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Reprints From The Professional Skier

Spring 1998 - "Slip Turns Are Pivotal In The Bumps" by Rob Sogard

This article is reprinted from The Professional Skier. All copyrights apply. Please see our copyright and disclaimer notice page.

The words "bump skiing" can conjure up images of skiers barreling down a slope with their feet and legs locked together, knees pumping up and down at the speed of light, and turns that seem to be mere deflections. To many skiers, the mere thought of skiing a mogul field can inspire a backache, if not downright fear and loathing. It's enough to make anyone want to stick to tamer terrain.

It doesn't have to be that way though. Any intermediate skier with the ability to switch balance from foot to foot and enough skill to tip and turn the skis can have fun in the bumps, without taking years off his or her life. The key lies in using a "pivot-slip" turn to control speed and change direction.

Sideslip exercises provide the perfect introduction to the pivot-slip turn. I take my students to a groomed slope that has enough pitch to get their attention but is still within their comfort zone. This type of terrain is steep enough to allow a sideslip but not so steep that the students lose their confidence by not being able to control their speed. I have them play around with any type of sideslipping drill I can think of. We make a few laps, doing some traversing-slips; vertical-slips; slipping on the downhill ski; slipping on the uphill ski; backward-slips; forward-slips; slips with edge sets; falling leaf; or whatever.

In running through these drills and incorporating the movements into skiing, I have the students focus on maintaining balance in their ankles, both fore/aft and laterally, reminding them when necessary to keep the upper body stable. I make sure that the movement the students use to let their edges slip and grip comes from their feet, ankles, and knees rather than their torso or arms. If the movement travels any higher up their body, it will negatively affect balance.

When the students become comfortable getting on and off their edges and controlling the amount and speed of the sideslip, it's time to work on the pivot. On flat terrain, I find a ridge or a series of small bumps with plenty of room between each mogul. (The edge of a cat-track works great.) I have students stand over the bump and feel how easy it is to twist their skis 90 or even 180 degrees. Again, it's important that this movement come from the lower legs and feet.

To promote a stable upper body and limit movement to the lower legs, I have students firmly plant their poles on either side of the bump as they practice pivoting their skis. Then, as they ski, I have them play around with pivoting both feet on the bump at the same time. Students tend to find that this is the most difficult maneuver to incorporate into their skiing. When fear and nerves creep in, they often try to step their outside ski around rather than pivot both skis over the bump. For those having trouble making this move, I have them pick up their inside ski as they pivot. If they're standing on their outside ski, they can't step it!

To bring this combination of sideslipping and pivoting into skiing, I have students practice "square turns." Again on groomed terrain, they start a traverse, then flatten and pivot their skis 180 degrees to a vertical sideslip; then they tip their skis on edge to stop the slip and start the grip, creating a traverse in the other direction. The result is a turn that spends a lot of time traveling down the fall line but gaining no speed because the skis are skidding.

I then have students use these movements to control their turns. The direction change of the skis is initiated by a two-footed pivot, and the rest of the turn shape comes from regulating the amount of slip and grip. Slipping takes the students down the hill, gripping takes them across the hill. It's an unusual way to think of turn shape, but it's the key to gently lowering yourself off even the ugliest of bumps. It also helps students develop great edge-control skills.

Now it's time to try it on a run with moderate pitch and bumps. I have students focus on making the pivot directly on top of the bump and scraping down the backside to the top of the next bump, controlling their speed with the slide. If the line of bumps starts to get too challenging, I encourage my students to add a little grip to move across the hill to some tamer bumps. As they begin to get the hang of it, the students can take away a bit of the pivot, and some of the slip for a smooth turn.

This turn may not put your students on the Pro Mogul Tour, but it'll get them just about anywhere else they want to go. Before long, they'll be able to breeze through the gnarliest bumps on the mountain without missing a beat.

Rob Sogard is a member of the PSIA Alpine Demonstration Team and a staff trainer at Snowbird, Utah.