How to ski in powder with pro freeride skier Fabio Studer
Check out our beginner’s guide on how to ski in powder with Fabio Studer, pro freeride skier and MONTEC rider. No one knows adventure quite like Fabio…
When winter rolls around, there’s only one thing on my mind. And that’s skiing in fresh powder. But, just like surfing, mountain biking, or jumping out of a plane (all of which I’m pretty familiar with!), skiing powder takes some know-how and experience, especially if you want to get the most out of your laps! So I’ve put together a beginner’s guide for skiing powder like the pros. Tips up, let’s go!
Fabio Studer’s powder riding guide
My top 7 tips for skiing powder
How to ski in different powder conditions
Staying safe in powder
Common mistakes
My top 7 tips for skiing powder
Floating through untracked, deep snow is the ultimate feeling. But getting there requires different skills than riding groomers. Transitioning to powder riding takes balance, momentum, and learning to let your skis work with the snow instead of fighting it. Here are my top 7 tips for mastering the deep stuff. And if you’re still building confidence on groomers, these ski tips for intermediate skiers can help you dial in the basics before tackling deeper snow.
1. Stay centered on your skis
You need to keep your weight centered on your skis. Don’t lean too far back out of fear. That just drains your legs and takes away all your steering control. Instead, stand tall and balanced over your bindings. This gives you total control over your tips and lets the snow do the hard work.
2. Keep enough speed to float
Speed is your absolute best friend when riding deep snow. Forward momentum creates lift, keeping your skis gliding on top of the snowpack. If you go too slow, you’ll sink straight down, making every single turn ten times harder than it needs to be.
3. Adopt a narrow stance
Keep your feet slightly closer together than you would on a groomed trail. A narrower stance helps your skis work together as a single, unified platform under your body. This makes it easier to stay balanced and let both skis support you in the deep stuff, helping keep your tips from wandering apart.
4. Plant your poles and steer with your feet
Focus on achieving a light, consistent pole plant and keep your upper body quiet. Instead of throwing your shoulders into turns, drive the movement subtly through your feet, ankles, and knees. A timely pole plant anchors your upper body while your feet smoothly direct the skis underneath.
5. Use feel, not hard edges
Powder requires a much softer approach than hardpack groomers. On groomers, you dig your steel edges in to carve sharp lines, but in deep snow, you need to ski far more by feel. It’s more like surfing than mountain biking! Drift and surf your turns smoothly through the snow rather than forcing aggressive, hard-edged angles.
6. Find rhythm in your turns
Building a continuous, bouncing rhythm makes riding deep powder feel effortless. Do this by using a subtle popping motion to compress into the snowpack and rebound between turns as you glide down the fall line. This gentle bouncing keeps your momentum going and makes steering into smooth turns feel totally weightless.
7. Choose the right skis and setup
Wide powder skis make a massive difference by giving you instant float and playfulness. Your binding mount point also plays a huge role in how your setup handles. If you like throwing tricks, mount closer to the center. But for directional big-mountain charging, I mount my bindings about 5 cm behind the true center to let the tips float effortlessly. Choosing the right ski length matters too, so match your setup to your ability, terrain, and riding style.
How to ski in different powder conditions
Though we dream about it, powder isn't always light and fluffy, and snow texture can change pretty drastically. For example, after a fresh storm, powder is typically dry and super-light. But after sitting in the sun, powder can turn into soggy mashed potatoes or just plain tracked-out, chundery snow that’s last week’s leftovers. It’s all amazing to ride, but it takes a bit of technique adjustment!
Dry powder
Dry, cold powder is the gold standard we all chase. It’s super forgiving and light, giving you that effortless floating sensation. Stay nicely centered on your skis, keep a consistent rhythm, and enjoy the ride. Because cold snow offers very little resistance, you can carry plenty of speed and make wide, sweeping turns without worrying about your edges catching.
Wet or heavy snow
As soon as the snow gets wet and heavy, it really holds onto your skis and slows you down fast. In heavy or soggy conditions, shift a little more into the backseat. This is often the only way to keep your tips from sinking beneath the snow! Keep your stance active, use a bit more leg power to guide your skis, and try to maintain speed while anticipating the terrain.
Tracked-out powder
When powder fields are tracked out by the afternoon, the snow is often uneven and bumpy. You can find nice stashes of the soft stuff, but you’ll probably alternate between hardpack, mashed potatoes, and fresh pow. In these cases, stay light on your feet, expect a quad workout, and drive into your turns. You might have to muscle through some chundery stuff, so be ready for a bumpy ride!
Staying safe in powder
Heading off-piste to find fresh lines is an unbelievable experience, but the backcountry comes with real hazards that demand serious respect. These tips don’t replace proper training: take an avalanche safety course, practise rescue skills, and go with a qualified local guide if you lack backcountry experience. Everyone should carry a transceiver, shovel, and probe they know how to use.
Always check the avalanche forecast and weather updates, respect closures, and ride with a buddy you can keep in sight. If you’re new to powder, ask the ski patrol where to find suitable, open, avalanche-controlled terrain. Don’t assume marked freeride areas are secured. Give trees a wide berth, and watch out for tree wells, hidden rocks, and fallen logs.
Common mistakes
Breaking away from groomer habits takes a little time, but catching these powder mistakes early keeps your legs fresh and your turns smooth.
- Leaning too far back: Sitting on your heels burns your thighs and makes steering harder. Stay centered over your bindings and let your momentum help your skis float.
- Riding too slow: Losing momentum makes turns heavy and exhausting. Carry enough speed to keep gliding, while staying in control.
- Overusing your edges: Skip the aggressive hardpack carving. Keep your stance slightly narrower, apply pressure gently, and drift through your turns. Surf, don’t slash.
- Forcing your turns: Throwing your shoulders around tires you out fast. Relax your upper body, steer with your legs, and adapt to the snow rather than forcing each turn. It won’t always be champagne pow!
- Using narrow skis: Narrow skis make deep snow harder work. Trying wider powder skis can give you more float, stability, and a more playful ride without having to lean back.
Final thoughts
Riding powder is the best feeling you can get on skis, but don ’t become frustrated if it takes a couple of laps to feel the love. Focus on staying centered over your skis, keeping your speed, and riding with feel rather than force. Once that all clicks, you'll be praying for whiteout conditions so you can have fresh pow!
But remember: stay safe, ride with buddies, and try to love the snow you’re given. Pow’s not always perfect, but it’s always fun.
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