THE BAD NEWS The surface is a vague white blur. Your goggles, though clear, seem fogged. Your sense of direction is confused, so you grope for balance, tense up, then lose control. THE GOOD NEWS There are few, if any, people on the slopes. Blemishes on the snow can't distract you. Senses heighten. A misty environment has comforting softness. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Flat light means there is no contrast. Gravitate toward the run's edge, where definition is enhanced by trees, rocks and other dark objects HOW TO DO IT BETTER Rely on touch rather than sight and brute strength. Be so light on your feet that they tingle in anticipation. Keep your knees loose, so they can react quickly to changes in terrain and snow quality. Use your poles like antennae to probe obstacles, fluctuations in slope degree and potential hazards. THE NEXT STEP Grand Targhee Snowsports School, P.O. Box SKI, Alta, WY 83422; (307) 353-2300; www.grandtarghee.com. North American Ski Training Center hosts week-long camps throughout the world; P.O. Box 9119, Truckee, CA 96162; (530) 582-4772; www.skinastc.com.
