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Each month, West Virginia Ski will bring you skiing tips tailored to conditions and challenges facing skiers in the Mountain State. This month we offer some advice on managing moguls, making great carved turns, and making your way through powder.

Stay Afloat in Powder

Morning's first light breaks through the window of your cabin to reveal a foot of fresh, soft powder perched on tree limbs and blanketing the slopes outside. The radio announces "the best skiing of the year so far!" - and it can be, if you're ready for it. With their high mountains and brisk climate, West Virginia ski areas get more than their share of such ideal days. But for skiers accustomed to skiing only on the tightly packed, groomed surfaces common much of the year in the East, powder presents its own unique challenges.

Nothing's more frustrating than finding yourself bogged down in snow over your knees on a day that's supposed to be "perfect" for skiing. Here are a few tips to help you stay on top of the powder, and on top of your game:

Find Your Line: Speed is your friend, not your enemy, in powder. Take a steeper route down the mountain than you might normally, staying balanced over the midpoint of your skis or even leaning forward slightly until you're ready to turn. You need the extra speed to "float" across the top of the snow surface.