The mention of backcountry skiing often conjures mental images of talented skiers slaying big lines in wild places. These images are probably based on a previously viewed twenty-second scene filmed from a helicopter in Alaska on a bluebird day with perfect powder.

However, if you ask anyone who has skied in the backcountry, they will tell you that reality differs from such scripted turns. But before I turn anyone off to the sport, let me say that, yes, on some days when you catch the perfect combination of weather, stability, fresh legs, and virgin powder, you can feel like you're in a Teton Gravity Research video segment. You can feel that you're doing something wrong or cheating in life somehow. That you've discovered a secret most humans will never learn.

But also know this: you will have to earn those feelings. It is said that nothing in life worth doing is easy, and indeed, you will have to sharpen your skills on less-than-perfect days. You must learn to ski windboard, sastrugi, and even the dreaded breakable crust. You will have to train so you don't have dead legs when it comes time for the down. You must learn to take it in stride when things don't go as planned.

And a funny thing happens after you have learned all this. You develop a subtly different technique for skiing the backcountry than you used at a resort. Rather than the picturesque turns meticulously drilled into your psyche by PSIA instructors on fresh corduroy, in the backcountry, you'll be forced to adapt to the various snow types to ensure success and get home safely.

While the elitists may scoff from behind their keyboards at techniques that change as frequently as the backcountry conditions, pay them no heed; you are skiing, and they are typing.

Ski Stance

Generally, the PSIA curriculum is the gold standard for defining "good" ski posture in a resort context. At the base of this curriculum is the athletic stance, which can be seen as the hips over the toes, butt over the heel piece, matching back and shin angle, with an inherent flexion of the hips and knees. For those who have skied in bounds, the perfect culmination of this technique can be seen from experienced skiers as they arc beautiful turns with hips threatening to drag on the ground. In this stance, a skier's center of mass is shifted towards the front of the ski (relative to centered and backseat), emphasizing driving the ski from the tip.

In contrast to the ski racing-inspired athletic stance, many backcountry skiers and resort free-riders have adopted a "centered stance," generally considered a more upright and less aggressive athletic stance. Compared to an athletic stance, the center of mass would be shifted further back on the ski but still balanced towards the center. A centered ski posture is less conducive to making picturesque turns. It works best "slashing" and "slarving," which come in handy in a backcountry and off-piste scenario.

Popularized by beginner skiers worldwide (we've all been there), a backseat stance takes many forms but is instantly recognizable. Generally, the skier is predominantly leaning back with their center of mass shifted behind their feet. This stance, which is the most rearward of the stances, predominantly weights the tail of the ski and is not generally regarded as good ski posture. In some backcountry skiing scenarios, this unpopular stance will come in handy.

The Art of Defensive Skiing

While skiing defensively doesn't have quite the Dionysian appeal of the aforementioned film stars hucking themselves off everything in sight, the fact remains that most, if not all, backcountry skiers will be forced to ski defensively when they encounter truly abhorrent conditions. But what does it mean to ski defensively? Some embrace the phrase "the best defense is a good offense." For others, they take Fat Joe's lyrics to heart as they truly "Lean Back" all the way to the trailhead.

Whatever your individualized definition, defensive skiing can be considered skiing with a heightened level of caution, emphasizing avoiding a specific hazard(s) that, in turn, carries unhappy consequences. Along with this heightened level of caution, skiers may need to shift their stance and/or employ specific techniques to successfully navigate said hazard(s).

Below, we will detail differing snow conditions and cover stances, techniques (if applicable), and equipment considerations that may help optimize your experience in specific conditions and terrain.

A Word on Equipment

While it is beyond the scope of this article to talk in-depth about equipment, we would be remiss without addressing the role it plays in maintaining a comfortable stance and rewarding specific skiing styles. For example, the heel-toe drop of a binding can influence whether a person can comfortably maintain an aggressive athletic stance or a more centered and neutral one. In a similar vein, the forward lean and ramp of ski boots will contribute to this as well. While not directly influencing stance, some skis are more friendly and happiest when skied with a given style.

If you want to nerd out about a setup that works for your style and goals, please give us a shout (a whisper or email works just as well!).

Technique Based on Conditions and Terrain

Steep Skiing

When giving advice for skiing steep terrain, most experts, ranging from PSIA to Backcountry Guides, will tell you that the best defense is to have a good offense. That is, having a grasp of skiing fundamentals and being able to confidently and consistently execute them in an extremely controlled manner. The scope of these basics is beyond the purpose of this article, and we recommend personalized instruction with a guide or ski instructor to master these concepts.

Generally, when navigating through steep conditions, a skier must appropriately control their edges for the task at hand. In some moments, you may want to side slip; in others, you may want the best edge hold possible. In most situations, maintaining a centered or athletic stance, leaning towards the fall line, with your weight predominantly on the downhill ski, allows you to modulate your edges as you see fit and serves as a good basis for executing more complicated turns.

While many associate steep skiing with impressive jump turns flawlessly executed in demanding environments, basic ski movements are just as necessary to have in the repertoire and should be mastered before progressing to more demanding and complicated movements.

Side Slipping - Described by some as a "get out of jail free card," side slipping is a useful tool for getting through steep terrain when your ego has finally had enough exposure. Maintaining a balanced, centered, or athletic stance, the goal is to modulate the amount of edge pressure that allows you to break edge hold just enough to slide down sideways controllably. This is achieved by rolling the ankles downslope. This must-have skill will come in handy when no one is looking.

Downhill Kick Turn - Not just for skinning, the kick turn can be an essential tool when navigating puckering terrain. The beauty of this turn is it allows you to change direction without losing any meaningful amount of elevation. With a good platform, a feeling of balance, and skis perpendicular to the slope, you'll lift your downhill ski and turn it to face the direction you want to be pointing. Apply pressure to the inside edge of your downhill ski, lift the uphill ski, and follow the same movement. What was previously the uphill ski will now be the downhill ski.

Regular Turn - That's right. Knowing how to perform a regular turn is a necessity in steep environments. With regular turns in steep environments, confidence and being offensive is key. With your shoulders square and your head pointing towards the fall line, plant your pole close to the heel of your downhill boot. Leaning over your downhill ski, let your edges break free to initiate your turn. When done correctly, this allows an experienced user to control the amount of momentum they carry, setting themselves up beautifully for another turn.

The hop turn is the secret weapon of alpinists, as it allows for extremely tight turns without relying on the inherent sidecut of your ski to bring you back around. There are a few different hop or jump turns alpinists employ depending on snow conditions.

Parallel Jump Turn - Similar to a pumpkin latte, this is the most "basic" hop turn employed by alpinists and skiers everywhere, even on less steep terrain. When executing this turn, having a stable core and shifting your center of mass toward the downhill ski is important. With an athletic or centered stance, you should ideally feel like you are on a stable platform with your downhill pole in line with your ski boot. Since your knees and hips will be flexed, you can powerfully un-extend (jump) them to unweight both skis from the snow simultaneously. In one motion, the goal is to shift your skis 180° while landing in a stable and balanced manner. Ideally, you should land in a position similar to the one you took off from, allowing you to link turns consistently.

Pedal Hop Turn - Pioneered in the mid-70s by alpinists who were decades ahead of their time, the pedal-hop turn is designed to use the least energy (compared to a normal hop turn) and generate the least momentum. It is best when used on a snow type that provides a good platform (such as firm snow) to push off. While requiring a bit of technique, once you have it mastered, this is a good tool to have in the toolbox for committing terrain. This technique works best when you push off and land in a centered and balanced stance.

First, weight the downhill ski and plant your uphill pole slightly in front of your boot while placing the downhill pole slightly behind its corresponding boot. Square your head and shoulders to look down the fall line directly. Begin slightly shifting your uphill ski further up the slope until you can unweight the downhill ski. As you unweight the downhill ski, turn it to be parallel with the fall line (the tail of the downhill ski should cross over the tail of the uphill ski) while committing your center of gravity over the downhill ski and slope. When you feel as if there is no going back, push off your uphill ski and bring it around to land on (it should now be your new downhill ski). Try to land on this ski and keep it properly weighted, allowing for increased edge bite and hold. When completing the turn, feeling your uphill ski drift is normal so the tip is slightly facing uphill. While described sequentially, this turn is done in one fluid motion.

Falling Pole Plant - Yup. There is a technique for pole planting. Pioneered by Doug Coombs, this technique allows you to keep your shoulders square with the fall line and maintain an aggressive skiing posture. When executed correctly, the downhill pole will "fold" forward, helping you complete the turn and allowing the previously uphill pole to reach easily into another turn. Here, you can see the man himself flawlessly executing this technique.

Vivian Bruchez - While there is no technique bearing his name (yet), as arguably one of the best, if not the best, steep skiers around, Vivian Bruchez has a flawless technique that has allowed him to excel in the steepest and deepest locales. There is a lot to be gained by observing this craftsman at work in the mountains.

Breakable Crust

Similar to getting no likes on your Hinge profile, nothing is quite as demoralizing and ego-busting as encountering breakable crust while skiing. This genuinely awful snow type is the greatest hits compilation of all poor conditions. If you lean too far forward, the breakable crust tends to suck your tips under, causing you to go head over heels. Lean to far back, the shift of your center of mass towards the rear of the ski locks you in and won't allow you to scrub speed.

With breakable crust, controlling speed is a must—unless, of course, it isn't. More speed equates to more lift and less sinking in; however, with more speed comes greater risk. A centered stance will encourage your tips to ride above the snow surface without causing your tail to sink, hopefully providing more control to dictate your speed and trajectory. Many skiers who encounter this dreaded snow type also employ hop turns to significant effect.

Skis with rockered tips and tails may help the skier navigate this atrocious snow type. Of note, however, is how the rocker presents itself. If the rocker is extended but low-slung, more surface area of the ski will be allowed to interact with the snow, thus decreasing maneuverability. If the rocker is more pronounced and rises sharply off the snow, the surface area will decrease, thus enhancing maneuverability.

Sastrugi

Like a game of pinball, sastrugi can be more than a little jarring to ski than other, smoother snow conditions. Thankfully, sastrugi tends to be more supportable and, therefore, more predictable.

Aside from skiing in control, both an athletic and centered stance work quite well when skiing sastrugi. Because it doesn't have a uniform surface, "slarving" and "slashing" are useful skills to have in the sastrugi toolbox. Who knows, you may even feel prone to saying words like "bruh" and "gnarly" after using these techniques!

Ice

Ice is an equal-opportunity, scary snow condition that doesn't discriminate based on the skier. It can be mildly annoying on low-angle terrain and downright terrifying on higher-angle stuff.

As you might expect, maintaining and maximizing edge hold is paramount for success. Similar to having a confident demeanor on steep terrain, ice is no different. While maintaining a balanced feel on the ski, you want to stand directly on your edges, giving them the best possible chance of biting into this slick surface and providing the purchase you are after. Leaning in towards the slope may feel the "safest"; however, this will shift the weight from atop your edges to that of an angle, which isn't as secure.

When skiing ice, you can leave the rockered skis at home. Generally, skis with more significant effective edge (such as mountaineering skis) work best for this condition.

Powder

This magical word is the sole reason why many skiers venture into the backcountry. While many words have been invented to describe the quality of powder (blower, dry, fluffy, champagne, etc...), they all generally describe the depth and density. Low density and deep are the preferred domains of many.

The technique you use in powder can be quite dependent on the gear you are using. If you are on skinny skis and light boots on a deep day, you'll likely need to lean way back to keep your tips from sinking. Similar to an airplane wing, your ski provides lift, so the faster you go, the more lift (flotation) you'll develop. A balanced and centered stance generally works best. Since edges don't really matter in the context of powder, slashing and slarving work well to keep the smiles going.

Early Season Conditions

While early-season conditions can include all snow types, we generally find that softer and more forgiving snow is most common (at least out west). While this soft goodness makes it tempting to ski with reckless abandon, unfortunately, because a solid base hasn't formed, rocks and tree branches are almost certainly lurking underneath the snow, looking to grab unaware skiers.

In these uncertain snow types, keeping your tips from diving beneath the snow is critical, helping mitigate the risk of a boot top fracture. Skiing with a centered stance or even a little backseat can prevent your tips from getting buried under a tree branch and causing a season-ending injury.

From an equipment perspective, skis with more rocker in the tip and tail may assist a skier in keeping their tips up and stance centered, as the tip will have more inherent float, and the tail is easier to break free into a "slarve."

What Do You Do?

Do you disagree with what we listed above? Do you have another technique for successfully navigating a given set of conditions? Are you looking to troll this article to release some pent-up aggression? Please let us know in the comments below!