Mogul (Bump) Skiing Technique: Absorption and Rhythm
Moguls are bumps that form on a slope over time as skiers turn in the same places; freestyle skiing also has an Olympic discipline of the same name. The key to skiing bumps is absorption and extension: according to the International Ski Federation's definition of the technique, the skier absorbs the impact by bending the knees from the base of the bump to its crest, extends the legs just after the crest, and in this way keeps the pressure between ski and snow constant. The head stays steady and faces down the valley, the hands are in front of the body, and the pole plant is light. For a beginner, the easiest approach is to choose a round line that goes around the bumps; the direct line, which runs straight down between the bumps, requires strong leg movements.
As skiers turn in the same places on the same slope, snow piles up at the turning points and over time the slope becomes covered in regular bumps; these are called moguls (see the mogul entry in our glossary). Some resorts deliberately leave mogul runs ungroomed by the piste basher; other bumps form on their own during the day on busy slopes.
Moguls are also a competition discipline. According to FIS, moguls is a free descent on a steep, heavily moguled course in which technical turns, air manoeuvres and speed are judged. 60% of the score comes from the turns, 20% from the jumps and 20% from speed; within the turn score, carving carries 50%, absorption and extension 25% and the upper body 25%.
The basic technique: absorption and extension
According to the FIS definition of mogul technique:
Absorption: From the base of the bump to its crest, the knees and hips bend and the bump is “swallowed”.
Extension: Just after the crest, the legs extend and the skis stay in contact with the back of the bump.
Constant pressure: The pressure between ski and snow should stay the same throughout absorption and extension; the skis should neither lift into the air nor slam into the snow.
Upper body: The head stays steady and faces down the valley; the hands are in front of the body.
Pole: The pole plant is light and the wrist moves forward.
An analogy: your legs are a car's shock absorbers and your upper body is the car itself. The shock absorbers work while the body stays calm.
Choosing your line
The New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance (NZSIA) describes three lines through bumps:
Line
How?
Who is it for?
Skidded / pivoted
Pivoting the skis on top of the bump and skidding sideways to scrub off speed
Skiers new to moguls
Round, steered
Rounder turns that go around the bumps
Intermediate; easier speed control
Direct
Down the troughs between the bumps, close to the fall line
Advanced; requires strong absorption and extension
According to NZSIA, on the direct line speed is controlled largely by flexing and extending the legs. The line skiers call the “zipper line” corresponds to this direct line. A tip from NZSIA: as the skis meet the face of the bump, move them forward; as they pass over the crest, move them back.
Getting started with moguls step by step
Start with small bumps: Try absorption and extension on small bumps that have formed at the side of an easy slope.
Learn by stopping: Stop on top of a bump and plan your next turn; build your rhythm over time.
Pole rhythm: In every turn, plant your pole lightly on the crest of the next bump; the pole sets the rhythm.
Stay on the round line: As long as you can control your speed, go around the bumps.
Keep your eyes ahead: Look two or three bumps ahead; if you look at your feet, you lose the rhythm.
Common mistakes (FIS)
Mistake
What happens?
Fix
Speed check
The skis come across the fall line and you scrub off speed by skidding sideways; the rhythm breaks
Control your speed with your line choice and with absorption and extension
“Shooting”
Skis flat, an uncontrolled straight descent
Complete your turns and choose a line on which you can control your speed
Double pole plant
The rhythm breaks
A single, light pole plant in every turn
Landing in the middle of the bump
The impact increases and you lose balance
Use the face and the back of the bump
Keeping your legs stiff
The skier gets thrown off the bump
Knees soft, ready to absorb
Safety
Mogul runs are usually intermediate to difficult (red or black) and put strain on the knees. Stop when you get tired, do not enter bump areas that are not suited to your level, and if you have to stop among the bumps, stop in a place visible from above. To protect yourself from knee injuries, see our guide Knee Injuries in Skiing.
Exploring the bumps as a group
Moguls are a challenge that brightens up a holiday for people who can ski; trying them with an experienced group and a good guide is the most enjoyable way. On an activity holiday, exploring different slopes together, giving each other tips and talking about the day in the evening is the social side of it; that is why Doğadayız experience packages for people who can ski are each designed as a social adventure holiday.
Doğadayız Packages
Doğadayız packages for your level
Winter activity holidays with accommodation, ski pass and equipment included, shared with a group.
The easiest way to learn to ski: a winter activity holiday
An activity holiday puts a sport at the heart of your trip: transport, accommodation and meals are planned, so you can focus on learning on the slopes. On Doğadayız winter activity holidays, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation, while experience packages let you practise on the slopes at your own level.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
They are bumps that form on a slope over time as skiers turn in the same places. There is also a freestyle competition discipline of the same name; according to FIS, 60% of the score in mogul competitions comes from the turns.
How do you ski bumps?
With absorption and extension: you bend your knees to absorb the impact from the base of the bump to its crest, and extend your legs just after the crest. Your head should stay steady and face down the valley, your hands should be in front, and your pole plant should be light.
Which line is easier in moguls?
The round line that goes around the bumps. The direct line, which runs between the bumps close to the fall line, requires strong absorption and extension and is for advanced skiers.
Carving is a turn in which the ski travels along its own edge without skidding sideways. According to the International Ski Federation's definition, in a pure carved turn the ski's tail follows exactly the track cut by its tip and there is no sideways skidding; two thin lines are left in the snow. The radius of the turn is determined by the ski's edge angle, its sidecut radius and the way the ski bends: the more the ski is tipped, the tighter the turn. In a skidded turn, by contrast, the ski pivots on the turning path and slides sideways. According to the American instructors' association PSIA, in a good turn the edges are changed before the skis turn into the fall line, and the edge angle increases and decreases gradually throughout the turn.
The move to parallel skiing does not happen in one step but with an intermediate stage: snowplough → wedge christie → basic parallel turn. In a wedge christie you start the turn in a snowplough and, during the turn, finish parallel by bringing the inside ski alongside the outside ski. According to the American instructors' association PSIA, what makes matching easier is relaxing the inside leg and pressing on the outside ski; as you gain experience, the matching moves closer to the start of the turn. In a true parallel turn, your weight is transferred to the new outside ski before the turn begins, and this movement comes from the legs, beneath a calm upper body.
In Europe, runs are marked by difficulty as blue (easy), red (intermediate) and black (difficult); in some countries, such as France, and at some resorts, green is also used for the easiest runs. Under the Austrian standard, the gradient of a blue run should not exceed 25% and that of a red run 40%; anything steeper is black. In North America, the symbols green circle, blue square and black diamond are used, and difficulty is relative only to that resort's own runs. Turkey has no national standard; resorts use the European system. After the first days, beginners should start on blue (or, where available, green) runs.
