UKC

How? Are there any alternatives to a) Insanely energetic jumps at worrying speed and b) kick turn traverse, repeat?

In reply to MG:

Option C, F-turn...

Or perhaps more commonly know as faceplant-turn.

In reply to HeMa:



Ah, yes. Tried those too

In reply to MG:

In all honestly, quite straight fat skis with tip rocker help (straight as in look for turn radii of over 25m, preferably 35+). Reverse side-cut (old Armada ARG, pRaxi Pow and DP Lotus 138) skis also work like a charm, but they might not be optimal on harder snow...

In reply to MG:

Known as Bruchharsch in German, and many other less polite Anglo-Saxon terms by me! If you can read German, there are some good technique guides on the web, but even good off-piste skiers struggle. Having big fat skis cetainly helps, but as far as I can see, once you break through the crust you are in for a hard time

JW

In reply to John Ww:

but even good off-piste skiers struggle.

It was slightly encouraging to see on the particular run I am thinking of about 10 other obviously much more competent skiers looking like drunkards on stilts too!

In reply to MG:

Weirdly, long radius telemark turns can work as u can kinda force yourself thru the crust far from 100% reliable though!

In reply to MG:
Try not to build up any impulses of pressure throughout the turn, so try and turn evenly (no sudden twist or push of the skis) and smoothly, with very slow up/down movements.
Being super patient with the turn shape (skiing bigger turns) will also help to spread the pressure.
Treat it like skiing on eggshells trying not to break any.
It's super tricky and requires a serious focus and 'tuning in' to what's going on under your feet.

Alternatively, in certain conditions, I ski really proactivley and very aggressively, just driving the skis through the crust. You need to go reasonably fast.

In reply to MG:

Smooth and strong if that makes any sense.
Stay balanced without weighting one ski heavily or making an jerky movements.

In reply to ClimberEd:



Not really breakable crust though, if you can ski on it without it breakin'...

In reply to HeMa:

Somewhere in the attic I have a book by Arnold Lunn (published 1930s ?) in which he describes a type of snow as 'telemark crust' - just possible to stay on the surface with gentle telemark turns but not with alpine turns when the weighting tends to be less equal.

In reply to HeMa:

I wasn't implying you wouldn't break through, by staying strong you don't allow you skis to be tracked off course

In reply to MG:

Catch the bus?

In reply to MG:

Take several little steps through the turn, cross-country-ski style. Can work quite well if terrain isn't too steep.

In reply to kean:

Learn to read the snow in front of you and recognise when the crust may be thick enough to turn and were to go straight over the thinner stuff, apparently if the surface has features like ripples it will often be stronger. This is quite new to me but I was impressed and it seemed to work when a guide explained it to me last season. Having very fat tips on my Preachers seemed to help too

In reply to MG:


Although catching the bus is a more attractive proposition, weighing up the balance of practical alternatives on the day (antigravity or some other god-like skiing technique) and actually being there, in the middle of nowhere facing a refrozen rain-soaked crust on top of a deep bed of moist, grabby, semi powder and then considering just how badly it could end if I break myself on the way down, I'd always opt for (b).