The Basics of Ski Touring EP3

What if I told you there was a way to actually enjoy the cold winter months and experience the thrill of sliding on snow, all while getting a great and fun outdoor workout, away from the mainstream culture of traditional resort skiing? Enter… ski touring!

When you think of skiing, you might think of big crowds, expensive lift tickets, a ton of heavy and pricey equipment, steep and icy descents, or scary avalanches.

Although safety is paramount before heading into the outdoors, the reality is that almost anyone can reap the many benefits and joy of sliding on snow in relative simplicity and safety powered only by their own body by ski touring. Ski touring is also frequently referred to as uphill skiing, skinning, skimo, alpine touring, and backcountry.

At its core, ski touring is the act of hiking up a mountain on skis, in specialized ski boots that allow free movement of the ankle and bindings that allow the heel to lift. “Skins”, traditionally made of mohair, a fabric made from Angora goat hair, are stuck to the skis to let you both glide and grip the snow as you move uphill. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you take the skins off the skis, make a few quick adjustments to the boots and bindings and ski back down the mountain.

One of the many benefits of ski touring in the off-season for summer-based athletes is activating our body’s posterior chain, often dormant from today’s sedentary life: glutes, core, hamstrings, calves, dorsal… All of these muscles will switch on just by the simple act of walking uphill.

Moving efficiently in the mountains through different mediums, taking in the snowy peaks and snow-coated trees, the variety that ski touring and skinning provides is just priceless for my mental and physical well-being.

Thanks to today’s lightweight, intuitive, no-frills gear, ski touring is now more approachable and simpler than ever before, and I recommend every athlete to give it a try to spice up their winter routine and discover a new old-school way to explore the outdoors, get a great workout, and have fun sliding on snow.

Interested in trying or improving your ski touring skills and live in Boulder, Colorado? Davide is leading clinics & demos at this year’s Eldora Ski Resort morning race series.

I’ve already kicked off the ski mountaineering racing season with a 4th place at the recent USA Ski Mountaineering National Cup event at Arapahoe Basin. Stoked!

Favorite gear featured in the video:

• Salto Skis
• Skorpius CR II ski boots
• Tour Long Sleeve
• Session Tech Hoody
• Macnas Softshell Jacket
• Ikarus Pants
• Skimo Gloves EVO
• Knitty Beanie

About Davide Giardini:

Davide Giardini is a La Sportiva America ski athlete hailing from the Italian Alps. He’s a former European FIS ranked alpine ski racer and professional triathlete turned mountain endurance athlete. As a 2021-2022 US Ski Mountaineering National Team qualifier and founder of the Boulder Skimo Club, his goal is to get more endurance athletes stoked & educated on the many benefits of ski touring in the off-season.