What's different?

A. Pressure your skis more equally:
In the bumps you need to weigh your skis more equally, in contrast to the completely independent foot action you use on the flats. On flat snow, at the point where your skis cross the flow line, you extend off the outside ski--this bends the ski into an arc and initiates a new turn. In the moguls, you extend both skis together and with almost equal force.

B. Moguls require active absorption:
Compared to flat snow skiing, most mogul skiing requires serious absorption. Although you do absorb terrain changes while skiing the flats, moguls can throw the casual skier for a loop--therefore require a special technique to ski it effectively. To absorb means to use your legs like shock absorbers to cushion your upper body from terrain changes. When you ski onto a mogul, you have to absorb the bump or you'll get launched airborne. To absorb the pressure you can do it either actively (by retracting your legs) or passively (by letting the mogul push your legs up towards your chest.)

C. Delay your extension:
The timing of your extension and how you accomplish it are two further differences. When skiing the moguls, the extension is made more to the side rather than to the top of the hill--you extend around the side of the mogul and slide onto the following mogul fully extended. To make the extension around the mogul and to the side, the extension is slightly delayed in the moguls.

In the moguls:

• You weight your skis more equally.
• You extend simultaneously with both skis.
• Absorption is far more pronounced--actively absorb the bumps as you approach them.
• Turn initiation is slowed down.

Prerequisites for mogul skiing

Firstly; you must be able to make short turns correctly, before you'll be effective in the moguls. Bumps are made up of short turns, but a mogul field is not the place to try to brush up on your short turn technique.

Also, get your mind set on learning good mogul skiing technique on terrain that is ridiculously easy--this is no time to follow your buddies down the steep bump runs. Leave your ego at home.

To learn moguls skiing you must be able to:

• Make short turns with a quiet, fully countered upper body.
• Practice on very easy terrain until you have mastered the technique.

If you do NOT possess these skills, review the following:

From Intermediate section: (Short radius parallel)

• Upper and lower body separation
• Pole tricks
• Hockey stops
• Leg rotation

From Advanced: (Dynamic short radius turns)

• Slick leg rotation
• Pole X
• Corridors

Once you can do short turns:

• Build your mogul-specific skills by doing the exercises that follow, then
• Practice in the moguls starting on very easy terrain.

Print this out for future reference and remember to have fun!