice bumps and losing your rhythm will only make it harder work.
THE NEXT STEPS
Test your skills on bigger bumps and steeper slopes. Be confident and aim for the larger bumps – they can actually prove a great breaking force and, psychologically, switching your mindset from avoiding big bumps to aiming for them is really quite liberating!
Once you’ve caught the bump bug, think about making sure you’re on kit that will give you an advantage. Long, stiff or fat skis can make bumps harder than they need to be. A shorter, more forgiving pair of skis and a slightly shorter pair of poles will make things a little easier.
Get creative. Try out different lines and test yourself. There are numerous lines to take through the bumps – some easier than others. Switching between an inside line, a rounded line and a direct line will test different skills and make easier bump runs in particular more fun!
FACTFILE
Amy Twigge is a ski instructor for New Generation ski school in Tignes. ‘New Gen’ will help you develop technique, build confidence and have fun in 16 resorts throughout the Alps, from Tignes and Les Arcs to St Anton and Lech. Find out more at New Generation
