Mashed Potatoes

On any given day, either the skiing is good or it’s good for you. Skiing deep, heavy, wet, mashed-potato-like snow is no exception. And with the right tactics, it can be a lot of fun.

You’ll want to keep a narrow stance, this allows your skis to cut one path through the snow so that you’ll encounter inevitable terrain and condition changes simultaneously. It is also essential to keep your turns round and maintain momentum, you don’t want to oversteer. This will help your skis blast through the snow as opposed to having the snow push you around.

Mashed potatoes can be challenging, but they make you a better skier. With time and mileage you be gobbling them up in no time!

Read the rest of the series:
Week 1 – Come prepared
Week 2 – Tune ups
Week 3 –  Early season conditions
Week 4 –  Skills not hills
Week 5 – Use the whole ski
Week 6 – Always be moving
Week 7 – Find your rhythm
Week 8 – Trust your outside ski
Week 9 – Like riding a bike
Week 10 – Carving and Steeps
Week 11 – Edge from your feet up
Week 12 – Enough is enough
Week 13 – Powder & Crud
Week 14 – Separation is key
Week 15 – Don’t Oversteer
Week 16 – Eyes Ahead
Week 17 – Mastering Moguls
Week 18 – Ski with a Soft Touch

Derek Althof has 16 years experience in the ski industry and is Deer Valley’s ski school training manager and an alpine examiner and clinic leader for the Professional Ski Instructors of America’s Central and Intermountain Divisions. Derek learned to ski at age 4 and has had a passion for good skiing ever since.

We hope you enjoy our weekly skiing tips. Please remember that they can help but will not eliminate risks, as skiing is a dynamic sport. These tips are meant to help you build skills  for a more enjoyable skiing experience.