There are more than enough groomed runs that you can have a blast on at a place like Mammoth Mountain.
Still, we all know that skiing and snowboarding through powder on a bluebird day is what everyone dreams of, and if you’re lucky enough to be on the slopes when a storm hits then that’s what you’ll want to ride. We’ve put together a short list of tips for skiing and snowboarding powder below to help you do just that!
Check it out, then visit the ASO Mammoth shop for the best ski and snowboard rentals in Mammoth Lakes!
Keep Your Speed
The second you ride into powder, you’ll immediately realize that you can’t ski through it like you would groomed snow or hardpack. Powder snow will slow you down significantly, especially if you hit it while on a flat part of the mountain. That’s why it’s incredibly important to always keep your speed while riding through powder.
Of course, you can do that by turning less, but there are several other ways to keep your momentum through powder snow which we’ll discuss next.
Use Your Bodyweight More than Your Edges When Carving
Typically, when you carve on skis or a snowboard, you’re digging the edge of your gear into the snow to get a grip. That doesn’t work on powder snow because the snow isn’t firm enough to hold an edge the same way.
Instead, to turn in powder you need to lean further and use your legs and bodyweight to push the flat areas of your skis or board against the snow. If you do so, you’ll increase the surface area of your board or skis and have an easier time holding your edge on the snow.
Follow Other Lines on Flat Terrain
One of the most frustrating things that can happen in powder snow is getting stuck in a flat area. Even pushing yourself out on skis is a challenge, but if you’re on a snowboard then you’ll have to step out of your binding and push yourself or walk through deep powder.
Either way, getting stuck in powder is exhausting, so follow tracks where others have either cleared the snow or compacted it enough so you can ride through without losing all your speed.
Keep Your Weight Back
Another easy way to lose speed in powder is by having the tip of your board or skis dip under the snow. You can avoid submarining by either leaning back so your tips don’t go under, or you can set your stance back further than you normally would so your weight is already towards the back of your board or skis.
Stay High Up on the Terrain
Lastly, the only way you can get momentum through powder is by going downhill, therefore you need to stay uphill as much as you can.
When you’re off-piste you may have to navigate your way through deep snow, and if you find yourself in that situation then stay high up on your line until you’re dropping where you need to.