With the thick stuff, you'll need skills to help get
the skis up and out of the snow. Unlike skiing on groomed terrain or light
powder, you'll often have to make an effort to get from one direction to the
other. You won't be able to ski retraction hops all the time (who's got the
strength?) but you'll find this skill helpful.
Begin by doing medium radius turns.
As you move along, hop and retract the legs up
toward your body--about three hops during one medium radius turn. Make sure that
when you hop, your head doesn't move up and down. You should be pulling your
legs up and out of the snow.
As you approach the change of direction, jump
your legs up out of the snow and pivot them slightly in the air to redirect them
into the new turn. When you land, your legs should be extending, though not so
much as to be rigid.
- Try to use the rebound of the ski. If you time
it right, it should be easier to get the skis out of the snow.
Gradually shorten the radius of your turns,
reducing the number of hops to each side until you are just doing one each way
into the turn.
Use the rebound generated by the extension and
decambering of the ski to pop your legs back up out of the snow. Redirect your
skis into the flow line and, again, extend and slice the finish of the turn upon
landing.
The cruddier the crud the more forceful your
extension should be.
- Your upper body should not be popping up with
the skis. Imagine there's a ceiling above your head.
- Be sure that the skis continue to shape
through the turn when extended.
Print this out for future
reference and remember to have fun!
Expert 
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Crud
