This is an awesome video. Too many skiers have been convinced that they need a different set of skis for each snow condition. Adjusting technique to meet each situation was done when longer thinner skis were all that we had. The new skis are so much easier to work with, so with patience and practice people can still learn to adapt to a wide variety of conditions on one set of skis. Thank you for posting this video.

This is one of the most helpful ski videos I have watched. It got me back on the right track after a frustrating day in difficult conditions.

It was wonderful to watch you play in the crud. I personally, now in the last year of my eighties do prefer groomed early morning runs but do take a kick at crud with a new snowfall. It is a great feeling when crud skiing works but I find it uses a lot of energy. Great video, thanks.

Great lesson! Your ability to rephrases and explain some rather difficult concepts is amazing! Thanks for this video!

Skiing variable conditions is part of the game, thanks for the preseason tips i cant wait to start my season . Watching this video puts me back in the mindset to ski . thanks have a great ski season and be safe

hey, thank you so much for making and putting out your skiing lessons, yours are my favourite of all on youtube!

Simply the best skiing instruction video ever. Thanks Tom.

This was really educational. I didn’t even realize that people ski differently in different terrain. I was trying to “carve” in cruddy snow, and constantly catching an edge. Thanks for this.

Thanky you. This is the best instruction video I've seen on YT. I especially like that you show examples of improper technique and why people struggle in harder conditions.

Lovely to have you back Tom, missed your videos. thanks for taking the time to make these valuable teaching video's.

I've only been skiing for a total of 25 days spanning 6yrs (early 40s) so I'm still learning but have taken to carving really well with my short, stocky legs (I used to be a sprinter) but the crud & low visibility in Obertauern currently has messed my confidence up really well *sigh* It's so exhausting going through crud and spring snow & I've fallen many many times today. But watching your video on overcoming crud has reminded me to go back to my "Bunny Hop" beginnings and hopefully I can maintain the momentum in my next run tomorrow. Thank you for the tips! P.s I didn't learn the old way to ski (husband taught me, he's the skied-his-whole-life one) so i went straight into carving style as it reminds me of when I speed ice skate...like the pushing the legs out to the side kind of thing. I probably look terrible but I don't mind as it feels fun.😊

The explanation is so plain and precise, you made it very easy to internalize these techniques. Thank you!

One of the best explanations I’ve seen to date. Thank you!

The most realistic and "no nonsence" aproach so far! Thanks a lot! ❤

The best explanation I've ever seen on this topic - a really excellent video, thank you!

This is a great video - its refreshing to see people talk about brushed parrallels and why they are important and where to use them. So many people are focused on carving now days. I learned to ski well with carving first, and have always struggled with Australian man made soft snow on rock hard ice (bad conditions often). This really helps as you often see the old school skiers handling it with ease as they stand up knees together. One thing though - not sure about your claims on skis. I just moved to some big all mountain skis which are made for "charging" as its called, allowing you to ski the entire slope rather than picking intricate lines. They make a huge - and I mean massive difference. Trying to ski "crud", slush, chop over ice on Nordica Doberman Spitfires compared to a Head Kore 99 is a world of difference. Would like to understand more about "flex and extension" - these words are used very freely on a lot of videos and are confusing. Does it mean we push our legs out hard? Thanks for video. Also you sound like this guy www.youtube.com/@AndreasSpiess

Thank you for this. Been sking is crap conditions for so long I've started liking when it gets cruddy. With 100mm stiff skis can just plow trough it with short turns. Real fun. 4 weeks until I can hit the slopes again! Can't wait!

Your videos and tips are awesome Tom!! Above all else fun to watch and helpful to improve style and confidence! Thank you!!

Makes a lot of sense, I've been through some skiing instruction manuals and your approach is very sensible & practical, cheers

I watch too much KZfaq and probably leave a comment 2-3 times a year - but wow! Truly wow! I watch lots of ski videos, have taken a lot of lessons, but this is maybe the most useful instruction I've ever received. Thanks so much!

As usual, a decent dose of knowledge and good viewing. The ability to use sliding techniques with ski relief is undoubtedly indispensable in such conditions, especially on Polish slopes. Regards

Thank you. These are the conditions I’m expecting next week so very useful!

I now finally understand the subtle differences between the weight-unweighting in snowplough, parallel and carving turns. Thanks for this video! I am firmly in the parallel turn camp (not carving yet) and now I see that I have not been doing it too badly :) Especially in tricky conditions. I always thought I was doing it wrong but accepted it since I cannot carve (yet).

Nice video. Was doing these things intuitively thinking my skiing technique is poor. It was nice confirmation and added tips for better approach 👍🏽

Absolutely the best instructional ski video on the subject. The explanation of when and where to carve (3:42 - 4:07) and how to approach crud differently (4:08 - 4:15) is the key that unlocks crud! Thank you!

Thank you for this video I have just got back from Tignes and practiced this technique in chopped up snow and bad visibility and it really has helped me to improve. thanks.

I love the way you try to simplify ski turns. A carve turn can become so complicated if not explained properly. Your skiing is so smooth and you really make it fun to make proper ski turns. Thank You for your dedication!

I hurt my knee yesterday cranking my skis as fast as I can smashing into mounds of crud, but now I know to just use some air momentum to enter the high C turn with a brushed angle and "ski" out an arc like I would normally on groomed runs. This video has given me some confidence back to return to crud since it always makes me feel like an intermediate again and again.

Tom...glad ypu are posting ski vids again...new season wishing you Happy safe riding . I look fwd to more vids. I'm headed to Japan soon too..

Hi Tom, as long time skier have found your advice and tips very useful after over 40 yrs ski experience. On many different surfaces. For me crud has been, for some reason, most challenging. Deep (powder) snow on off piste even has been easier compared to crud. Maybe it relates to self confidence on crud. Because changed there my ski posture bit different. To worse. Thank you for you sharing your knowledge. As well your different approach concerning turns, which is almost opposite what they teach in normal Ski Schools! I truly think thst the tecnique you present in turns, based on extending the lower leg in turn, was bit new to me. Waiting for to test your method this winter. Best skiing regards from Finland 🇫🇮. Thank U, sir 👍

Yes, your lesson makes sense. I really needed this. Thank you

Great to hear you mention not actually making the turn when up, as we see so many trying to do exactly that and literally throwing themselves out of shape. You clearly state that the transition to the new outside should done at this point, which allows you to drive the turn through the snow. (The bonus of getting a bit of air when ending the previous turn is the application of additional downward force to help getting those planks to bend through the turn and get them on edge......just as long as those learning realise that being a bit more gentle on edge angle in the soft stuff is best)

The skier in the greenish suit struggles and has to rotate the upper body due to a consistently overly open ankle joint (ie they are always back). Toms skiing shows a small brief ankle flex to get spring off the snow partly from the boots unflexing. Comments below ask about more equal weighting of the skis: still put as high a % of pressure on the outside ski as the snow will support. Glad you are making more videos.

Thank you Tom for the work you put in with this video and sharing it freely. I applied what you said yesterday in skiing crud and moguls and had an insight to share and get your thoughts. I have been practicing your "how to carve low" video on my carving... i.e. flex in transition and extend laterally at the turn. I skied the crud, starting from a flex position and when encountering either a mogul or severe crud I just slightly extended upward vs. laterally, which kept me more on my ski bottoms vs the edge of course. By using the same fundamental sequence of flex to extend, but just changing my intention from carve to pivot, I was able to affect the direction of my extension to match the conditions on the snow. I experienced better timing and flow this way... and was able to do combinations of carving and pivoting without a whole lot of change in technique. Your thoughts on these similarities in technique are always appreciated. Thanks.

These conditions sound like an average ski day in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks for the lesson. Good stuff to practice this weekend.👍

Hi Tom, Thank you for the insite to skiing on regular piste skis. I spent 20 years learning to ski the holy grail of paralled skiing, then another 20 years to forget it and keep my feet apart and keep the weight just on the outside ski. First with upward unweighting then later with downward unweighting. I'm not very good in the deep snow (not enough practice). But with your advice in mind I'm going to slap my skis together and go back to the Upward Unweighting, to tackle those unpisted bits at the side of the piste. Thank You Tom, great video

Very good explanations. I might add that a certain modest amount of speed helps create the momentum to smash through piles of snow. Also, it can never be effortless because the changing density and texture of the snow grabs at your skis and boots, alternately slowing and accelerating them. Crud is not my favorite but a good way to get away from crowds.

hyvaa paiva Tom! good to see u again, nice vid. crud is difficult in part because its not predictable. it feels like you have to be ready to react to whatever you find under the skis. to me this means actually slowing and speeding up according to the changing conditions. I was told not to pick my turns off piste, in other words to get in a rhythm and stick to it, but I find I get the best results by using the terrain and finding my way down the mountain using route-finding skills as you would when running down the same hill in the summer. similar to your slow way fast philosophy, cos in the crud the fast way often ends way outside my comfort zone. Kiitos! undrell

Great video. I wish I would have seen it before I skied crud all day today. I looked better than the girl but felt I should have be faster than I was. Will try it tomorrow. Thanks and again very well put together video

Hi, great to see you back. We missed your videos.

Your knowledge and blogd needs wider attention among skiing society. So many good skiets can improve their skiing skills by your advice 🙏

As always, you make really incredible content. I have always wondered if I was correct that in powder or deep crud, that unloading, jumping, un-weighting or flexing as you call in between turns was good form for these conditions. It seems that yes, it's what I will need to do to a lesser or greater extent given the conditions. As others have said, these type of days are really hard on the legs and it's something that we all experience, that our fitness level has one of the biggest impacts on our skiing. I mostly ski on my 80mm (waist) carvers but only recently picked up a pair of 100mm (waist) skis that really help on the powder and crud days, their just so much more stable on those days. With that said, I must admit that powder is best experienced on my snowboard. Floating though powder on a board, is an amazing feeling. Thanks again for the outstanding video. Cheers.

Super good, I have never skied crud but I think I understood most of it. You have to clear the ski of crud and use momentum to dig the edge and just trust that you will regain the control, which you will eventually lose because of the conditions. Looks fun 😁

Tom, thank you. I am skiing right now in the Austrian Tirol. Upper slopes are fine, lower valley runs are crud - made worse because it’s mainly artificial snow rather than those natural snowflakes that bind together like velcro! Yesterday I didn’t enjoy the descent to the valley because, although I can carve beautifully on the upper, groomed pistes, I am clumsy in the crud. So I watched your video and read many of the comments. Today I skied the same run and what a difference. Okay, I’m not blasting down like some folk. But I am now choosing to execute my turns in the snow mounds rather than on the deceptively smooth patches which have been scraped clean by others. I am also lifting my inside ski so that it doesn’t get caught, pivot me around and overcook the turn. It’s so much better and, for the very first time, I actually enjoyed the challenge of skiing through this stuff rather than simply the euphoria of making it to the car park without falling. My legs don’t ache either! Your video explained this very clearly, demystifying the whole thing and giving me the knowledge of what’s actually happening so that my confidence has grown and my stance is more athletic rather than risk-averse. I also appreciated the comment, by you or someone else here, that when skiing crud the experience will never be smooth or perfect since the snow is anything but. Constant adjustments felt through one’s feet and balance is to be expected and it’s not proof of being a poor skier. Carving groomers is fabulous, feeling the g-forces provide the extra edge bite and being catapulted out of one turn and into the next. But from your video I learned that one must have several different techniques ready to deploy depending upon the conditions ahead. One technique is not king. BTW, I don’t have any special off-piste wide skis. Mine are just Head V-shape V8 skis mainly suited to carving on groomers but with some limited ability to tackle the softer stuff. Anyway, thank you so much for this and your other videos. Really, you’ve made my two week skiing holiday so much better. Now all I need you to do is make a video on how to bypass the crowds that descend on these European ski resorts at Christmas and the New Year 😅. Best wishes, David.

Gr8 video, thank you for explanation. That's my goal of skiing to ride down off piste, however I know it is hard way. Thanks for that film. I have to watch it more times, but it is very good as usual :) Kris has, I believe, nice new outfit on this film, I only recognized him by skis and amazing carving style,,,👍😊

In over 40 years on the soles I always find that maintaining a natural even rhythm is very important no matter the snow conditions, the rhythm will change depending on ski conditions but it has always been an important component.

Great Video. Thank you. I have always wanted to ski St Anton and reminded how to ski (what most people don't want to, crud) where there isn't a lot of people however the slopes are open let the skis run. Do please keep making the vids you do. Hopefully see you on the hill.

This is solid! Much better than 95% of ski instruction videos out there. Especially agreed with - "not to crank the skis around" from 9:22 - the overall observation of good skiing IS good crud skiing. On the other hand, your stance looks too narrow on the groomer (4:50 onwards). Keep on posting!

Great video Tom! It's all about sound fundamentals and agility. Not a big fan when it comes to up unweighting unless absolutely necessary. Thanks for the video.

wow, you have just given me a moment of clarity! thanks

Oh wow.. I watched like 10 “how to ski moguls” video and took a full day class.. but when I watched this I realized that everything they said began to make sense only until this point of time… thank you ❤

I love narrow race skis, don't get me wrong. And they're definitely useable in more situations than most people think. But wider all mountain and powder skis are just so much more fun in chop, powder, and other off piste conditions. They dramatically cut down on the amount of up unweighting you need to do, and even eliminate it in some circumstances. That move is really a compensation technique for skis that are narrower than ideal for the conditions imho. And honestly, doing what is pretty much full blown jump turns looks kind of exhausting. I saw in another comment that you rarely ski anything wider than 70 mm. I'd encourage you to give the wider sticks a go. You might even like them...

Great video, showing different conditions and how to ski them Very easy to understand ,not too technical. Know I get it Thanks

As such a perfect lecture how to ski on different terrains. ✌️ To learn all this takes time, if new. Or even for many if us, experienced skiers. I m a carver type of GS skier. So this video gives me new motivation yo learn to become better skier on crud. Ita never too late to learn new 👍. I m now 71 yrs old but in very good shape concidering my age. Maybe 49 yrs of regular training of japanese martial arts explain some it, also avoided major injuries which happen in our sport. Kiitos 🙏

Very good explanation - I'm self taught, and always struggle in crud, well - I thought I struggle, but seems like my up and down technique is actually right. Now to train my legs to survive whole day of this :D

Hi, Tom! Glad to your return!

Awesome explanation. Skiing le massif de charlevoix , my 5th day no instructor yet… your advice is really helpful. Did lots of sports before deciding to ski. Having trouble with turning’s down sudden dissent to the left specially when it’s scrappy offy lol

Great advice! I've been trying to up unweight the skis in crud but with diminishing results the worst the snow got. I hadn't considered increasing the amount of force even more to the point of literally jumping.

1:47 Lol, CRUD is create read update delete - the basic methods of programming and the first thing you need to pick up when learning a new language. That is also what you find when you google it :D

So helpful, well explained and illustrated!

It's an awesome and useful video. I even felt how i should make a transition .

Initiating a slight carve and let the skis do the job for you instead of turning your ski's too much after your jump, this must be what I have been doing wrong. It always takes me so much power and effort to get down from powder/crud, in worst cases I would collapse over my skies as I cannot generate enough power to move the snow from beneath them. Will definitly try this on my next trip!

Great tips thank you 😊 I'll be trying them this season 👍

”can turn every groomer in Battlefield“ sofxxking true !!!!!!

Another awesome vid and tuition!!! Thank you !

Also important to mention your quiet upper body with minimum arm movement. Your pole plants are more or less flicks of the wrist. Too many people get their upper bodies all wound up…the wrong way, when they are reaching out to plant their poles, or swinging their arms as they would, walking or running.

Great video and well explained 👏

For me at least, probably one of your best videos to help me progress. I have been stuck as to why I in the morning could carve a run beatifully and in full control with high edge angle, and when skiing the same run in the afternoon's crud found my technique falling apart and feeling like the woman in your video 😞 You clearly demonstrate, I cannot rely on edge angle and need to use a different technique and use more vertical force to unload the skis the heavier the terrain. Thanks for the great tip. I am eager to test it out next weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to do this video, I am mid 60's and skied for too many years to remember I ski fast on the 'groomed' and turn nicely with wide or tight turns but, have never been able to ski off piste or in crud. I find many contradictions. The 'unloading' of the ski makes sense to initiate the turn but I find I get too fast and and catch the edge and down I go for a face full of snow. I've also been told to push down to compress the snow to be able to turn? More information on the 'Brushed Parallel turn would be helpful, I intend to keep trying so please carry on making these films... Thank you

THANKs FOR Videos, WE SURE NEED YOUR EXPERTIES IN THE US, SKIING HAS BECOME AWEFULL NO BEAUTY OF THE SKI TURN, OUT OF CONTROL FOLKs ALL OVER THE MTs. KEEP THE COACHING INSTRUCTION COMING GIVEs ME FAITH THAT PRETTY CONTROL SKIING WILL MAKE A COME BACK.GOOD DAY

Excellent as always 👍

This video was enriching... I look forward to trying this technique... I thought a good skier could (should)carve through anything

This is SO good. Thank you. I really like to "hop", or "unweight" as you call it, and I've always assumed that this is "bad" relative to a purer carving motion but it works for me. Now you have convinced me that I am actually be doing something right. :) I'm going to think about this some more, experiment with it on the slopes, and pay attention to the details. Thank you again for giving me something new to consider and think about.

Great explanation, must say skiing in crud is meant for stronger skier and takes a bit more energy out of you. Being in shape will help the situation. Thanks

The legend is back at it

Good to see you again!

You nailed me! This is exactly my situation-look like a pro on groomers but any sort of uneven terrain-goodbye! I am going to watch your video again. I have many ailments which effect my skiing (need a new knee and shoulder, and am no spring chicken), but have never been good in anything but groomers. Always blamed it on not having wider skis, and left it at that. I don't plan on any recreational racing this year, and am afraid of falling on a shoulder which dislocated several times in the last few years-so crud puts me off balance and I'm afraid of falling when skiing in it! I have tried "bouncing" in it for heavy unloading, but that didn't work.

Great Description on Ski Techniques!

So helpful! Thanks for making this!

Love this. More advanced techniques please!!

I really need to send you a video of my technique for some crud, where I literally just get on top of it and make huge turns the same way an Airplane banks after it’s taken off to make a big turn … it’s very fast but really fun. The empty slope you are skiing would be perfect .. great vids

Very useful tips! Thanks Tom

Excellent. From a 78 year old bump skier

Great video, thanks Tom!

great commentary, thanks, for cutting thru' the crud

Nice explanations. One thing you should add. Key for most crud or deep snow conditions are narrow feet. Keeping the legs/skis together prevent you from twisting and falling, as you can see in your video.

Excellent video, glad to hear you still use weighting and unweighting as terms to describe movement.

I agree that you can ski anything on one pair of skis. But... As a 192cm (6'2") and 100kg (260lbs) man, going from my piste oriented skis that are 170cm long and 72mm at the waist to a pair of 184cm All Mountain rentals with 84mm at the waist still made a noticeable difference in ease, comfort and stability. I felt like my personal skis had been a misfit for the past ten years

excellent video, thanks a million, wider skis help in powder I would say!

There is good advice here, like flex in transition and pay attention to snow and timing. However, the presented technique can be a knee / lower back killer for some older or unfit skiers. Wider skis are not necessarily for technical purposes but rather comfort and relieve the pressure on knees and back especially in uneven snow conditions.

Hi Tom. Good stuff here! I appreciate you pointing out the different techniques for carving vs. skiing bumps, vs. skiing crud. Also, I like your ideas about making the turn where there are transitions (or even softer snow). Utlimately, as you said, the skier has to adjust for varying conditions while staying loose and avoiding using any unnecessary effort. I like your style. You look great in all conditions!

Kiitos, erinomaisia ohjeita mössössä laskemiseen!

Well described ... Nothing to add!

All in all great advice. Be a buddhist skier in crud. Gain control by letting go of control.

this is great race skiing crud skiing! you are right that a cambered ski is very skiable in crud. but, imo. skiing a rockered ski versus a cambered ski in crud is a little different, because rockered skis dont pop up out of the crud as well as a cambered ski

Useful AND entertaining 👌

More than 7100 languages in the world and dude spoke facts

Thank you so much for this video! I immediately saved it after watching and will view it again before my skiweeks in the French and Italian alps. This must be the first truly comprehensive vid I have ever watched about the subject. However, do you agree with me that in crud conditions, my longer and a bit wider all mountain ski’s (1.74 m by 80 mm) will provide for more float and thus stable skiing than my short slalom ski’s (165 by 68)? Or is this wrong and will the added weight of longer and wider ski’s hamper my technique?

Love it !

Great tip!