Episode 10: How to Ski Tour Uphill | Salomon How To

Kick turns and route finding can be daunting. Pros Greg Hill (who skinned 2million vertical in one year) and Leah Evans break down the mechanics and basic techniques of uphill skiing in this episode of our How-To series.

Featuring:
Greg Hill and Leah Evans

00:00 Skinning Techniques & Tips
00:44 Route Finding
01:23 Uphill Skinning Tips
04:19 Kick Turns

Shot, produced and edited by Switchback Entertainment

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[OnceUponaSaga]

I’m always in favor of any ‘work smarter not harder’ approach. Technique is king 👑

#SagaBingeWatchingSalomonTV

[thomasmedeiros]

Do you have a segment on the transition from hike to ski. When I started touring I was fortunate to have a friend with lots of Backcountry experience and training as my coach. Eventually I developed a routine like packing a transition area, removing backpack, adjust boots, release brake by rotating heel to ski mode, remove skin and fold, zip up vents, dress for decent. Definitely check that toe pins are in and toe is in ski mode. Set pole length from hike to ski. Depending on the terrain sometimes the first turns can be tricky if we are in an area with trees or dropping in to a technical challenging area.

[daniellezubrod]

Thank you! Trying for the first time today!!

[PaulBeiser]

Thanks - very useful tips on breaking trail and kick turns. Appreciate it!

[mind_biscuit]

Awesome tips and tricks on skinning and kick turns. Thanks.

[tomblaksley]

@Greg - I noticed when you do your kick turn, you keep both poles planted uphill of your left ski. However when @Leah does hers, she has her poles either side of her body before doing the kick. (Personally I do the latter.)

Is one technique better than the other? Perhaps depending on the situation?

[robertrepka]

These are great videos and content so far. Any chance you do a video on compression tests and interpreting their results to know when do and when don't ski a slope? Thank you!

[stevehaugse]

Living in Aspen this year and getting my Salomon Quest skis setup with the Shift 13 bindings. Never gone uphill before on skiis... Any advice on what to do (or not to do) on your first uphill ascent? Thank you!

[novalux]

It could be useful adding int the description also the gear you were using

[chrisoffersen]

Here's a question: I've noticed a lot of the (very) fat skis with a long rocker to almost a reverse camber. Should seeing Greg Hill on them make me believe this is more than a fad? What am I missing out on?

[chriswoods]

Greg, what jacket are you wearing? It looks very long (well past the hips) which I'm looking for.

[jarvinho]

It's the ski touring downhill that I find difficult.

[chrisoffersen]

Just the kick-turn tips makes the video worth watching, but there are a ton of little nuggets in here.

[garethkingsford]

That's one hella way to do a kick turn. But is that how you would kick a ball? Of course not. Next time, try pulling the downhill foot back gently, as if there was a soccer ball where you foot just was. You will find the tip of the ski comes up to your knee. Then rotate the entire foot (and ski) around your uphill leg. No need to throw yourself of balance. Hiya!

[pooriakoleyni]

I think your pole positioning for kick turns are wrong