{"id":3226,"date":"2016-01-14T18:23:20","date_gmt":"2016-01-14T18:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skiinluxury.com\/blog\/?p=3226"},"modified":"2020-11-04T11:27:19","modified_gmt":"2020-11-04T11:27:19","slug":"how-to-ski-in-heavy-snow-and-white-outs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skiinluxury.com\/blog\/how-to-ski-in-heavy-snow-and-white-outs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Ski in Heavy Snow and White Outs"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"skiing<\/a><\/p>\n

Guy Ordway is a seasoned ski instructor who set up\u00a0Element Concept Ski School in Verbier<\/a> alongside of Emma Cairns.<\/a>\u00a0Having skied in all conditions that mother nature has thrown his way, who better to share their thoughts on how to ski in heavy snow and white outs?\u00a0 Ski In Luxury brings\u00a0you the advice of the expert in his own words.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“After a barren Christmas and New Year winter has hit the Alps with enthusiasm and we\u2019ve seen snow falls on an unprecedented scale. Now, whilst this is amazing news it poses a pretty important question \u2013 how do we deal with the terrible visibility that comes when it\u2019s dumping?<\/p>\n

The irony is that we all pray for snow when we go on a luxury ski holiday<\/a>, but we also all hope the actual process of snowing is over and done with by the time we step into our skis… After all, skiing in flat light isn\u2019t easy and doesn\u2019t seem much fun. But it\u2019s not always a tough as it seems.\"Element<\/a><\/p>\n

\"whiteout1\"<\/p>\n

Stick To What You Know<\/h2>\n

When skiing in heavy snow and white outs and the going gets tough, the temptation is to temporarily forget everything you normally do in a turn. You can find yourself trying out new and largely unpleasant movements to get down the hill \u2013 we lean back, try to use our upper body to swing us around, we usually become rigid and when we do<\/em> turn we rush everything.<\/p>\n

What we really need to do is take a deep breath and concentrate on all the movements we\u2019re used to making. Just our normal skiing.<\/p>\n

Start with the simple things and trying to take your time through the turn. I find it\u2019s really important to have a familiar focus in every turn \u2013 pick something that will keep you centred and stop you sitting back or rushing the turn.<\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s to press on your big toes, feel for your shin in the boot, tense your core, or perhaps make a strong, distinct forward pole plant.<\/p>\n

Just keep it simple and keep focused on what you know.<\/p>\n

\"whiteout2\"<\/p>\n

Stay Strong And \u201cReady\u201d<\/h2>\n

Bad weather really underlines what you\u2019ve heard ski instructors telling you for years \u2013 a strong, centred body position is the secret. The fabled \u201cready\u201d position.<\/p>\n

When the sun\u2019s out and the pistes are corduroy you can get away without it. But when the clouds come in your best friends are a strong core and a pair of flexed legs.<\/p>\n

Your legs are your suspension, they can bail you out when you hit unexpected bumps (or stretch out when the ground seems to drop away with little-or-no warning). Your core helps keep your upper body stable, centred and disciplined.<\/p>\n

When you allow yourself to get off-centre \u2013 almost always in the \u201cbackseat\u201d with your centre of mass over or behind the heels \u2013 you can\u2019t react to unseen changes in terrain. They just throw you upward and backwards, and massively increase your risk of embarrassment and\/or injury.<\/p>\n

\"whiteout3\"<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Forget To Cheat<\/h2>\n

Yes, when your technique is under pressure and you\u2019re starting to doubt your ability to ever find resort again, it\u2019s time to just cheat.<\/p>\n

For a start when the light goes flat some of the best indicators of the pitch of the slope are other skiers. Let people overtake and find all those hidden bumps for you\u2026<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also useful to simply stay below the treeline. A white-out refracts all the light falling on the snow \u2013 effectively lighting it perfectly from every angle, hence no shadows and no depth perception.<\/p>\n

Trees (and rocks, buildings, lift pylons and even other skiers) block that light allowing shadows to form \u2013 and our brains are wired to use these clues to judge speed, slope and terrain. Piste markers are great too, they instantly tell you the gradient and width of the slope \u2013 plus if you\u2019ve accidentally strayed onto a black.<\/p>\n

\"homepage\"<\/p>\n

Believe In Yourself<\/h2>\n

When all is said and done, the only person who can get you down any slope is you \u2013 all the encouragement in the world doesn\u2019t change the fact that you are the one in control.<\/p>\n

So stay positive, don\u2019t listen to the little voice that says \u201cyou can\u2019t do this\u201d. Because if you listen carefully there\u2019s another little voice in your head telling you to have faith in yourself.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also quite often the little voice that knows where apr\u00e8s ski is. So pay attention, it\u2019s the most important voice you can listen to!\u2026”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Element Concept<\/strong> also\u00a0run Ski Performance Clinics<\/a>, Women\u2019s Off-Piste Camps <\/a>and Ski Instructor Training<\/a> through the season. Check their ski school website<\/a> or alternatively email Emma <\/a>for further information.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Obviously first class ski instruction goes hand in hand with first class chalets in Verbier<\/a>. If you are seeking a luxury chalet in Verbier we feature over 60 properties of differing budgets and offering a range of facilities and covering a variety of tastes. Get in touch with our team of luxury ski experts<\/a>\u00a0to discuss your plans further on +44 1202 203650.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Guy Ordway is a seasoned ski instructor who set up Element Concept Ski School in Verbier alongside of Emma Cairns. Having skied in all conditions that mother nature has thrown his way, who better to share their thoughts … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[21],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Ski in Heavy Snow and White Outs - Ski Technique<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Verbier ski instructor Guy Ordway from Element Concept ski school gives us the low down on how to ski in heavy snow and white outs. 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