Keys
To get started
Do you want practice ski touring, but don’t know how to start this new activity? Avoriaz 1800 gives you a few keys to help you get started in this fabulous sport!
Physical requirements, levels, dangers, equipment to have… We have put together some questions and answers so that ski touring no longer holds any secrets for you!
What is the difference between ski touring and alpine skiing?
The equipment needed is also different. Ski touring is like hiking, but with skis on your feet. Thanks to a special binding, the heel of the foot lifts up and the ski can slide down the track, without going backwards thanks to the (synthetic) skins.
However, the technique for the descent is the same. While your heel is free for the ascent, on the descent it is locked into the binding and you ski like in alpine skiing.
Do I need to be a good skier ?
Yes, it is better to have a good base in alpine skiing. In ski touring, you can be confronted with unprepared snow of a very variable nature if you leave the marked areas.
How do you go up with the skis ?
In ski touring you can climb steep slopes with the help of sealskins. Seal skins » are glued under your skis. A sort of self-adhesive strip covered with nylon or mohair fur (not seal hair!). These « skins » are specific to ski touring. They allow you to slide forward without sliding backwards. So you can go up as if you were walking on a mountain trail.
Tip: remember to remove them for the descent!
I already have my ski equipment, can I use it
Unfortunately not. Your piste equipment cannot be used for ski touring. The main differences are as follows:
- the bindings are different to allow you to have a free heel when climbing;
- the skis are wider overall and, above all, much lighter;
- the boots are articulated at the ankle to allow you to unroll your foot when climbing;
- the clothing is more breathable, as the body releases more heat when climbing;
- the poles have a wide washer for ungroomed snow
Here is the equipment you will need for a ski touring trip:
