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Everyone who skis off piste will meet breakable crust at some point.
It is what powder often turns into when the top level is repeatedly warmed
and then refreezes. Like a creme caramel, it consists of a hard crust
on top of a soft under-layer. If the crust is very thin, you can ignore
it and ski on the snow beneath. If it is very thick, you can stay on top
of it, and may even get spring skiing conditions. But between these extremes
lies one of the most difficult and dangerous of surfaces. It will support
you until you try to turn, at which point you break through.
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The Soft Touch
The first thing to try when you encounter crusty conditions is to avoid
breaking through. If you can stay on the surface, you are in control and
less likely to trip.
- Ski as smoothly as possible.
- Try not to use your edges.
- Keep your weight evenly on both skis.
- Use up and down motion to absorb shock.
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[Photo: ifyouski.com] |
Keep your weight evenly on both skis or you may find one breaks through...
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The Jump Turn
Sometimes the crust will be too thin to bear your weight, but too thick
for you to ski normally. As its name suggests, a jump turn involves jumping
your skis out of the snow, turning them in the air and landing with them
in the new direction. It will often get you out of trouble
Jump turns are very hard work. All but the most fanatic of skiers have
headed for the groomed slope or the café by now.
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[Photo: ifyouski.com] |
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The Compression Turn
If you persist in skiing off piste when the conditions are crusty, you
had better perfect the compression turn.
Finish each turn by extending and pushing your heels into the snow, breaking
the crust strongly
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| Flex your legs to bring your skis
out from under the crust. This is the tricky bit - don't trip. |
Steer your skis through the fall
line. |
Stay balanced as you finish the turn and your skis break through the crust
once more.
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[Photos: ifyouski.com]
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The Cheat
When all else fails, you can always cheat. Interspersing long traverses
with kick turns, you will always be able to get down. This is not very elegant,
but is guaranteed to get you out of a nasty situation. Use a very shallow
traverse to keep your speed down, and stop by performing a strong, slow
uphill christie. |
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