Crud basics

IMPORTANT! Understanding our approach and philosophy is important if you'd like to successfully use the drills in Ski Smarts
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Goal: Have a cruddy day
Level: Intermediate   Expert + Crud
Suggested terrain: Not applicable
Author: Kobus Reyneke
Summary: Skiing crud requires special techniques--here's a summary.

Photos and Videos coming soon!

Expert crud skier
What is crud?
In the West cut up or crusty powder is called crud, while Easterners use the term to refer to wet spring snow. Either way, crud is thick, heavy snow, and it's very difficult and tiring unless you know a few tricks.

What's different?
Skiing crud is somewhat like powder, but that statement alone won't help you much. What makes it different from groomed-snow skiing, are the following:

  • Until you've learned the tricks of crud skiing, keep a bit of pressure on the inside ski -- something you'll have to practice. Advanced skiers should pressure the outside ski completely--as on hardpack.
  • Unweight your skis during the steering phase (when your skis point roughly down the flow line) of turns. Do this by "floating" through the steering phase.
  • Be more patient in your turns, as you "float" through the steering phase. Allow your skis to gradually come around.
  • Maintaining a balanced position is far more critical because an unbalanced position will tire you out very quickly in crud.

Print this out for future reference and remember to have fun!