SKI SKILLS: How to Ski Moguls

In the second of this four-part series, instructor Marino Cardelli from Freedom Snowsports shares his tips for taking your parallel turn to the next level  

Learning to master the bumps (or moguls) is a key skill if you’re a skier that’s keen to get off the blue runs and explore the whole mountain. Not everyone wants to send it hell-for-leather down Tortin (Verbier’s infamous mogul field), but even the smoothest runs can get choppy and bumped up after a snowfall or late in the afternoon on a sunny spring day. Mastering the tactics and techniques for mogul skiing will open the mountain to you, and with this skill in your toolbox you’ll have the confidence to keep exploring.  

Getting Started Skiing Bumps 

To tackle moguls effectively, you should already be comfortable making short-radius turns. Practice skiing smooth and fluid, short-parallel turns on the piste first, using a consistent rhythm and a good pole plant.  

Now, skiing in bumpy terrain requires you to use a blend of edging and rotation, so here’s a drill to practice next: 

Braquage 

• Set a corridor for yourself about two ski lengths from the edge of the slope. 

• Begin by trying a controlled sideslip in the corridor with your skis perpendicular to the fall line. Keep your upper body facing down the hill, weight on your downhill ski and keep the sideslip within the corridor. 

• When you’re ready, swap sides. Shift pressure from your downhill to your uphill foot, and simultaneously rotate your legs and feet 180 degrees across the fall line without deviating from your set corridor.  

• Continue the sideslip on the other side.  

• You can practice varying the distance that you sideslip and really concentrate on pivoting your feet underneath you as you swap sides. 

• This exercise helps train accurate rotational separation, pressure and edge control, and some very precise skidding – a key skill for moguls. 

Learning To Ski The Bumps 

Before diving into mogul runs, assess the snow conditions – it’s not advisable to tackle icy moguls, give them a chance to soften a little.  

Start by warming up the movement in your legs. Take a slow traverse line across the bumps and work the flexion and extension of your legs as you hit each mogul. Flex as you go over the bump and extend into the trough. Imagine a low ceiling above your head, your legs must stretch and compress to move across the moguls without your head bobbing up and down. 

Next, find some small bumps or even a ridgeline or spine on the edge of a piste. The aim here is to smoothly link a series of turns down the spine, initiating each new turn on top of the spine. The exact point where the soles of your feet are on top of the spine, the skis will be easy to pivot and you’ll have to simultaneously allow your legs to compress to absorb the lump of the spine as your turns move across it. If you’re feeling at ease on this, you can add in some footwork using your ankle joint to press the ski tips down the other side of the spine as you cross it, then extend your legs into the trough. 

Moving into the moguls, start with short sections (3 – 4 turns) and before you set off, take a moment to look at the terrain and visualise the line that your turns will take. Smoothly and at a mellow pace, ski the line that you visualised, keeping your head up. Remember to use your pole plant – as your skis skid down the backside of the bump make your pole plant for the next turn on top the next mogul. 

Keep linking longer sections together and don’t worry about stopping to reset if you lose your rhythm. 

Which Line to Take? 

As you get comfortable linking turns in the moguls you might find that you get caught out by changes in shapes or the ‘odd’ bump that doesn’t quite fit your rhythm. This is where things get more advanced – there are different types of line a skier can take through the moguls, with the main ones being; 

• Inside Line (pivoting on top of the bumps) 

• Outside Line (smoothly linking around the walls of the bumps) 

• Direct Line (think of a competition mogul skier, fast, direct, through the troughs) 

You can practice experimenting with where and when you make your turns, and eventually, you will be able to blend these different lines together.  

Top Tips for Skiing Bumps 

Now you’ve got the basics, it’s time to practice, practice, practice… Make sure you keep your head up so that you can anticipate the next bump and be sure to keep your pole plant working on every single mogul. Finally, don’t forget to breathe. God knows, you’ll need it! Skiing the bumps is extremely physical and breathing can also help to keep your rhythm. Keen to learn more out on the slopes? Find us at Freedom Snowsports across the French Alps. 

Instructor Bio

Marino Cardelli is an instructor and manager at British-owned Freedom Snowsports ski & snowboard schools. Marino is a well renowned skier having represented at the Winter Olympics – so if anyone knows about good technique, it’s him!