Lots of ice in Val d'Isere last week on the steep runs . Well hard pack really not real ice except up on the glacier .
How to get a grip ? I tried all the Phantom move techniques , hip counter , pulling the free ( freer ) ski back as agressively as I could but still encountering problems .
I feel that I can't pull my freer foot back enough to keep my weight far enough forward because of the steepness . It feels awkward and I feel there is not enough room between me ( the stance leg ) and the slope .
I exaggerate the lift and push forward motion of the pole plant arm which gives me more grip than I used to have . This works when the snow is relatively soft but not in the after noon when it has all been scraped off ( Face de Bellevarde especially )
I do ski aggressively trying to get the body into the turn immediately after the ankle starts the turn and refuse to just give up and scrape my way down . Any help , HH , skiersynergy et al .
I realise this was sort of started by Tommy but thought it would be a good idea to start a specific topic . I'm sure there are lots of you out there with the same problem .
My main problem, I guess , is that what works well on good snow and reasonably steep slopes, falls apart on steeper, icier stuff .
I can't get to a camp until next year so any assistance for the rest of this season would be more than welcome . It doesn't look like Europe is going to have a great powder year either . Not like you lucky lot over there .
Also assistance I have had here on other subjects , eg pole plant , has been most constructive .