Snow Skills

Cheers and hello to fellow Sugarloafers Jano and Crusher who are vacationing out in British Columbia. These two hard-corps free-heelers are driving cross-country in their camper for an extended vacation now that the snow’s leaving us here in the Northeast. Here’s a telemark tip for all of us, with them in mind:While ripping up those steep, wide open slopes, focus on making your lead change with your feet as precise as possible. Strive to not force your forward foot into position; make that slide out to a balanced position to be a placement of the ski where it will carry you through the turn without other adjustments.

A precise lead change helps to maintain balance from turn to turn. Keep a quiet upper body and hands low and forward. Don’t let the soft snow be an excuse to be lazy: steep slopes demand dynamic balance and a sloppy lead change can result in the Wobbles.

The best lead change motion allows both feet to begin moving at the same time and results in both feet ending their motion at the same time. This two-footed effort will keep your energy moving forward along the path of the forward ski and keep your center of mass low: good practices for skiing the steeps!

Let your tele goal of the day be NO WOBBLING!