Mogul Skiing – My 5 Top Tips
December 16, 2010 in Ski Tips
Mogul skiing, or bumps skiing, is one of the most technical and challenging forms of skiing, but also the most rewarding when mastered. Here are my 5 top tips for mogul skiing that will help get you on the right track…
1. Pick your control point
The correct turning point on the mogul is critically important. The best way to find the correct path through the bumps and find the speed control points, is to check your speed on the uphill shoulders of bumps (you can practice hockey stops on these control points). This is where the snow is softest and the bump flattest. These are the reasons why these points are used to control our speed in the bumps.
2. Develop good leg steering
This helps control speed and turn shape in the moguls. Good leg turning is what bump skiing is all about. I call it “yearning for turning”. Try doing some hockey stops on your control point (uphill shoulder of the bump)…..with a strong “punch” of the pole as you stop. Slowly work on less “stop” and more “go” and link your turns together.
3. Develop good flexion and extension of ankles, knees and hips
The more you can be comfortable making your legs work like shock absorbers by flexing and extending ankles, knees, hips and spine and actively absorbing pressure and maintain contact with the bump, the more you will develop good control.
One way to help develop this skill is by traversing a mogul field and letting the bumps push the legs up towards the chest and pressing the ski tips back down the back side of the bumps. It may be necessary to pull the feet back under the hips to stay in balance with increased speed.
4. Pole planting
An accurate and well timed pole plant helps with balance and leg turning and blocks the body from rotating. Hands should be well forward and should be constantly swinging to ski fall line bumps. Practice punching through the pole plant after the pole has made contact with the snow and work on moving the hands forward.
5. Press your ski tips down and over the top of the bumps
As you reach the top of the bump, press your toes down to push the ski tip down into the hollow of the bump, maintaining better snow contact and keeping you centered and more ready to develop your speed control tactics on the uphill shoulder of the bump.
Watch the video above to see all these movement patterns in action. All five tips are being used for a controlled and successful run. I hope you will find these 5 tips for mogul skiing helpful, and please do leave your comments or questions in the comment box below. Happy bumps skiing 
Connect With Me