SKI TECHNIQUE WITH
Amy Twigge
Crud buster
Channel your favourite toilet paper and develop a technique that’s soft, yet strong! Be positive and stomp that crud: with Amy’s help you’ll soon be a master of the entire mountain
Learn to master choppy snow and a more enjoyable experience beckons, across the mountain, as Amy Twigge explains
As much as we’d like to ski virgin powder and perfect corduroy all day, every day, the reality is that much of the time we’re faced with far more challenging conditions. Yes, choppy snow, or crud as it’s so affectionately called, is part and parcel of skiing.
Due to its variable nature, choppy snow calls for the ability to constantly adapt your technique and tactics from turn to turn; you need to be prepared for anything.
Add to that responsiveness some key technique elements – namely, balance and absorption – and you’ll be on your way to mastering the crud.
The result? A much more enjoyable experience across the entire mountain when conditions are less than perfect.
GETTING STARTED
THINK TOILET PAPER…
Bear with me on this one. Skiing choppy snow is, by its very nature, different from turn to turn, so it is all about channelling your inner premium toilet paper: you have to be soft yet strong. This is a fine balance and one that takes some fine tuning and practise. Try to maintain a strong core yet allow enough ‘give’ in your lower leg joints to absorb micro snow variations. This will help save energy in your legs, so that when you have no choice but to launch off a surprise mogul that has appeared out of nowhere, you are ready. A firm grip on your poles will help to activate the core and provide some stability while your legs act as your suspension, absorbing bumps, lumps or crud as you move through the snow.
RECOVER!
Begin each turn with a balanced, athletic stance. Begin in a neutral position – your core should be square over your bindings. Getting too far forward in variable snow can make the ski tips too grabby and send you over the bars. Conversely, being sat back will only mean that you pick up speed and lose the ability to control your turn shape. It’s also the quickest way to get the thighs burning! It’s inevitable that you’ll feel like you’re getting flung around a bit, but some of the strongest skiers are those who are able to react and recover the fastest. It may be inevitable that you get thrown off balance, but aim to get back to your starting position as quickly as you can.
KEEP MOVING
Stilted movements, lack of flow or sudden slowing of speed through skidding the skis abruptly will all make skiing choppy snow harder work. Speed is your friend and makes it easier to cut through the crud. A good tactic is to start facing straight down the hill, building a bit of momentum to help with that first crucial turn. Make sure you’re looking ahead so that you can read the terrain and snow well in front of you as well as feeling and adapting to what is directly underfoot. Not every turn will feel great, but as long as you keep moving you’ll be onto the next good turn before you know it.
BE CONFIDENT
Crud can be intimidating, so be positively proactive in moving with the variable terrain – while also staying relaxed. If you allow it, the chop will start pushing you around and telling you what to do! To aid this positive approach, imagine a string attached to your belly button pulling your body down the fall-line. Confident inputs will drive the skis through the snow, and by combining this confidence with a ‘looseness’ you will create beautiful, smooth turns that almost look easy on terrain that is anything but.
THE NEXT STEPS
Experiment with turn shapes and be creative with your line. Some turns can be quick and others are more drawn out. You can ‘funnel’ the turns or create an ‘egg timer’ shape down the mountain to test your flow and rhythm, moving between different turns shapes.
If there are bigger bumps or lumps within the choppy snow you can look to jump between them – jumping off the first bump and landing on the backside of the second bump. You could even go for airborne edge changes to add an extra element of flare!
As freeskiing legend, Doug Coombs, used to say: “There is no such thing as crappy snow, only crappy skiers” – so get out there and find some tricky snow to test yourself on and enjoy the challenge.
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. See skinewgen.com.
