The trick to skiing a chute or couloir successfully begins and ends with maintaining control of your skis and body within a tight space.
1. Take a moment at the top of a chute to visually inspect it.
2. Make a tentative plan for where you'll make turns. Plans can go awry and you may miss turns, so your route should not be set in stone.
3. Focus.
4. Drop in over the edge after determining that it's safe. If other skiers are directly beneath you, give them some space.
5. Keep your shoulders facing down the chute. This position twists your upper body in relation to your lower body, which helps make jump turns easier.
6. Take a break, if needed, as much to the side as possible. You don't want to clog up the chute or become a target for an out-of-control skier or ski.
