How to truly appreciate La Forêt Noire
We skiers have the good fortune of enjoying the most varied mountain in Quebec. And that’s even truer this year with the opening of La Forêt Noire (Black Forest), a new off-piste sector that’s sure to delight those who love cranking short-radius turns and skiing the steep stuff.
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of this exciting new run:
Before you head for the ungroomed glades of La Forêt Noire, take the time to practice first on the Crête, Espoir, and Super S runs.
The most important thing to remember is to stay relaxed, no matter what your speed. Start slowly with short-radius turns. Don’t feel rushed. Now maintain the same relaxed feeling as you pick up speed. It’s easy to ski short-radius turns at low speed, but at high speed, it’s another story altogether!
To help stay relaxed in your short-radius turns, spread your weight over both skis and try to stay light on your edges. In other words, avoid applying downward pressure as you increase the angle of your skis. The secret is not to apply too much angle at the end of your turn, rather to ski your short-radius turns at about 60% of your angle capacity. You should be able to increase the angle of your skis, but you want to keep some in reserve... That way, your leg muscles will stay more relaxed and you’ll find skiing much easier.
The next step is to use your pole plant to create a steady rhythm. Whatever happens, you want to keep up your cadence! A firm pole plant will also enhance your balance and stability. For those who plan on doing lots of off-piste or glade skiing, I recommend using a larger basket so you can apply more pressure on your poles, even in deep snow.
One last thing, don’t forget that your shoulders should always be directly over your knees so that you don’t feel the front or back of your boots as you ski.
And remember, stay relaxed!
Jean-François Beaulieu
Directeur, Mont-Sainte-Anne Snowsports school director