Powder Days Don’t Need to Hurt
East Coast Powder Exists
Before moving to VT earlier this year, I wouldn’t have believed that I’d be getting some fresh powder skiing on the east coast. My memories of east coast skiing have never involved much snow and focused more on edge control. However, now being on my second season here in the east, I am learning that powder days do exist and my legs aren’t always ready for them!
In this blog I’m going to discuss some training tips for riding in powder as well as some tips on how to get through all that beautiful snow most efficiently! This won’t make you the next freeride world champ, but will give you a leg up on your next powder day!
Training for Powder
First, let’s talk about training. Make sure you are supplementing your skiing/riding with a specific strength and conditioning program heavily focused on leg and glute strength, as well as core strength.
Training the quads and hamstrings is extremely important, but don’t forget about the glutes! Having a strong core (including glute muscles) will allow you to efficiently move through the snow.
I love the basics- squats, deadlifts, single leg deadlifts, step ups and hip thrusts to name a few. It’s also very important to focus on power training in your workouts and include exercises such as the kettlebell swings, box jumps or snatches to make those legs not just strong, but explosive!
Powder Day Tips
Don’t focus on edge control, focus on floating. For skiers- keep your skis closer together and think of your legs as a single unit. For riders- put more weight into that back leg to help yourself effortlessly float.
Keep your speed up! There is nothing worse than getting stuck in powder instead of floating down. Keep the tips of your skis above the top of the snow and try to avoid unnecessary speed decreases.
Avoid leaning back on your skis and avoid rotating your upper body. Leaning back tires out your legs faster- instead try to pull up the tips of your skis as you gently hop. Rotating the upper body is a common mistake for skiers and snowboarders who have yet to learn how to steer with their legs. Try to focus on turning your legs underneath your body and keep the shoulders stable to keep your balance!
Stick with it! I didn’t even like powder the first time because I simply could not master tips #1-3. However, the more you practice, progress will be made and before long you will start reaping the rewards!