I'm just back from a week in Colorado ( Beaver Creek ). For this trip I did two things that made the skiing much better:
1) Before going, I took a lesson. My instructor gave me some tips re turn initiation that really helped. Basically, I wasn't pole planting like I should, and while this didn't matter at all on easy/comfortable terrain, it makes a big difference on steeps/bumps/powder. Well worth the sixty bucks.
2) When the forecast called for 20 inches of new snow, I rented a pair of ridiculously wide powder skis. Man, what a difference the proper footwear makes. Fortunately, the rental guy was good at listening, and after about 20 minutes of discussion we settled on a pair of Volkl Mantras - almost 100mm under foot with a 133mm tip. Big wide boards.
It only took a run or two to get used to the Mantras, and once I did I found I could ski them with almost exactly the same movement as my eastern-firm (TM) skis (Volkl 5 Stars, for those taking notes). The Mantras had a bit less edge grip and a *lot* less rebound, but otherwise felt similar. Except for the fact that they ate up powder and crud like I was was skiing courderoy.
With a small refinement in technique and boards engineered for the conditions, I found myself skiing the powder with ease and confidence for the first time ever. By the second day I was able to follow my hosts took me into the trees for some bottomless powder. After 8 years I think I'm finally starting to get the powder thing.
I was really surprised at how easy it was to adjust to the Mantras, and also how well they worked on the hardpack. I should have done this a long time ago.
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