MOUNTAIN MAX OFF-PISTE CLINIC Paul Kresge and Carter Sales

Skiing the steepest and most challenging snow conditions is exciting and rewarding, and it
enhances the “big mountain” experience of advanced skiing. It challenges even the most
expert of skiers because the conditions are continually evolving, even from turn to turn,
during a run. Skiers call on, and blend, a variety of skills and techniques to assist them in
conquering the terrain and conditions. While modern equipment helps and is fun to use, the
skier must have a variety of skills and be versatile in applying those skills to safely and
efficiently work through such terrain, and make it enjoyable and fun.

Goal: To obtain confidence and enhance techniques and tactics for skiing steep terrain and
challenging snow conditions, and to form a foundation of skiing technique and tactics that
will make off-piste terrain safe, fun and rewarding.

Basic skills: Like the foundation of a house, balance is our foundation for building skiing
skills. Being well balanced enhances your ability to make movements required for skiing
like flexing/extending, tipping and turning movements. In turn, flexing/extending, tipping
and tuning movements can also help you stay in balance. Balance ultimately relates to
everything we do on skis.

Stance: The skier is in balance when they can have a positive, selective effect on any of the
skiing skills (pressure, edge, rotary) with either leg at any time, and be able to do, or undo,
any movement. A balanced and neutral stance is prerequisite to applying all other skills,
with the focus on balancing into the future; See Stick Man
• Coordinated and slight flex of ankles, knees, hips, and spine centers or “stacks” the
skier over the whole foot allowing the skeleton to comfortably support the skier.
The entire body is involved and participates in balancing. Similar stances are used in
addressing a golf ball, playing tennis, shooting a basketball, pushing a shopping cart
or riding a bicycle.
• The back is slightly rounded, arms naturally spread, hands at least as wide as the
elbows and elbows forward of spine.
• Coordinated movements of hands, arms, elbows and shoulder joints aid in centering
the skier over the whole foot.
• Balance is dynamic and will move from foot to foot, or fore and aft due to turn
dynamics, or skier movements.

Flexing and Extending Movements:

• Coordinated flexing and extending of ankles, knees, hips and spine maintains fore
and aft balance and allows pressure management, and terrain absorption. The
flexing activities originate from the ankle to support movements through the boot
cuffs. Be supple and subtle in your flexing and extending movements.
• Extend into the turn, rather than up and down.

Tipping the Feet and Legs:

• Modern day skis respond better to tipping and edging movements.
• Tipping movements originate in the feet (lifting or pressing the arch, lifting or
pressing the little or big toe), ankles and lower legs, and continue up through the
knees, and hips as necessary to control edge angles.
 • Edge change (releasing and re-engaging) occurs through tipping movements verses
a pushing behavior.
• Both skis should move to the new edge simultaneously vs. sequentially while
striving to maintain ski to snow contact.
• Strive to use the ski’s design as effectively as possible. The positive engagement of
the tip of the ski should draw you into the turn rather than displacing the tails to start
the turn.

Turning the Feet and Legs:

• Legs are hip-width apart to promote independent leg movements and allow tipping
and steering movements.
• Active foot and leg steering supplements ski design as necessary to control turn
shape.
• Skis are guided primarily by active steering of both feet and legs.
• Femurs rotate in the hip sockets beneath a stable pelvis and “quite” upper body.

Pole Usage / Arm Movements:

• Appropriate pole usage can help us secure and maintain the present turn or initiate
the next turn. Use as a timing queue to initiate the new turn.
• Proper pole usage requires discipline and accuracy of arm movements and pole
touch.

Tactics:
• Your descent down a chute or steep run may be a deft combination of hop turns,
sideslips and air-turns to achieve the right of passage! Don’t be afraid to use your
whole bag of tricks!
• Use the terrain to your advantage and have fun with it. An example would be to ski
up the side of a steep chute nor large mogul to slow down before initiating your next
turn.
• Know your terrain and stay safe. If unfamiliar with the area, seek out a local or
scope out the run from the bottom before tackling it. Look before you leap! On a
steep run or in untracked snow, mounds are going to be rock outcroppings or tree
stumps!
• If you are in an un-skiable area like a step chute, use short hops without changing
the direction of your skis, or sideslips on buff surfaces to take you down to a skiable
area. Given the slippery nature of ski boot soles, do not take off your skis. One slip
without your skis on and you could be at the bottom before you know it!
• BREATH! Nothing tenses the body like a lack of oxygen! Take a couple of big
breaths before you start your descent, and keep breathing while you make your
descent. .

Equipment:
• Modern shaped skis work well. You’ll want to ski a “big mountain” ski if you are
really bashing around in out-of-ski-area terrain. A medium stiffness with a flex
pattern that is slightly stiffer under foot and a touch softer in the tip and tail seem to
 work the best for most conditions. Try a rocker shaped ski! They are specifically
made for deeper snow and steeper terrain.
• As we age, the Achilles tendon (along with other parts of the ankle) tend to stiffen
and the need for the top level, super stiff race boot goes away. Choose a boot that
provides support, but that you are still able to flex. If your boots are too stiff, try
loosening the second and third buckles from the top. This will allow the shells to
expand and flex. Press on the tongue and the tip of the ski engages, press on the
back of the boot and the tail engages, tip the boot and the edges engage/release.
• Along with a good boot, a custom made footbed or orthotic footbed is recommended
to compensate for irregularities due to injuries or less-than-perfect feet.
• Poles: Regular or adjustable poles work equally as well but select a pole with light
weight baskets for a minimum “swing” weight
• Goggles: Polarized lenses help bring out the highlights and contours of a run much
better than regular goggles. Goggles protect more of the eye and face during
extreme weather conditions.
• Clothing: High tech modern clothing that wicks moisture from your skin is best for
extreme conditions. If you are still wearing cotton, throw it away.
• Hydrate!

Fitness:

• Skiing off-piste terrain is demanding and rewarding. You will enhance your
experience if you maintain a year round fitness regimen including cardiovascular,
weight, and flexibility training. As the season approaches, you should move towards
skiing-specific training that includes plyometrics, balance, and core strengthening.

Practice:
• Practice, practice, practice. Practice the tips and drills presented in this and other
clinics so you can master the mountain! Continuously work on your stance, balance
and other skills when on flats and catwalks.
• Have Fun!
• Be Safe!

Skiing the steeps powder and crud requires precision skiing. Small mistakes or
inaccurate movements translate into bigger spills. A solid stance, tight core and accurate
movements down the gravity line make for a more exhilarating and successful run.

Here are a few simple exercises that will help you develop your skills:

Stance Exercises:
Straight run: On a gentle slope, the skier should be able to make a straight run with
both skis tracking in a constant direction. If the skier is in the backseat or too far
forward then the skis will not track in a straight line. Arms should be at least shoulder
width apart with hands in your peripheral vision. Drop your arms to your side and see
how it changes your balance!
Straight run with one ski lifted: On a gentle slope, skier should be able to start on both
skis, then lift one ski, replace that ski and lift the other. Upper body stays centered with
no tilting or banking, arms in your peripheral vision, and the skis should not waver from
a straight course. As you become proficient, you may start tipping the ski to allow it to
arc. Drop your arms to your side and see how your balance changes!

Sideslip: Stand on a moderate flat pitch (no moguls) and simultaneously release the ski
edges and allow the skis to slip in a straight line in a corridor down the gravity line, and
then re-engage the edges to stop. Skis should slip directly down the gravity line without
drifting forward of backward. As you become more proficient, you may intentionally
drift forward and backward across the gravity line like a falling leaf.

Turning Exercises:

Sideslip into turn: On a moderate pitch skier starts a sideslip, then, with a slight
extension and movement of the core down the hill, pivot the skis into the gravity line
and then completes a turn.

Pivot slip: On a moderate pitch with no moguls, the skier starts a slip down the gravity
line, then with a slight extension and movement of core down the hill pivots the skis to
the opposite direction.

Flexion/Extension Exercises

Herringbone: Herringbone is walking up hill with the tips spread apart and the tails
close together. The skier engages the edges, and flexes and extends from the ankle and
knee, and moves up the hill in the direction of travel.

Skating: Skating is similar to herringbone except that the skier is generally moving on a
flat or gentle pitch. Flex the ankle, engage the ski edge, and push off the engaged ski
with an explosive extension from the ankle and knee. There is a short period of glide,
then the skier switches legs and propels with the other leg. As the skier becomes more
proficient, he/she may glide on the outside edge, then roll the ankle onto the inside edge
and then push off from the inside edge. When the skier develops a little speed, the skate
may be developed into a turn.

Practice these exercises when transiting from one area of the ski area to another.
Practice until you perfect them, and then keep doing them to reinforce your balance
points! Have fun with them.