Technique is really the least of your worries in spring corn — it should be about as easy to deal with as any skiing you do, so long as you’re discerning in where, when, and what you ski. But there are a few tactics to keep in mind to maximize your corn ripping potential.
- First, look for smooth patches of snow that haven’t been touched by other skiers. Untracked, wet corn is almost as fun to ski as fresh pow, and the sides of the runs are usually the place to find a clean slate.
- Mind the piles! Depending on where you ski, you’ll probably encounter major wads of pushed up corn where most skiers have been traveling. Do your best to navigate the slope to either surf along the wads, banking off them like your own skiercross course, or choose to arc through the slipped-off troughs nearby. Lacing your turns together in like kinds of snow will allow you to find your balance and better maintain it from turn to turn. Traveling at speed without paying heed to the slippery troughs and sand-like piles will result in a stop-and-go game of fore-aft catch up that often ends badly.
- Last, let the ski do the work by focusing on rolling the skis onto edge rather than driving against them or constantly pushing them through turns. Soft corn can feel very “grippy” which can tire out a person if he or she is overworking the skis. Let the turn develop by virture of the skis’ shape, tipping them over to carve through the corn leaving a more defined track in the snow. If attempting this tactic only results in a build-up of too much speed, consider trying a shorter, wider, more shaped ski—you might be surprised by how well you’re able rip the corn.
