Snow Skills

The snow conditions in Australia are largely dictated by the fact the air temperature rarely gets colder than 5 degrees C (say 20 degrees F). With the addition of that warm Aussie sun, these factors tends to keep the snow surface from freezing fully into frozen granular and generally keeps skiing Downunder softer and quieter.
For our folks in the Southern Hemisphere, busy whiling away their days skiing and riding, here are a few thoughts on skiing in soft(er) snow:

• Skiers will want to keep a slightly narrower stance for skiing parallel turns in softer snow. First start with your feet about hip width apart, then move them about 2 inches closer together. A narrower stance will help keep your feet solidly under you and resist softer snow from pulling your feet apart.
• Riders will want to keep their balance evenly distributed between both feet. If your stance gets too heavy toward the nose, you’ll have trouble unweighting the edge and starting a new turn. If your stance gets too heavy toward the tail, you’ll have trouble steering the board.
• Look to travel where there are existing tracks.  Yes, everyone loves fresh tracks, but undisturbed  snow with a temperature around freezing has a pretty powerful drag effect along its surface.  You can help reduce that by skiing/riding where someone else has already broken up that effect.
• Take your time!  Being patience with your turns will allow you to make efficient, round turns.  If you try to force the gear, that soft snow will just try to hang on to you all the more.