A short lesson

Yesterday i had the pleasure to provide a short lesson to a family friend, Fran, who has just arrived in Hakuba for her own snow adventures. Fran, who has only skiied a few times before and has not been for a number of years, is staying with four pro boarders who tend to leave her behind. I told her I'd ski with her for an afternoon or two and keep her company on some beginner and intermediate trails. Here's Fran, with an awesome beanie that makes her look like she's about to go hunt a polar bear with a harpoon.

After watching her struggle down the first slope, i gave her two simple tips for making better turns. First was to put all the weight on her downhill or outside ski, and second was to lift the inside ski slightly to swing it around and keep them parallel. Almost instant improvement on the very next run. Of course, this effect i had on her technique gave me a huge ego boost and i spent most the afternoon with her contemplating a career change... This dream vanished quickly after talking to a fellow named Tom who spent three seasons as a ski instructer at Perisher and informed me I was more likely to lose money as the pay was so poor.

Upon recollection of some of my posts, I'm suddenly become aware that I've been dropping ski terms without much of an explanation for those readers with limited to no experience in the snow. I apologise. That was very inconsiderate.  i feel it is now necessary, if a little late, to provide some definitions of the terms I've used so far. I don't confess to be a skiing expert (not all the time at least) so these are by no means 'official', simply what I've come to interpret.

Powder: Fresh snow just recently fallen or untouched that is cold, light and dry. It falls away easily when you ski through it as if you're gliding through a cloud. Not all fresh snow is powder though, as some snow that falls during warmer temperatures can melt as soon as it hits the ground and becomes wet and heavy. Skiing through deep powder requires a different technique as your skis tend to sink through it easily. There are also different types of powder depending on the conditions and how the snow fell (ie wind carried powder stashes) but thats for another post...

Freshies: Putting down the first set of tracks through untouched snow. Need to get out early for these.

Groomed Run: All beginner and most intermediate runs are smoothed over each night by giant tractor like 'groomers'. They make the run nice and smooth, and also packs the snow down making it firm so people's skis don't sink through. These runs are awesome for speed and are ideal when there hasn't been fresh snow for a while. This is because ungroomed runs can quickly become bumpy and choppy and more difficult to ski after a few days without new snow.

Carving Turns: Fast, big, sweeping turns that are created by leaning on the edge of the ski. Look mega stylish and best performed on groomed runs near chairlifts where there is an audience.

Moguls: These are patterns of big mounds of snow that built up after many skiiers make turns in the same spots and form over the course of a few days. They often appear on steeper and more challenging slopes that are left ungroomed. A fresh dump of snow tends to be the cure, only for them to form again pretty quickly again afterwards. Moguls can be very difficult to ski through. Boarders hate them, which is probably why i like them. I like anything that annoys boarders. Here is an example:

That shall be it for now my young padewans. There is still much more to learn, but you can't learn everything online. Some things you just have to go out and experience. To finish this introductory lesson, i leave you with a token scenic photo of the early morning valley.