How to build jumps in powder

The_Beekeeper

The_Beekeeper

Member
What is the proper method for building jumps in powder? I want to learn some inverts, but I can't seem to manage to build a big enough jump. How do you do it? thanks
 
1. get shovel

2. shovel snow to area

3. compact all of the gathered snow into compact doggie sized snow balls

4. build the jump by stacking the snowball (snow bricks) like youre stacking bricks

5. finish it off with piling more snow on it

6. compact with skis while standing on it

7. youre set!
 
Friction is your friend. Shovel, stomp, repeat until the pile is the size you want it and it can support your weight standing in boots. Then side step it and use your shovel to carve out the shape. Make sure that the top of the lip is not a thin knife edge. Make it like 2 feet thick at the top so the top of the lip doesn't slough off. Also make sure to stomp out the transition too or it will get rutted out and you will lose a lot of speed. Don't forget to pee on it when you're done to mark your territory.
 
making the whole outline of the jump with snow bricks and then filling it all in is the way to go.. Sometimes the snow just isn't right for bricks though and you just gotta pile up a shit ton of snow and pack it real good.

 
put it un as it layers up. So you have nice compacted layers and yeah throw some on the surface. Then you can pack a thin pow layer on top. Shit will survive a beating instead of getting raped. Depends how big the jump is but a little salt could def save you. It sucks when its super light and you just cant get it to pack well. especially for skis which seem to dig in more
 
You must dig a little deeper to wear the snowpack is more solid and dig/carve out the bricks. The bigger the bricks the better. "frame" the shape (outerwall) of your jump with these bricks and fill in the middle with the little chunks left over from where you got the bricks, this snow already packed better and will make for a more solid jump, remember to have someone continously packing the middle with skis on. Add some salt and loose snow once your done and if you can, let it sit for a day before hitting it, that will alow the snow to solidify. Most importantly!!! make sure you have the room to build it with a perfect inrun. You're going to want lots of flat space so that the inrun is gradual and there is no compression before you hit it. Also, take a look at your favorite park jump and take an approximate measurement of length and height so you build a smooth jump. You dont want to end up with something that is 5ft tall and only 8ft long, it'll be like hitting a massive mogul. Good luck
 
You must dig a little deeper to wear the snowpack is more solid and dig/carve out the bricks. The bigger the bricks the better. "frame" the shape (outerwall) of your jump with these bricks and fill in the middle with the little chunks left over from where you got the bricks, this snow already packed better and will make for a more solid jump, remember to have someone continously packing the middle with skis on. Add some salt and loose snow once your done and if you can, let it sit for a day before hitting it, that will alow the snow to solidify. Most importantly!!! make sure you have the room to build it with a perfect inrun. You're going to want lots of flat space so that the inrun is gradual and there is no compression before you hit it. Also, take a look at your favorite park jump and take an approximate measurement of length and height so you build a smooth jump. You dont want to end up with something that is 5ft tall and only 8ft long, it'll be like hitting a massive mogul. Good luck
 
its true, salt does melt snow. but the point of putting it on your jumps makes it way easier to pack and in the end your jump will be much stronger.if you watch the behind the scenes clips of ski movies with a lot of urban in them, chances are you'll see someone ether salting or taking a torch to a jump to make it pack better.
 
start making the jump about twice as wide as you want the lip, it will get narrower as it gets bigger, unless you're digging up really good bricks like they said above
 
this. I spent like 2 hours building a jump up to a rail at a playground near my house just to later find that I didn't have enough speed... rookie move on my part. dont do the same
 
I know two good ways of doing it!

1. Build your jump in layers:

-build a decent amount of your jump, then pack it down with a showel. Get a hose or a bucket of water and put a layer of water on the jump. Then keep on adding big layers untill you have your desired jump. (after adding a layer of water, put a light coat of snow on the jump before using your shovel so that the slush doesn't stick to your shovel.

2. Letting it sit:

-Build your jump, pack it as well as you can, then let it sit over night. The next day it should be hard enough to use with skis. But its still probably strong enough to support you jumping on it with ski boots. This is how the military makes snow huts when they are in winter environments, the snow really only need to set for 3-4 hours but I like to wait over night to be sure.
 
what is the best way to build a big booter if the snow isnt wet at all and wont pack? i spent like two hours trying to put one together and failed
 
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