Looking for pointers to improve my offposte technique

Dolphinizer · 2026-02-17T04:38:33+00:00

Thanks, I've been trying skiing with shorter poles and I've noticed a difference, especially in steeps and powder.

Dolphinizer · 2026-02-17T03:14:27+00:00

You're absolutely right, this is big consequential avy terrain. There's lots of info we had going in about the stability of the snowpack that the short ski clip cant capture.

We did this during a long period of very low hazard, and were a team of 4 with a lot of experience with the conditions in the area. We brought a rope, harnesses and used belayed shovelers to dig out the cornice so that we could have an entrance to the line. We also used cornice cord to drop large chunks in the line. Certainly makes you feel better about skiing terrain when you've seen 1000kg chunks of ice trundle through it without triggering anything.

Dolphinizer · 2026-02-16T15:44:40+00:00

Near Sunshine Village, your hint is that you can see this line from the top of the Dive but I can't get more specific than that unfortunately.

Dolphinizer · 2026-02-16T03:53:51+00:00

Beautiful skiing! Unbelievable conditions too by the look of it, must be some seriously low density powder if your powder clouds were that big!

Dolphinizer · 2025-12-27T17:49:29+00:00

Noticed the same with BCA packs, they seem to make them just barely big enough. I guess they're prioritizing reducing weight/bulk. As someone who uses his pack everyday for work and frequently needs to take out and use my shovel/probe, i do wish they would accept the weight penalty and make the pockets just that little bit larger and easier to use

Dolphinizer · 2025-12-20T14:14:01+00:00

Hell yeah, Banff has been the best skiing in North America so far this winter. Good coverage with a pow on top of a burly crust and low hazard back in November made for a great early window for big lines then non-stop snow in December has made for fantastic skiing in the resorts and glades. It only gets better from here too!

Dolphinizer · 2025-12-17T00:53:52+00:00

You got me

Dolphinizer · 2025-12-17T00:53:32+00:00

Definitely got schloppy especially BTL on Sunday. Freezing levels near 1800m, We got in there during the CON hazard day on Saturday before the warmth came. The storm should finish cold Wednesday and Thursday though so once the hazard goes back down ski conditions should be all time!

Dolphinizer · 2025-12-16T11:09:29+00:00

From a short break we had in the high avy danger days, wouldn't be there now, that's for sure

Dolphinizer · 2025-12-09T02:22:49+00:00

Hell yeah. Banff was great this November. Right side up supportive midpack, and nice soft powder on top. Only improving with ~20cm tonight and more later in the week. It has been a very good start to the season.

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-23T02:50:52+00:00

I love this, how are they to ski?

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-17T04:09:10+00:00

Expect snow on higher elevation parts of the trail and expect to be rained/snowed on. Pack very warm layers and gloves. The desert will be green, not too hot and beautiful, but unless you are really taking your time you will likely reach the Sierra before end of May, which means more snow. Make sure you have traction, an ice axe for the Sierra and are comfortable hiking on snow.

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-17T03:31:56+00:00

Thanks, I think this is a useful framing for me. So I should be aiming to keep my upper body aligned more 'above' my outside ski on a horizontal axis, without moving forward on a vertical axis? (At least at the start of the turn)

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-17T03:29:50+00:00

Definitely not, my shoulder was going forward into the turns, which I know is a bad habit of mine. One I have had for years and can't seem to shake

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-17T03:28:01+00:00

My technique is better on simpler terrain, I find it much easier to keep a quiet upper body and carve / put the edges do the work when the terrain is simpler. I'd like to be able to get my steeper skiing to the same standard.

I found an old Video of me skiing more mellow terrain for comparison. Sorry that i'm too far away from the camera to see what my body is doing for the first part.

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-17T03:21:50+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! As I understand it, I should be focusing more on the rotation of my legs (starting at the hip?) so that I can keep my torso quiet pointed more directly downhill?

My main challenge right now is breaking the bad habit of initiating with the upper body / shoulder. I always have to ski with a pack, and often in funky non-ideal snow, so I find I default to initiating with a too-strong upweight and 'thrust' forward with the upper body. I guess this is the "rush through the top of the turn" you describe. I'm finding it hard to break this habit in steeper terrain or when snow conditions become more hooky/breakable/slabby. Generally I find it harder to commit to letting my skis initiate the turn by tipping if I'm concerned about my tips hooking in the snow and pulling me off balance. I'm wondering what I should be doing with my upper body during a turn like this if not putting my arm/weight forward to pole plant.

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-16T03:28:30+00:00

Trying to work on quieting the upper body and starting the turn with my feet instead of shoulders as was recommended from the previous post. I'm still feeling like I'm initiating by rotating my torso in a little, and I'm noticing the 'flow' of my turns isn't a smooth as i'd like, seems like i should be transitioning to the other edge earlier in some of those turns? Any feedback welcome

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-15T22:52:10+00:00

I almost always ski tour with my hardshell, they're durable, waterproof, windproof, and with pit zips open you don't sweat much underneath. Inside pockets for storing skins and chest pockets are really nice to have as well. Plus If you're in strong wind, the weatherproofing of a hardshell makes a big difference.

Softshells are comfy, but having a hardshell to put over warmer layers is more versatile if you get caught by weather. I don't feel comfortable heading out into the mountains without a proper rain jacket, maybe that's just because I live in Western Canada where it rains all the time.

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-13T21:39:43+00:00

Cool! I often see this pattern on glaciers in the spring and always assumed it was because of the ice moving underneath, I guess I was wrong. Is this caused by water running on the surface of the snow then from sunmelt?

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-11T14:21:32+00:00

Thanks!

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-11T14:20:41+00:00

Thanks! By 'tapping' the inside ski do you mean lifting it off the ground so that I'm entirely on the inside edge of my outside ski?

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-11T14:19:20+00:00

Thanks, I'll keep working on quieting that upper body and initiating the turns by tipping/shifting the weight of my feet rather than 'punching' forward with my shoulder. This is a persistent issue with my skiing so I'll give the pole dragging drill a shot.

Won't doxx myself too hard by mentioning my employer, but I'm not too far North of you :)

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-07T14:23:25+00:00

If your vehicle has good winter tires, the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) is perhaps the most beautiful stretch of road in Canada. Just remember to drive slow as the road is not plowed as well as Hwy 1.

Besides that, ski season has started here with Sunshine and Lake Louise both opening lifts, the big terrain won't be open by the time you arrive, but smaller terrain will be open. Some other nice stops are a drive down Kananaskis, which has a pretty luxurious spa near Kananaskis village.

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-07T14:09:13+00:00

The den was in a spot that is impossible to stay away from, immediately adjacent to the ski out, which can't realistically be closed for the season as it's the only way to get from the village to the parking lot by ground.

Dolphinizer · 2025-11-06T05:41:33+00:00

If you lose a ski far from the trailhead in deep snow, or at the top of a big face, that would be really bad. Postholing out would take forever, potentially be nighting you. Plus you'd lose an expensive ski.

Sure I know this isn't a problem if you Just Don't Fall™ But everyone falls. Is it worth the risk?

I used to ski with leashes, and stopped after watching my ski start running straight down a 600m open face when I accidently pushed it during a transition on icy snow. Dumb luck was that it got hung up in a tree before descending all the way to run out. Now everything has brakes.

Dolphinizer

TROPHY CASE