There are four primary mogul lines, or routes, to use when skiing a mogul run. They are, in order of slowest route to fastest route:
The 4 Mogul Lines
(1) Green Line: a turn that has a smaller radius than the trough – e.g. you stay on the same mogul on which you initiated your turn.
Initiate your turn on the flat top of a mogul and steer / pivot the skis to perpendicular or more to the fall line that is between where you initiated your turn and the flat top of a designated mogul below where you will initiate your next turn. Avoid the use of high edge angles (carving) and drift down to the new turn location using “soft” edges.
This line is the slowest way to ski a mogul run and does not require fast reflexes.
(2) Blue Line: a turn that has a larger radius than the trough – e.g. you ski on the curved bank of the adjacent mogul staying above the trough.
Initiate your turn on the flat top of a mogul and steer the skis along the arc of the bank of the adjacent mogul that represents the opposite side of the trough (think of riding on a banked NASCAR track). Avoid the use of high edge angles (carving), keep your skis flat to the angle of the bank and drift to the new turn location on “soft” edges.
This line is the second slowest way to ski a mogul run and also does not require fast reflexes.
(3) Trough Line: a turn that has the same radius as the trough – e.g. you ski in the trough.
Initiate your turn on the flat top of a mogul and – keeping your turn radius the same as the trough – ski through the trough to the flat top of another mogul below where you plan to initite your next turn.
This line is the second fastest way to ski a mogul run and requires fast reflexes.
(4) Zipper Line: a method of skiing a mogul run where you essentially go straight down the fall line with minimal turns – e.g. you ski directly from the top of one mogul to the top of another mogul below.
This line is the fastest way to ski a mogul run and requires lightening fast reflexes.
We can safely say that the Zipper Line is not appropriate, under any circumstance, for Baby Boomer and Senior skiers because of the need for ultra-fast reflexes.
However, the Green, Blue and Trough Lines each represent different options that can be used to ski a mogul run depending upon the steepness of the run, the size and shape of the moguls, the snow condition, flatness of light, visibility … and the attributes of the skier – e.g. skiing ability, physical condition, confidence level, age, injury history, fatigue level,etc.
Each of these mogul lines represent different choices for you to use – each offering a different level of speed control – when skiing moguls.
The secret to good mogul skiing is to understand each of these lines, become proficient at skiing each of these lines individually and then learn how to mix and match your preferred lines to use during a single mogul run. Example: you don’t need to ski a mogul run using just the Green Line mogul tactics or the Blue Line mogul tactics. You can mix, and match, the lines – if you choose – in a single mogul run.
