How to Turn in Powder on a Snowboard

Powder is most snowboarders' favorite kind of snow. Its deep pillows of freshly-fallen flakes make jumping, carving and landing easy, and it doesn't hurt nearly as much to fall on as crust, ice or slush. Although its conditions are ideal for riding, powder does present a unique technical challenge, especially for turns. Here's how you can carve successfully in the deep stuff without wiping out.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Make sure the piste's wide enough to accommodate smooth turns. If it's particularly narrow, you'll need to make shallower turns, which can increase your speed on the slope.
2. Lean onto your back leg while riding through the powder. This lifts the snowboard's nose out of the snow and helps you plow through its waves and drifts.
3. Flatten your board out when you turn. You'll still want to carve your turns to avoid catching an edge, but the powder lets you ease up on the edging a bit.
4. Make little hops on your snowboard at the start of each turn when you're in especially deep powder. This frees your board from the snow and puts you back on top of the drifts.
5. Hit the powder with some decent speed. Your turns will be cleaner and smoother if you're going moderately fast.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch out for rocks, tree stumps and crevices when riding powder. Because it's light and fluffy, it can cover these dangerous objects with a thin layer of snow.
• Make sure off-piste areas are safe before heading down the mountain. Ski-patrol and local riders should know which areas are safe enough to ride.