Fall at speed - stop slide

[AJB]

Hi everyone,

Looking for peoples experience on how they were able to slow and stop a slide after a fall at speed. At Mammoth this past week on a steeper groomer (~35-38) and at speed ended up on back before I even knew what happened (still don’t know ) Slid for must have been 100 feet. Fell at speed and was able to rotate so head was uphill, and I kept skis up and edges away from fall line to avoid catching edge and going head over heals. Attempted to drag poles and arms but seemed to do little. Not sure if there was anything else I could have done other than let Mother Nature and Physics run their course. Thanks!

 

[1Turn2Many]

I use cat like reflexes to first slide head down on my back until the maximum amount of snow is shoved down my neck and back. Then I flip over and slide face down until my helmet and goggles are packed with snow. After which I stop at the toe of the slope wondering why my skis didn’t release.

 

[Paul Lutes]

The only real tool you have under those circumstances is your pole tip, but unless you have advanced warning and incredibly fast reflexes you won't be able to get the tip and your hands in the proper position before you've picked up too much speed to have any impact. The best you can do is get your head uphill and avoid catching anything that will initiate tomahawking, which it sounds like you did exactly that. And if you see something approaching that promises severe impact, try to steer around it (very hard to do). Avoid steep couloirs with death dealing choke points, especially if icy.

 

[François Pugh]

In that situation, you did good getting into a feet first position.
Planning ahead saves a little time an dependance on quick reflexes. Plan to roll over on your front side, throw away one pole and use both arms with leverage to drive your remaining pole into the snow, after you get to a feet first position. If your skis are still attached, keep them in the air. Surprisingly enough, once I had the plan under control, I never needed to use it.

If it's very steep and you have long radius skis you can pop back up on them after aligning them with the fall line. Popping back up works on straight SG skis; doesn't work on modern SL ski. I know this from experience.

 

[AJB]

The only real tool you have under those circumstances is your pole tip, but unless you have advanced warning and incredibly fast reflexes you won't be able to get the tip and your hands in the proper position before you've picked up too much speed to have any impact. The best you can do is get your head uphill and avoid catching anything that will initiate tomahawking, which it sounds like you did exactly that. And if you see something approaching that promises severe impact, try to steer around it (very hard to do). Avoid steep couloirs with death dealing choke points, especially if icy.

Funny, after I got turned around the first thing I thought of was “how can these poles help”. The only thing that came to mind was creating as much drag with them as possibly, but I used the whole poles and dragged them parallel to the fall line. Your recommendation would have been much better and something I could have done. However I would have had to let one pole go (no issues with that), then I could have easily slide my hand down to the basket and stab it into to slope. Sounds like a practice session. After your comment I found this online - self arrest

 

[AJB]

In that situation, you did good getting into a feet first position.
Planning ahead saves a little time an dependance on quick reflexes. Plan to roll over on your front side, throw away one pole and use both arms with leverage to drive your remaining pole into the snow, after you get to a feet first position. If your skis are still attached, keep them in the air. Surprisingly enough, once I had the plan under control, I never needed to use it.

If it's very steep and you have long radius skis you can pop back up on them after aligning them with the fall line. Popping back up works on straight SG skis; doesn't work on modern SL ski. I know this from experience.

110%, planning ahead for situations like this is no joke. I was lucky I was in open bowl no obstacles. Love the guidance as I could see exactly what you’re describing. Given the fall was a couple days ago and fresh in my mind, I replayed it with what you recommend and see how it would have worked. However, I wasn’t even thinking about popping up, at that speed. What was interesting was it felt like there was no “slow down” period rather fast slide then pretty sudden stop. Found this on self arrest with a ski pole.

 

[Tony Storaro]

Hi everyone,

Looking for peoples experience on how they were able to slow and stop a slide after a fall at speed. At Mammoth this past week on a steeper groomer (~35-38) and at speed ended up on back before I even knew what happened (still don’t know ) Slid for must have been 100 feet. Fell at speed and was able to rotate so head was uphill, and I kept skis up and edges away from fall line to avoid catching edge and going head over heals. Attempted to drag poles and arms but seemed to do little. Not sure if there was anything else I could have done other than let Mother Nature and Physics run their course. Thanks!

Sometimes there is absolutely nothing you can do. You just enjoy the ride. Happened to me last week when trying to ski fat ski on an icy steep. Within 10 seconds after the fall (slip and slide more like) i realized I could do absolutely nothing, so just channeled my inner 10 years old me and slid to the bottom on my ass smiling and waving at the onlookers.

 

[AJB]

Sit back and enjoy the ride (minus any obstacles)- humility an underrated trait.

 

[COSkier87]

Going into a fall, I always try to end up facing uphill on my stomach and create as much friction as possible to slow down. If one of my skis is still attached, I just jam the edges into the slope.

 

[KingGrump]

Come to Taos and hang out with the expert in self arrest.

 

[Rod9301]

You have edges, use them to stop, or more likely to get up and start skiing.

Dragging a pole is good for orienting feet first, not stopping.

 

[Tom K.]

Interesting thread. In my younger days of skiing pretty much anything that would hold snow, I refused to do those kind of days without being dressed in "grippy" jacket and pants. Makes a huge difference.

Related topic for other somewhat older folks: Anybody remember "wet look" ski shells? Slippery as a greased door knob!

 

[Tony Storaro]

facing uphill on my stomach and create as much friction as possible

I see what you did here…

 

[noncrazycanuck]

I do, wore one at the start of a season until I discovered that wasn't a good idea.
afterward only wore it when not skiing - was a nice jacket.

 

[Jerez]

Yep.

Years ago on Last Steep (I think) at CB. Entry was scraped to dirt so clever me decided to enter via trees. Next thing I knew I was tomahawking. Managed to get stomach down and head up. One pole gone the other flailing around like a propeller attached by strap. No way in hell to get to the pointy end. Picking up speed on my slick trousers, I remembered a video (poste on Epic no doubt) advising to slowly dig toes in. Nope! Tomahawking again. Only thing that stopped me abruptly was a soft mogul.

Slippery clothes are no bueno!

 

[cosmoliu]

This makes for a great discussion. When I went to Jackson Hole's Steep-n-Deep Camp some 10+ years ago, we spent about a half hour on our first day being instructed in and practicing self arrest. This is definitely a subject to at least think through in detail before needing to execute in a situation like described in the OP. And while our actually practicing it on a steep slope felt a little silly, I'm glad we did it.

 

[Bad Bob]

Having a friend above you when the ride starts is good, they can pick up the pieces.

 

[AJB]

Come to Taos and hang out with the expert in self arrest.

View attachment 230706

 

[AJB]

Yep.

Years ago on Last Steep (I think) at CB. Entry was scraped to dirt so clever me decided to enter via trees. Next thing I knew I was tomahawking. Managed to get stomach down and head up. One pole gone the other flailing around like a propeller attached by strap. No way in hell to get to the pointy end. Picking up speed on my slick trousers, I remembered a video (poste on Epic no doubt) advising to slowly dig toes in. Nope! Tomahawking again. Only thing that stopped me abruptly was a soft mogul.

Slippery clothes are no bueno!

Interesting thread. In my younger days of skiing pretty much anything that would hold snow, I refused to do those kind of days without being dressed in "grippy" jacket and pants. Makes a huge difference.

Related topic for other somewhat older folks: Anybody remember "wet look" ski shells? Slippery as a greased door knob!

Funny, once down and accelerating on my back, one thought in my head was damn this shell is slick!

 

[tomahawkins]

Come to Taos and hang out with the expert in self arrest.

View attachment 230706

Or come to Baker and not worry about it. Nothing stops a fall faster than a foot of fresh, rain infused mank.