For skiers seeking freedom, ski touring is a great way to explore remote mountainous regions and form a deep connection with nature. So, how do you choose the skis that are suited to this more remote discipline?
A brief overview.
A day of ski touring is guaranteed to be really exciting and offers magnificent views to be discovered. When roaming through the mountains on skis, going uphill or downhill, you will surpass yourself and discover landscapes that you would not have been able to admire otherwise. In order to fully benefit from this, you must have special skis with bindings that release the heel and ski skins that make it easier to go uphill, in particular.
A brief overview.
To remain effective in climbs and provide as much enjoyment as possible in descents, touring skis have certain specific technical features. Weight, floatability, and size are 3 important criteria regarding your touring ski. Depending on the importance of each, the ski will behave differently.
Weight is a key factor in your choice of ski.
When climbing, it will help you cope more easily with the physical effort required and make you feel less tired over time. You are less likely to feel as if you are "dragging a ball and chain" from your feet and be able to move much more quickly.
The lighter the ski, the "easier" the climb. Given that you spend 3/4 of the time walking with the ski skins (or with the skis on the back during more hazardous sections), it is important not to neglect this aspect.
Bear in mind that the average weight of a touring ski (+ bindings + ski skins) is between 2kg and 2.5kg. Depending on your physical condition and your discipline (skiing in the resort, in the mountains, in "freerando" mode), the choice you make will be very important. If the ski is too light, the descent will not be as enjoyable. It's all about making a compromise based on your objective.
The width of your ski will affect your choice of programme.
> If you are happy to take on the elevation gains required and want to ascend "quickly", a ski with a waist width of about 65-75 mm is preferable. This relatively uncommon waist width is intended for keen sportsmen who practise ski mountaineering or fitness touring.
> If you are new to ski touring, you will prefer a more user-friendly ski with the waist width of about 75-80 mm. This is very versatile and effective on-piste as well as off-piste on snow of variable quality.
> If you want to get further away from the resorts and explore unmarked routes, a ski with a waist width of about 85-90mm will meet your needs for a more pleasant descent off-piste. Easy to handle on the way up and efficient on the way down, it will adapt to all snow conditions.
> Above 90 mm, and you will clearly be targeting quality on the descent. Riding the freerando wave (making fewer elevation gains in order to get a good spot off-piste), fans of untouched slopes will prefer a short ascent time to stay physically fresh during the descent and exploit the every last bit of powder snow.
Ski touring is above all a sport of discovery, escape and PLEASURE. With gear that is suited to your programme, you will soon enjoy a really thrilling experience.
Your level of ability and your programme will be important factors in choosing the size of your touring ski. For a standard touring ski, the length is generally 5 to 10 cm shorter than your height (up to -15 cm for a mountaineering ski).
> If you prefer climbing and/or long day trips, choose a much shorter size. You will save weight and it will make it easier to do your kick turns.
Be careful, the shorter the ski, the more difficult the descent will be (5/10 cm shorter than your height).
> If you prefer descents, you can take an equivalent size, or even a little longer if the ski has a pronounced front rocker. You will gain in floatability and stability, especially at high speeds and in powder snow.
Be careful, do not ski in the mountains without having received the specific safety training on avalanche risks."
We have listed an advice site dedicated to ski touring on the safe marked routes provided by the resorts in France and Switzerland.
Where to go ski touring Which resorts offer marked routes? How and where to start
This site will guide you throughout your outing so that you can make the most of the joys of ski touring in complete safety.
Ski touring is on the rise and, each year, it attracts more people, who are drawn by the freedom and the remote locations of this discipline.
However, ski touring is a risky sport and you should bear in mind that the mountains can be very dangerous when conditions are poor. We give you all the advice you need to ensure your safety while ski touring.
wedze communication team
Wintersports lover