Can any skis be touring skis?

Technically, you can use most any ski for backcountry touring as long as you have boots and bindings that allow you to lift your heels to walk (“skin”) uphill (with the help of climbing skins) and then to lock them back into the bindings for the descent.

Do I need special skis for touring?

The basic gear you need for ski touring is touring skis, touring bindings, climbing skins, telescopic touring poles, touring ski boots. If you consider leaving the ski slopes, take your avalanche safety equipment as well as crampons and ski touring helmet.

How do I choose skis for ski touring?

Choose a ski that weighs between 2kg and 2.5kg per pair with a deck width of somewhere between 72 and 80mm. In terms of length, opt for skis up to around 10 cm shorter than your actual height. To maintain their performance, these skis must be used with very lightweight bindings.

What is Ski Touring Ski Touring is exactly that touring on skis?

Ski touring is skiing in the backcountry on unmarked or unpatrolled areas. Touring is typically done off-piste and outside of ski resorts, and may extend over a period of more than one day.

Should touring skis be longer or shorter?

In general, we advise our customers to size alpine touring skis a bit shorter than a alpine resort ski. This helps reduce the overall setup weight for uphill travel and allows you to have more maneuverability while skiing in variable backcountry conditions.

Do you want longer or shorter skis for touring?

What size should touring skis be?

Touring skis should be 5-15cm less than the skier’s height. Touring ski length is a balance between lightweight maneuverability on the way up and stability on the way down. Freeride skis should be at least the skier’s height and can easily be 5-15cm longer for skilled skiers.

Do you wax touring skis?

Hot waxing ski touring skins is one of the best things you can do before before coming on any of our ski touring holidays – all you need is an old iron, a block of ski base wax and 15 minutes to spare.

What is the difference between touring and backcountry skis?

Backcountry skiing (more commonly used in the US) and ski touring (Europe) refer to “skiing in remote areas, not within ski area boundaries”, according to Wikipedia. Ski touring generally involves the use of skins, which are placed underneath skis to help on the uphill.

Where is the best backcountry skiing in New Zealand?

Ski and ride New Zealand’s best backcountry skiing terrain. We have the option of basing this epic tent based backcountry skiing trip from Queenstown, Glenorchy, Wanaka, or the Mt Cook region.

Is it safe to ski in New Zealand?

Latest access information to Pisa Conservation Area Pisa Conservation Area information for ski touring – submitted by WT. The Pisa Conservation Area is unique for New Zealand ski touring. The area is massive with a network of connected valleys (or burns) making for easy, safe travel.

Are there ski guides in Queenstown New Zealand?

Queenstown Mountain Guides operate professionally guided single day ski touring trips in Queenstown and multi-day hut based trips on New Zealand’s glaciers. From your first ski tour through to serious ski mountaineering descents in New Zealand’s highest mountains we can show you the best skiing.

Where to ski in Cass Valley New Zealand?

The Cass Valley; The Needles from Falcon’s Nest hut, Tin Hut Stream, Gamack Range. August 2020 This route is on private land (Glenmore Station) and so access must be negotiated prior to visiting. The Falcon’s Nest hut is in Tin Hut Stream, and can be booked for ski touring parties.