In my recent podcast with Phil Smith—founder of Snoworks—we covered a wide range of topics, but one concept stood out and has really stuck with me: snow displacement.

Phil explained how speed control in skiing isn’t just about technique or edging—it’s about how much snow you’re displacing, and in which direction. That framing might sound simple, but for me, it unlocked something deeper.

As a coach, I’ve often used words like friction, brushing, or skidding to help people understand how to manage speed. But those words don’t give skiers a clear, observable reference. What I love about Phil’s explanation is that it gives people a visible and feelable way to understand what’s happening under their skis. It even becomes measurable which is often hard to do when teaching skiing concepts.

Now, I feel like I have a concept that is easy to explain and show through video learning or in person. Simply get them to focus on how to change the amount and moment in the turn when  they displace snow. They can start to self-assess by watching and feeling the snow move, not just focusing on body position.

This is incredibly useful not just for controlling speed but also for raising the level of ski performance. It’s something I’ve been working on personally over the past 4 years —trying to refine my own snow displacement into shorter, more controlled bursts in high-energy turns.

And the difference is easy to see.

Picture a skier on a steep groomed run doing short turns. Their goal is to go slowly and stay in a narrow corridor with minimal energy. To do this, they displace the snow more directly downhill, using the push against the snow to redirect their momentum back uphill. They’re not trying to throw snow far—just press it down and spread it, like thick icing on a vanilla cake.

In doing so, they gently peel away the top layer of snow, separating it from the firmer base beneath the piste. It’s like lifting a soft skin off the surface—subtle, controlled, and consistent.

• The direction of displacement is more downhill

• The snow is spread out , not flung far away from the skier

• The skier is shaving the top layer of snow from the surface with each turn

• The duration of the push is longer and smoother

• Visually, it’s clean but not dramatic. Very little snow flies

This skier is controlling their speed very easily through the energy it takes to move that snow over a long duration and in a direction opposite to where the slope is pulling them.

Now picture the same skier coming down again, but this time they’re making dynamic, high-energy turns. It’s still steep, but instead of gently peeling away the top layer, their skis are cutting deeper into the snowpack—more like a woodworker using a sharp chisel to carve a clean, forceful line through a dense surface. And they time this cutting so that it both displaces some snow (speed control) and deflects the skier sideways (converts speed down to across). Both of which control speed down the hill.

The displacement happens in short, intense bursts, with the skis pushing snow more sideways and out to the side. The interaction is more aggressive—rather than smearing just snow, they’re slicing into it. Perhaps even blending a slight smear into a slice.

• Snow is displaced more to the sides of the run which does control some speed but leaves the last part of the turn to keep some speed. 

• Snow runs up along the sides of the skis and bursts into the air. This is due to higher speeds and more pressure applied to the ski edge. The snow has to go somewhere and it sprays out like a roster tail.

• The skier displaces snow with a shorter, more concentrated effort. Some energy goes into snow spray, some into pushing the skier across the slope. 

• This creates rooster tails and spray clouds at the apex of each turn

• The skier uses more energy and rebounds across the hill, converting some of the downhill speed into cross-hill momentum

• Visually, it’s sharp, powerful, and exciting—plumes of snow mark each turn

A high-energy skier is constantly balancing how much speed they shed through displacing snow with how much they retain to fuel dynamic, powerful ski manoeuvres.

One thing I’ve come to realise is that whether you’re an intermediate skier focused on staying in control, or an advanced skier chasing more dynamic performance, you’re still working with the same physics.

When you displace snow—whether it’s a long smear or a sharp spray—you’re applying force over time. In physics terms, that’s impulse. It’s how you slow down or redirect your momentum.

For many skiers, especially those navigating steeps or variable terrain, this approach to shedding speed is completely appropriate. It gives control, stability, and confidence.

On the other end of the spectrum, high-level skiers use those same forces—but manage them differently. Instead of focusing on slowing down, they’re often trying to retain kinetic energy and redirect it—to create rebound, accelerate through the turn, or link more fluid transitions.

Same terrain, same laws of motion—just different intentions. The key is knowing why you’re moving the way you are, and whether it serves your current goal: control, flow, or performance.

Here’s something to try next time you’re on snow:

• How much snow are you displacing in your turns?

• When in the turn is it happening—early, mid, or late?

• How long are you pushing snow before you release it?

Play with these variables deliberately.

Notice how each adjustment changes your speed, your control, and the energy you feel coming out of the turn.

Because once you understand this lever, you’re no longer guessing—you’re skiing with choice. And that’s when things really get fun.

Written By Tom Gellie and inspired by a Big Picture Skiing Podcast Episode with Phil Smith