Block position, snow cushion, and jetting: how pro freeriders actively create lift in deep powder instead of sinking – technique and safety basics.
Why doesn't your carving turn just work in powder the same way it does on the piste? The honest answer: in powder, your ski doesn't behave like an edge on hard snow — it behaves more like a wing moving through water. Copy your piste technique directly and you'll sink instantly and lose control — strength alone won't save you, you need the right movement pattern. This guide gives you two tools pro freeriders use to actively shape the snow: block position for even lift, and jetting for heavy, wet snow.
Freeride skis, often well over 100 mm wide underfoot, with a slight rocker (upward curve) at tip and tail — think bigger tires in snow, more surface means more float. Non-negotiable: a transceiver on your body, plus a shovel and probe in your pack; an avalanche airbag is strongly recommended. And strong thighs and a stable core, because deep-snow movement is more physically demanding than any piste run — even well-conditioned legs start burning after a few deep powder pitches.
Ski with a narrower stance than on the piste, mentally pressing your legs together into a block. This noticeably increases the combined surface area of both skis in soft snow — like snowshoes instead of regular boots, which is exactly what keeps you from sinking. At the same time, pressing your legs together prevents isolated edging on a single ski, which causes instant sinking in powder. The narrower and calmer your leg position, the more predictably the snow responds beneath you.
In the steering phase, bend your knees in a measured way, compressing the snow beneath you to build a snow cushion as counter-support, similar to a trampoline surface pushing back when you load it. At the turn transition, extend actively upward and push off that cushion. Done strongly, the skis briefly lift off (the ramp effect) — and right at that moment of maximum unweighting, you turn into the new direction almost without resistance. Rhythm, not raw strength, is your most important tool here.
When the snow is wet instead of light ("champagne powder"), the regular up-and-down rhythm isn't enough. With jetting, you extend at the turn transition not just upward but also backward. This makes the ski tips rise steeply, like a jet taking off, actively lifting out of the snow mass. Rotate your upper body toward the new direction ahead of time (anticipation) — this builds body tension that transfers into the skis and compensates for the enormous turning resistance heavy snow creates.
Powder skiing usually happens off-piste, so professional avalanche management applies: check the bulletin, use the 3x3 filter method (person, terrain, conditions on three levels), strictly avoid slopes over 30-35° at elevated danger levels. Before every slope entry: a transceiver check as a group, so no precious time is lost in an emergency. And the single most important rule: never ride off-piste alone.
In dense, wind-packed, or wet snow, combine anticipation with jetting: rotate your upper body decisively toward the new fall line before the turn, building torsional tension in your core and legs. When you then unweight the tips through jetting, the skis "snap" into the new direction almost on their own — saving you enormous energy near the end of a long powder day, exactly when your legs are already running on fumes.
Because piste technique relies on loading the outside ski, which causes instant sinking in soft snow. In powder you need even loading of both skis (block position) instead of edge dominance — a completely different movement logic from what works on groomed terrain.
In the regular rhythm, you extend upward to release pressure and unweight the skis. Jetting adds a backward component that specifically lifts the ski tips out of heavy, wet snow, where a normal unweighting move alone isn't strong enough to do the job.
Yes, ideally freeride skis over 100 mm underfoot with rocker at tip and tail. Narrow piste skis sink much faster in soft snow and are considerably harder to turn, even if your technique is otherwise flawless and well practiced.
Yes, mainly because of avalanches and hidden terrain traps like gullies or tree wells. Never ride off-piste without a transceiver, shovel, probe, and a partner, no matter how good your technique is or how short and harmless the run looks.
With solid piste technique and a few days of deliberate practice in light powder, you'll get an initial feel for it. Confidently jetting through heavy, wet snow usually takes a full season of consistent practice across variable conditions, ideally with an experienced guide.
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