How To Ski Bumps / Moguls - Advanced Ski Lesson #6.4

Skiing Bumps or Moguls can be intimidating if you don't know how to ski them properly. We take a look at some drills and tactics in this ski lesson that will help you learn to ski bumps with confidence. Absorption, turning on top of bumps, turning around them and skiing steeper mogul slopes are all covered.

What would be handy is if you could bring the whole 'learn to ski' series with you in an app. Well here you go:

Remember that these ski videos are not a replacement for on-slope instruction with a qualified ski instructor, and should only viewed as a supplement.

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[geneweygandt]

all your ski videos are terrific! we LOVE this instructor. He's so clear, and utterly charming. Bravo!
someone please thank him for us, will you?

[Kenny-lbaum]

Don't want do discourage anyone, but skiing moguls is among the most difficult things. I can do it kind of ok-isch now but have been exercising for 20 years. So don't be disappointed if it does not work immediately. But what you can do for training is always keeping your hands (with the poles) in front of you - yes, even on the normal slopes. Good luck and patience.

[AlexandreAubrey]

Knowing how to ski moguls and being able to explain it to someone are two very different things. As a professional ski instructor who lives in an area with few moguls, I had few opportunities to learn teaching methods in this type of terrain and this video will definitely help me with my future lessons. Great tips and explanations.

[steeltalon]

Started skiing this fall in Utah at Park City, Snow Basin etc...I've learned more about skiing from Darren than any ski instruction that I have even received. He is clear and concise and frankly--encouraging.

[MagOng]

I am level 6+ skier, I must say that your videos are extremely great help to me. Today the snow was about 6 to 7 inches and it was HEAVY!! So happen that I have watch a couple of videos of yours and this ski bumps video. I have so much more confident to tackle the situation I am in. I was not afraid after a few try and I was loving it !!! Skiing can be fun when I apply the right technique. Thank you so very much !! You are awesome!! I love skiing more now!! ( At Colorado ).

[thomasbennett]

I got back into skiing moguls in my 50's. But after 20 years, a couple of knee surgeries, ruptured disks, and not having the reflexes of a 25 year old, it was clear I needed new techniques. I think this video is an excellent demonstration of using techniques that absorb shock, control speed, and tactically reduce risk, and would be great for older skiers, younger skiers getting into moguls, or those who just want to get through that mogul field instead of traversing around it.

This is not a video on competitive or zipper-line mogul skiing, and never pretends to be. Nobody's going to be hooting at you from the lift using these techniques. But I can tell you from experience you'll be able to ski anywhere on the mountain, even the steepest bump runs, with confidence and control.

The only tips I would add are "sucking your feet under you" during compression (points the tips down, keeps the ski on the snow---think about bring your feet back in line with your head) and keeping your hands out front and knuckles rolled down.  Some other videos go over both of those well.


PRO TIP: Get poles that adjust on the fly (twist lock) and shorten your poles by 5-10cm before doing steep bump runs. This will also help keep your body and hands forward.

[michaelwalling]

I seriously hope the comments below are not indicative of the typical skier/snowboarder personality.
I appreciate these vids and whenever I search you tube ski vids I look for the orange jacket.

[jpz]

This is probably the best 5-minute intro to mogul video. though a student might still need to take real-world lessons before mastering these skills.

[ziele_aniele]

Thank you for this video <3! Last year I broke my ski because of the bumps and I didn't know how to ski on them. Your film helped me so You've got my sub.

[malcolmscott]

Darren: Great stuff. Bumps, the final fronteer. I've avoided them my whole life. Ocassionally, I'll drop in one of the shorter bump runs just to annoy myself and feel as if I'm making progress. The problem has always been peoples opinions on 'how' to ski them. You have cleared it up, you ski them in a variety of ways. Over the tops, in the gully's, spot a few ahead...can't wait for the season to start to try this a bit. I still usually end up being launched at one point or another. The shock obsorber knee thing looks helpful as well. Knees up push down...I guess one needs to be more active than passive with bumps. Additionally, bumps aren't bumps any more, they're more like ledges and crevasses!! We're praying for snow in California. Mother nature is threatening to give us some in the first couple of weeks in December. Come to Mammoth some time.

[charlesavino]

Nice- simply explained by a teacher who knows the technicalities and how to build confidence in the student. Great camera work. Thanks

[dogsannacat]

I’ve taught skiing in CO for 18 years, you are a very good skier.

[gianlucapartel]

I m an italian ski instructor and I've found these videos very useful also for me to compare the different techniqes that we apply...

[shibikoko]

i have been skiing for 15 years, since i was 6, and i never had a teacher past the side sliding.If u get enough practice u learn to do all these things instinctively, a lesson helps tough, i heard :D

[jiglejack]

Very good instuction, I regularly watch these before going out to ski. Congrats.

[jangobout]

Best ski learning video iv ever seen. Clear, calm, nice technique, clear audio and video... keep it up!

[GeoDel]

Very interesting videos you make. Lots of pieces of useful advice and they really are helpful. Going skiing tomorrow, you surely bolstered my excitement, since skiing is something I love. Keep making those videos, I'm sure many others find them helpful as well.

[emjaynie]

After years of being unable to relate to "let the bump push your feet up" ... I finally figured out that it's more of an actual action, a retraction of the feet created by using your muscles to actively pull them up under you as you go over the bump.  What you said wasn't wrong, it's just the choice of words ... it's all about the 'how'.

[skng]

Hi John Glad you found the videos helpful!in the situation you are describing I find it helps not to stand and think too much, get straight in there and make your first turn it is the hardest one.Once you are up and running keep the terns going this should help with the intimidation you are talking about. Thanks Darren

[tombradypresident]

Going skiing in Andorra on Jan 13th. Been once before in Aprica, Italy. These videos have been absolutely perfect to refresh me before I go. Thanks.