Meet like-minded aspirant ski tourers and learn touring skills on route...

Ski Touring Skills

Meet like-minded aspirant ski tourers and learn touring skills on route.

On our ski touring skills courses you will have the opportunity to safely learn and practice the essential skills you will need if you are planning on ski touring in an alpine environment. The courses are suitable for those with no prior ski touring experience and who wish to progress to ski touring in glaciated terrain and is ideal training for a tour later in the season. You'll also get the opportunity to meet like-minded people and discuss future ski touring adventures. And what better classroom than the glaciated terrain of the Alps!

The courses cover route planning and navigation, skinning skills, glacier travel, crevasse rescue, transceiver training, recognising avalanche terrain and avoiding avalanches, emergency procedures and using crampons and an ice-axe.


	Ski Touring Skills Chamonix 3-day (Introductory)	An intensive Chamonix-based skills weekend for aspiring ski tourers. No previous ski touring experience required. This course is ideal for adventurous off-piste skiers who want to learn the basic skills for ski touring as the first step on their ski touring journey! The course includes 3 full days of hands-on instruction with lots of skiing.... view
	Ski Touring Skills Week Zinal (Introductory)	An intensive ski touring skills week for anyone wanting to learn the essential ski touring skills for travelling safely and confidently in the backcountry. Zinal, with it's snow sure skiing and impressive off-piste and backcountry ski terrain, is the ideal venue for this course. view
	Ski Touring Skills Week Ste Foy (Introductory)	This week is for skiers who have either never toured or simply need a technique tune-up. It’s a week of professional instruction and guiding where you'll learn and practice all the skills needed for safe and enjoyable ski touring and ski mountaineering. The touring possibilities in the Tarentaise (French Alps) are huge and we’ll make the most... view
	Ski Touring Skills Zinal 3-day (Introductory)	This 3-day ski touring skills course in Zinal is the ideal opportunity for off-piste skiers to learn all the essential skills required for introductory ski touring trips. The course combines sessions in using skins, kick turns, avalanche awareness, glacier travel, navigation and route finding skills with short ski tours and lots of great off-... view

Skill Level Overview

Introductory

I can ski red and black runs on piste without a problem. I am new to off piste skiing or maybe I have skied a little on the sides of the piste, or even attended a previous off piste specific course. I would like to ski powder snow with confidence and learn to link turns off piste. Learning to vary turn radius and control speed is an important goal. Gaining confidence in a variety of terrain would move my skiing to the next level.

Intermediate

I have at least a couple of weeks off piste skiing experience and/or received some previous instruction on an off piste specific course. I can link at least 8 – 10 turns together in reasonable control, speed and style, following the fall line in most snow conditions. I would like to improve my skiing in deep powder, heavy crusty snow uneven terrain and trees. I am happy to hike or ski tour for short distances to get to the best snow and terrain. I aspire to ski fluidly off piste and to ski steeper slopes. At this level all ski tourers must have some previous experience of using a touring set up, skinning and kick-turns.

Advanced

I am confident skiing challenging terrain and steeper slopes. I can sideslip forward and backwards, side-step up and downhill and traverse steep slopes with no problems. I am happy to ski tour and hike for 1 – 2 hrs to reach the best snow and terrain. I aspire to ski the best snow available, push myself to ski steeper slopes and extend my ski touring experience. At this level all ski tourers must have some previous experience of using a touring set up, skinning and kick-turns.

Expert

I can ski fluidly and autonomously on all terrain. I often ski couloirs and gullies and seek out steep slopes to ski. I can jump turn in narrow couloirs and have experience of abseiling and side-slipping on steep terrain. I dream of skiing powder snow, I can ski fast, fluid “freeride” style turns, I can jump off small rocks, ski trees and challenging terrain with no fear or problems. I will often hike and ski tour to reach the best snow and terrain. I am familiar with using ice axe and crampons and some basic rope techniques. My aim is to push my skills and challenge myself further.

Stamina Level Overview

Level 1

I am fit enough to ski all day from the first lift, only taking short breaks every so often. When preparing for this trip aim for activities that increase your heart rate and build your aerobic levels e.g. running, cycling and swimming.

Level 2

I can ski all day with only short breaks and can hike up to 2 hours a day (600m of uphill).
When preparing for this trip aim for activities that increase your heart rate and
build your aerobic levels e.g. running, cycling and swimming.

Level 3

I can ski all day with only short breaks and can hike/skin for 3-4 hours most days (600-
1000m vertical). Endurance fitness is valuable so aim for longer training periods of walking, running,
cycling and swimming.

Level 4

I can ski all day and hike/skin for 4-5 hours every day (1100-1500m vertical). A prolonged period of cross training will help build endurance with 3 training sessions per week of at least 2 hours including sessions of walking, running, swimming and cycling.