How to Ski Tour EPISODE 4 - FINDING COMMUNITY

Intro by filmmaker Roo Smith:

Skiing is described as many things – exhilarating, blissful, epic, gnarly, beautiful, etc. But there is one thing that skiing is not known for: accessibility. Because of the high barriers of entry, skiing tends to be difficult to get into. 

However, Davide believes that doesn’t have to be the case. 

Creating a supportive ski community, breaking down barriers, and sharing his knowledge are a big driving factor for Davide’s development in the sport. 

With over a decade worth of professional victories in endurance sports under his belt, he’s certainly met a lot of other athletes in the process but he’s now taking it upon himself to make ski touring more inclusive, launching weekly Ski Touring Clinics & Demos all winter long at the local Eldora Ski Resort outside of Boulder supported by La Sportiva. 

In this episode, we wanted to capture some of the magic that takes place in the ski touring community: after taking first place in this skimo race, Davide humbly put his first place trophy in his backpack, and began his free clinic to teach others how to ski tour.

As the filmmaker witnessed these events unfold in front of me, I was taken aback by Davide’s selflessness. Just a few minutes before the clinic, he was competing and trying to top the podium, but quickly changed his mindset from competition to community once the race was over, teaching his competitors his own ski touring secrets. 

Words by Davide Giardini: 

In this fourth episode of our “How to Ski Tour” series, I wanted to capture all aspects of why I am passionate about ski mountaineering racing, for its grassroots feel, its sense of camaraderie and community, the chance to explore some of the best off-the-beaten-path ski areas, and the fitness and skills boost they give me to then tackle bigger weekend outings and spring ski mountaineering missions with friends.

“RACING IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A RACE RESULT”

With my professional racing days behind me, I try to get out and race as much as my schedule allows for a couple of reasons:

1) I get to visit some of the coolest, off the beaten path, underground, independent, soulful ski resorts still in existence. I have no desire to visit the crowded mainstream resorts, and through racing I’ve discovered these smaller resorts that fit my style much more. 

2) I get to ski tour. A lot. And aggressively. Most races take place in the side-country skirting in and out of resort boundaries, and encompass technical skin tracks, ridge lines, boot packs, couloir descends, and so much terrain & snow variety that make you a well rounded skier and test your full athletic & skiing abilities.

3) I get to push myself doing what I love with friends, and reconnect with cool people I wouldn’t see otherwise, enjoying a unique shared experience in some of the most beautiful natural settings, making the most of the cold winter months and the unstable snowpack. Come the Spring adventuring season, I know I’ll have trusted fit & skilled partners I can rely on.

Although it might be easy to make fun of us straight-lining down couloirs in spandex, carbon boots & skinny skis, the racing and training will pay dividends in terms of fun and safety once the backcountry becomes safer and spring skiing comes around.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our “How to Ski Tour” series this winter, which has been a big endeavor of mine to further push my goal of making ski touring more accessible and introduce more endurance athletes to it. I appreciate your like or comment if you enjoyed it!

Favorite gear featured in the video:

• Stratos V Race Ski Boot
• Gara Race Skis 
• Tour Long Sleeve Baselayer
• Atlas Down Jacket
• 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 a world top 10 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. This year, Davide achieved podium finishes at the Tellurando (the longest & steepest ski mountaineering individual race format in the US), the Heathen Challenge (the oldest ski mountaineering race in Colorado), the Breckenridge Five Peaks, and the Arapahoe Basin National Cup.