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Backcountry

8 Tips for Making the Most Of a Powder Day

If it's dumping and tomorrow is going to be bluebird - here are a few things worth thinking about

Know Your Limits

The Baker Gap – Probably a bit beyond most riders, but you never know… Par McCarthy shows you how it’s done. Photo: Jeff Patterson

Everyone knows that a powder day is often over too quickly, with everyone dashing for early lifts most places in a resort will get tracked pretty damn fast, so you definitely want to make the most of it on the day.

The most important thing to know is your own ability, what and where you can do and go. Nothing sucks so much as watching all the fresh tracks go whilst you’re wallowing around in the deep stuff, or stuck on top of a drop that’s too big for you.

If you’ve never ridden in powder before, it’s very different to on-piste and you will initially struggle, so try just dipping on and off cat tracks for starters to get used to leaning back and getting the odd slash in without catching an edge and face planting; better to do it here than way out in the backcountry.

If you can ride off piste already, sure it’s good to push yourself but nothing much beats dropping into a favourite line and knowing you’re to have the time of your life.

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