The experts' guide to off-piste skiing

We asked three Pure Powder ski guides to offer their tips on how to prepare for off-piste skiing, the kit you'll need when venturing off-piste and perfecting the powder skiing technique. Here's what they said:

Pre-skiing exercises to do at home/in the gym to get into shape

"I tend to prefer activity based exercises that are fun to do and allow you to work on the same muscle groups needed for skiing – the best ones are roller-blading and mountain biking. Both of these work your bottom and thighs and are also good for position, balance and control. Combine this with some static muscle toning and you will be there."

The skiing practice you'll need before heading off piste

"The thing to remember when you are trying to ski off-piste is that fundamentally your technique shouldn’t change when you ski powder. Ultimately, you should be focused on being centred over the middle of your skis. Ensuring that you have the right ski position will help you ski powder snow perfectly, and stop you from the most common problem which is leaning back in the deep snow.

When skiing on the piste, practice staying balanced by skiing lots of variety; a burst of quick short turns, a few bumps – anything that throws you a little off kilter and makes you work on your balance.

But the real secret to learning how to ski the off-piste is to get out there and do it!"

Stefan Palm, UIAGM Mountain Guide, based in La Grave. Stefan is Swedish and skis all around the world including India, Japan, and heli-skiing in Chile and Sweden. Stefan runs Pure Powder’s Steep Skiing programme in La Grave

Powder Skiing Technique

"Fresh snow has fallen, it’s a powder day at your ski area, and you venture out keen to experiment with the fluffy white stuff. To make sure that your excitement transforms itself into those harmonious powder turns you had in mind, here are some top tips to think about:

1. Rhythm is the heartbeat of powder skiing. Rhythmic up-and-down motions are the key to skiing powder. Begin with the ankles, knees and hips comfortably compact. Then extend upward, gradually flexing and extending the ankles, knees and hips, but stopping before the body is fully erect.

Create a consistent up-and-down rhythm while moving only within this range, always keeping your hands forward. If you stand up too tall your body will hang back whilst your skis accelerate forward – causing the infamous backward lean and resultant burning thigh muscles.