On a steep slope in spring snow a certain amount of power is needed to keep under control but one of the secrets to effective turning in these conditions is to know when to lighten up.

Frame 2 and 3 illustrate perfectly the expert’s secret weapon—relax the legs and retract the feet quickly to make a smooth transition from one turn to the other.

Think of pulling the feet up toward the body, not letting the bum drop. That way it’s easier to stay out of the back seat—the wrong place to be on a steep slope.

Demonstrator: Misayo Nakamura
Gear: Fischer
Snow: Sunshine Village, Alberta
Photo: Martin Olson