How to Ski Powder, Sofa Ski School

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  • čas přidán 11. 06. 2024
  • Full 13 minute Video plus Powder Reminder Card to download:
    sofaski.com/introduction-to-p...
    For more Information ↓
    Deutsche Version: sofaski.com/de/einfuehrung-in...
    This lesson is a shortened version of the Introduction to Powder lesson from my latest instructional "Sofa Ski School - From Blue to Powder": sofaski.com/videos/blue-to-po...
    The focus lies on:
    - helping the viewer understand the importance of the basic skiing skills for improving the performance in the powder
    - showing how the turn initation and the control phase in the powder look like
    - explaining the concept of building a platform by pushing the snow together
    - showing some basic exercises to improve the feeling and timing for building a plattform
    While being able to ski powder and off-piste terrain better is a very common goal for many of our customers we need to make the step back to improving more basic skiing skills in most of the cases.
    The beauty about being able to ski the powder effortlesly is that we need to make minimal movements with maximum effect. Every inefficiency leads to a loss in performance and will make it more work than necessary.
    In my new ski instructional "From Blue to Powder" i show in over 2 hours of instruction how we work on the release/initation and pressure/control phase of the turn as well as how these skills translate into skiing the powder, bumps and short turns.
    I hope you like it, appreciate your likes, subscribtions and comments and am happy to answer if you have any questions.
    Klaus
    The instructional is available for download, on-demand viewing and on DVD on
    sofaski.com/product/from-blue...
    SOFASKI.COM
    Instructional Ski Videos and Articles, sofaskischool.com
    Online Ski Analysis and Training Planning, skianalysis.com
    Ski Improvement Camps and Private Coaching, sofaskicamps.com
    00:00 Intro and Goals
    00:21 Common Problems in Powder
    01:50 About Snow
    03:33 Drills
    05:07 Walking on Snow Analogy
    05:59 How not to do it
    07:10 Outro
    Follow us on social media:
    / sofaskischool
    / mairklaus
    / sofaskischool
    #ski #powder #learntoski
  • Sport

Komentáře • 97

  • @MrFlabbJack
    @MrFlabbJack Před 7 lety +38

    Brilliant. The best explanation I have ever seen....

  • @billendy7425
    @billendy7425 Před 4 lety +4

    First powder video I have watched of many where I actually learned something useful! I live in ski country and am looking forward to trying this technique.

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety

      Thank you Bill. Have a great winter! Klaus

  • @michaelsupple6081
    @michaelsupple6081 Před 3 měsíci

    What an excellent tutorial!

  • @average0citizen
    @average0citizen Před 6 lety +3

    The best lesson for skiing the powder here on yt - made me improve rly much!

  • @chimbatete
    @chimbatete Před 7 lety +5

    Klaus you're the best! Very well thought out teaching. Come to Canada.

  • @1949taurus
    @1949taurus Před 7 lety +7

    Bravo Kalus. Gute Arbeit !!!

  • @jforeman4111
    @jforeman4111 Před 3 lety

    Bought Klaus's ski school CD several years ago. He is an excellent skier and teacher. His simple suggestions are innovative but easy to understand!

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 3 lety +1

      Thank you! :) I hope you have access to the member area on the new website with more content. Private message me if you don't. Kind regards, Klaus

  • @frsantariga
    @frsantariga Před 7 lety +1

    Du hast es leicht gemacht! Danke für die Lektion

  • @joaquincortada1483
    @joaquincortada1483 Před 4 lety +14

    I love "The Powder"

  • @lucamaletti8958
    @lucamaletti8958 Před 4 lety +1

    I agree, you did a great video. It's really a clear, simple and efficient exmplanation! Thank you very much!

  • @misterfunnybones
    @misterfunnybones Před 7 lety +11

    I improved my skiing balance (base of support + center of mass) by snowboarding. Having your legs locked & no poles forces the brain to maintain balance without increasing your base of support by widening the stance or by pole planting or pole dragging. Deep powder requires balance to float on the snow. Be careful of tree wells & snow immersion suffocation. Great video.

    • @simonsays3115
      @simonsays3115 Před 5 lety

      misterfunnybones I broke my arm when i tried to snowboard for the First Time After 14 y of skiing

  • @powderskier5547
    @powderskier5547 Před 5 lety +3

    Excellent explanation Klaus and cant wait to try your tips in Japan

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 5 lety +1

      Thank you. :) We now also run Sofa Ski Camps in Japan www.sofaskicampsjapan.com :) Greets, Klaus

  • @koji100200
    @koji100200 Před 4 lety +1

    Very good instruction in all your videos, thank you. from Japan!

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety +1

      Thank you. More to come. :)

  • @ThievesTools
    @ThievesTools Před 7 lety +1

    Finally a good and useful explanation, very good video!

  • @Capo51
    @Capo51 Před rokem

    Great ski lesson ⛷️

  • @tsr7198
    @tsr7198 Před 7 lety +1

    Very good instruction in all your videos, thank you. Sub

  • @TheSnifmister
    @TheSnifmister Před 2 lety

    Very good video. You taught me something

  • @cbro_
    @cbro_ Před 4 lety +1

    Super duper turns

  • @paulbraiden3587
    @paulbraiden3587 Před 5 lety +3

    Absolutely excellent! Very well done.

  • @borysvengerov3398
    @borysvengerov3398 Před 5 lety +2

    Great tips! It's very beneficial to understand the physics of powder under your ski: you're actually compressing it to build a small "groomer" for yourself as you go.
    P.S. I would argue that there's no new movements (skills) as opposed to on-piste skiing, but it is a different technique though.

  • @raghadmimar7269
    @raghadmimar7269 Před 7 lety +1

    cool vid!

  • @gRosh08
    @gRosh08 Před 7 lety

    Feeling good!

  • @relatietherapie
    @relatietherapie Před 7 lety +1

    very good

  • @williamotule
    @williamotule Před 4 lety

    great thanks!

  • @Tazz-ox4np
    @Tazz-ox4np Před rokem

    Thanks 🙏

  • @deepbluewaterful
    @deepbluewaterful Před 3 lety

    A Neskvik lessn : ) just kiddin great explanation, thank you

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 3 lety +1

      Quick and cheap. :) Thank you.

  • @MorganPetitniot
    @MorganPetitniot Před 7 lety +1

    Great job Mair ;)

  • @jasmic1995
    @jasmic1995 Před 6 lety +2

    his accent is so funny and cute (; Super Duper
    but honestly this vid was really helpful for me

  • @14anjuli
    @14anjuli Před 2 lety

    Klaus the BEST

  • @gregdowling2043
    @gregdowling2043 Před 4 lety +1

    Superb!

  • @RatrackSnowDozer
    @RatrackSnowDozer Před 5 lety

    Clear and Simple to understand !
    I just would add that for Off Piste the skier should also do not forget his brain on top of the rescue equipment and the guide. ;-)

  • @falllinemaniac
    @falllinemaniac Před 3 lety

    That porpoising movement is fun and all but it's so strenuous. I know I'm skiing the powder when I cannot see my skis. This is throughout the process, top to bottom. If the skis are submerged all the way down, that's a good run. New school shapes do this with aplomb. Front side carvers are for the groomed runs.

  • @JanosKoranyi
    @JanosKoranyi Před 3 lety

    This was really god. I enjoyed it very much. May I suggest one new idea that can help a lot! This is dorsal flexion of your ankles. You press your feet upwards inside the boots when you ski in powder. This will create an ankle flex and also it lifts up the ski-tips so that you push your skis upward in the snow by your body. This is usually called "virtual bumps" Dorsal flex will prevent the skis from running ahead of your body even if you push your skis forwards, instead, they will go upwards in the snow. As soon you need an unloading of your ski-pressures, a knee flex, you use a dorsal flex of your feet with force.

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 3 lety +1

      Thank you Janos. Lifting up the foot inside the boot, similar to leaning back for a short moment, helps to get the skis back up if the tips are about to dive. In general though i always want to keep my foot in touch with the boot, the footbed and would only use this as a move to get the tips back up. The virtual bump you refer to, the knee flex to create unloading is something you can also see me do in the run that is used as the thumbnail of the video, further down, closer to the camera. More on this can also be found here: Flex to Release vs Up and Forward czcams.com/video/bySjAQqp-Os/video.html Thanks for you comment. Greets, Klaus

  • @ryanturner3945
    @ryanturner3945 Před 7 lety +14

    Is that a hat? or crazy hair! LMAO ..SUPER DUPER!

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 5 lety +5

      It is my "how not to do it" beanie but there were times when i actually taught in it. :)

  • @char_r10
    @char_r10 Před 2 lety

    Awesome

  • @Kenny-lbaum
    @Kenny-lbaum Před 5 lety +1

    Thanks Klaus. However you are using the broad skis that are really easier in deeper snow. Kinda similar to the snowboard.

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 5 lety +1

      Hi Leo, not on the run at 2:42. ;) Greets, Klaus

  • @foyorama
    @foyorama Před 4 lety +2

    remember ¨speed is your friend¨ if you go too slow you will have to work a lot harder

  • @sendyboi7028
    @sendyboi7028 Před rokem

    I live on the eastern side or the us, I don’t know how to ski it because our slopes are either ice or groomed runs.

  • @andrewpeters9520
    @andrewpeters9520 Před 4 lety +1

    Excellent methodology. What happened to your hair at 7:03?😜

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety

      Thank you. :) 7:03 that's my helmet ;)

  • @rich8304
    @rich8304 Před 4 lety

    Buy some bungy cord and tie(not to tight) your knees together, go easy on the pitch of the slope.You'll be amazed how it unitizes the legs which gives you a wider( mono ski effect) platform to work with your pressure control movement pattern.Try it you'll like it

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety

      Having a more narrow stance definitely helps in powder.

  • @bustin5905
    @bustin5905 Před 5 lety +4

    "the powder" :)

  • @bigd2829
    @bigd2829 Před 2 lety +1

    So after you push down to create a hard base in the snow, what are you doing exactly with your legs/feet to initiate the next turn? Are your just simply turning your body and skis or is it something different? Happy skiing! 😊

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 2 lety

      After you have found the plattform you can use it to move up and forward to create release and turn the skis. Same movement as in this drill czcams.com/video/0eXnB04zKqE/video.html , only that you then use the release to turn the skis a bit. Just try to turn your legs and not your body. Have fun skiin! :)

    • @bigd2829
      @bigd2829 Před 2 lety

      @@KlausMair this is super helpful, you are amazing. Thank you!!!

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 2 lety

      You are welcome! 😊 This might also be helpful: sofaski.com/introduction-to-powder-free-reminder-card-to-download/

    • @bigd2829
      @bigd2829 Před 2 lety

      @@KlausMair Awesome, I’ll check it out!

  • @nolanredder2531
    @nolanredder2531 Před 4 lety

    Is it the same technique going down a steep run if so I feel like I would go way to fast

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety

      Yes the technique stays the same, you would only steer the skis more out of the fall line / finish the turns more so you can control the speed. Increase the steepness gradually.

  • @PaulGalea-zz1my
    @PaulGalea-zz1my Před 4 lety +1

    Skiing on an Armada powder skies with more then 110 cm under the foot (like in your example) is not the same with skiing in the powder with a Volkl Racetiger with 66cm under the foot ( like in your exemple when you rest). Armada is a rocker ski that is not stocking in the deep snow while the Volkl Racetiger slalom ski is a camber one that get stock in deep snow and doesnt matter how much presure you bring with your ballance. In deep snow you don't carve like on piste, you have to float with the knees close and for this reason you need a wide pair of skis under the boots. I don't say is not possible to ski on powder with carve slalom skies for piste if you are an expert and you are in confort with high speed as to float, but for a guy that is taking ski lesson that is an horrible experience. So my first advice to ski in powder is to better use powder skies ( preferred rocker or camber-rocker at least).

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety

      Dear Paul, the turns at 2:40 are on the Völkl Racetiger with 66mm under foot. The other skis used are an Atomic Allmountain and a Völkl powder ski with 100+mm. I agree that it does make it easier to ski powder on a wider ski and I explain that at 3:45. No matter what skis you use it is key that you are using the correct technique as especially on the wider skis it would be easy to just lean back and wiggle the tail. That's what this lesson is about. Greets, Klaus

    • @PaulGalea-zz1my
      @PaulGalea-zz1my Před 4 lety

      @@KlausMair Dear Klaus, if you can learn an intermediate skier, to ski in deep powder with SL carve skies 66 cm under the foot with your tehnic, i'll give you 2000 euros. If not, you give me 2000 euros. Do you accept the challenge ?

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety

      @@PaulGalea-zz1my Dear Paul, I am not sure what you are trying to say. Did I say that you should ski powder on a piste ski? Sorry I don't get it.

  • @marios739
    @marios739 Před 6 lety +19

    The teaching part is great, good job, but you need to find a new filmmaker

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 6 lety +7

      Thank you. I will continue to work on improving the video quality. The focus definitely lies on the content.

  • @madduckks
    @madduckks Před 6 lety +3

    Pushing the snow together is fine in that little bit of wet snow, but in waist deep plus, super dry snow, you don't ever push... You pull and move to where you are going, with rhythm!... You never get out of the snow! Come to Jackson Hole!

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 6 lety +2

      I hope i can ski Jackson Hole one day. I think this applies just as much to waist deep powder as it does to knee deep. Also in powder skiing there is more than one way of doing it. A good skier uses and blends different techniques. I think you can see the push as well as the pull that you are reffering to in the turns from 2:40 on. The powder lesson on the DVD/ondemand video covers this more. Thank you for your input. Come to Austria!

    • @rickblair5509
      @rickblair5509 Před 6 lety +3

      Deepest snow I ever skied was Colorado blower chest deep back in mid-90s, before wide skis. I can validate your skills/techniques work there too. I am very impressed with the quality of your instructions. You are a fantastic skier! Check out Olympic and WC champ Debbie Armstrong with 8-9 year olds. czcams.com/video/c2ScKSMGvtc/video.html

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 6 lety +2

      Hi Rick, thank you for your comment. I like Debbie's clips and espescially her enthusiasm and energy that she shows when coaching. :) Greets, Klaus

  • @najlaalkhuzayem544
    @najlaalkhuzayem544 Před 6 lety +1

    Is it better for beginners to ski on powder? And is it safer when you fall?

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 6 lety

      Hi Najla, beginners first need to learn how to ski on an easy, groomed beginner runs. Falling is definitely less painful if you pick a day with some soft, fresh snow but it helps if it is groomed to make it easier. After learning the skiing basics and progressing to safely being able to ski blue and red runs you can start to work on your skiing in ungroomed snow. Ideally with just a little bit of fresh, on a run that is not too steep together with a great coach. Thank you for watching. Klaus

    • @sssniperdragon8474
      @sssniperdragon8474 Před 6 lety

      Najla alkhuzayem no

    • @2204JCM
      @2204JCM Před 5 lety +1

      Power skiing is for advanced skiers and require different skis (wider). Beginners should be on the Green trails, then easy blue, more difficult blue, etc.

  • @Ensignpeak
    @Ensignpeak Před 2 lety

    Great content but bad snow! That's not much of powder as it is heavy untracked snow.

  • @richardelder256
    @richardelder256 Před 4 lety

    Great teaching sequence! Too bad you didn't have real powder snow to demonstrate in! LOL.
    The purist definition of powder skiing it that it happens when you are no longer skiing on the base but floating in the medium. Your idea of building a platform under the skis as you turn still holds, the only difference is that it is even more fun in deep powder!

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety +1

      Thank you for your feedback Richard. There can always be more snow. :) I got a few deeper powder turns in the sequence after 2:40 ;)

  • @borjaperez7540
    @borjaperez7540 Před 4 lety

    in what skiis he is on???

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety

      The turns at 1:02 are on a ca 100m powder ski, the ones at 2:40 on a Völkl GS Speedwall ca 70mm under foot.

  • @Cutlerypotato
    @Cutlerypotato Před 4 lety +1

    Get to de choppa

  • @rishellefedrick1743
    @rishellefedrick1743 Před 5 lety

    VICQUE BEST FRIEND'S

  • @phishfearme2
    @phishfearme2 Před 4 lety

    you forget step number 1 - finding powder!! good luck finding anywhere where powder lasts more than one/two runs

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety +1

      Where do you ski? I am happy to recommend some places.

  • @RobertOfPrague
    @RobertOfPrague Před 2 lety

    Servus Klaus, ganz dufte jemacht (Vatti war Berliner). Gruesse aus den Rockies. Would hope you've skied the real dry fluff in UT, CO, ID, WY & MT. Am an ole mntn goat w/ a bum knee from volleyball, can't do the hard leaning carving but still do the deep & steep in the trees on the ♦♦ in 2-5' of fresh pow. Face shots: czcams.com/video/2vdhG0m6lEo/video.html A little wider stance & standing always over the sweet spot is advised here - don't kiss a tree. ;-) The pitch changes all the time in the trees - great fun.
    Am 6'4" (192 cm), 195 lbs & skiing 186-192 skis 100-122 underfoot. Spent last season in Solitude on Headwall & in Honeycomb Cny. Back to Alta now. Have a great off-piste season.

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 2 lety

      Hallo Robert, danke für Deinen Kommentar. :) Great pictures on your link! Wishing you lots of snow and a great season too! Klaus

  • @robertnaples4268
    @robertnaples4268 Před 3 lety

    The most important thing how to ski powder is BEING FIRST so your class will be kissed just kidding old joke

  • @loremipsumproductivityengi7552

    Please don't teach by advanced narrow turns with body constantly facing downhill, they give little control over the speed. In fact, newcomers are extremely cautious and wish to maintain maximum control over their speed, so they only perform wide turns with their upper bodies rotating with their waists, parallel braking at every turn. Narrow powder carves provide no help to powder beginners.

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 4 lety +2

      Well Inigo you obviously got that wrong and I am very sorry that you are teaching skiers to turn with their bodies so they can make it down a powder run. The technique all respected ski schools in the world are teaching is based on ski fundamentals that will help you do well in the powder as well as on any other slope. Just because turning with the body helps a beginner make it down a powder run does not mean that it has anything to do with skiing (also taking the skis off and rolling down sideways works). Doing full body swings might help beginners to get down but it won't help them to further improve and creates movement patterns that will be very hard to change again later. Many self taught skiers get this part wrong and then wonder why they can only make it down a powder slope and still struggle to ski it. This was one of the key points that i tried to make with the video by also showing what many do and demonstrating what you should not do so skiers hopefully choose to take a good lesson and learn how it is done most efficiently.

  • @micwell2247
    @micwell2247 Před 5 lety

    doesn't mention he's skiing on 6" wide skis...either

    • @KlausMair
      @KlausMair  Před 5 lety +1

      The skis used in the run at 2:40 are 68mm under foot

    • @Cutlerypotato
      @Cutlerypotato Před 4 lety

      He could ski on toothpicks, this guy is a pro