Correcting the Three Most Common Mistakes People Make Ski Touring in the Backcountry

Do you want to know how to save your breath when going up with skins when ski touring, or how to save your energy when skinning up a slope, or how to get an extra lap in your day? There are three major errors that people make when climbing with skins on their skis. Do you know if you're making one of them?

In this video, professional backcountry guide and ski-touring instructor Rene-Martin Trudel shares his secret skinning recipe to avoid the three most common mistakes all beginner, novice and expert backcountry skiers do! The ski skills shown are for all levels of experience. You'll gain the confidence to break trail without getting exhausted. Rene-Martin's touring tips apply to all forms of snow travel in the backcountry. The tutorial applies to split-board, telemark, and alpine touring equipment. You will definitely travel more efficiently on the snow and in the mountains.

EFFICIENCY should be your mantra when out on the mountain because it has a huge impact on the quality of your day and of your backcountry skiing experience. Ever felt really tired on your last lap that you thought you could have increased your risk of injury in the backcountry? Then, try these techniques on your next ski trip and take note on how you feel on your last lap. Post your results in the comments, we'd love to know!

So what are the 3 COMMON TOURING MISTAKES?

00:00 Intro
01:16 First Mistake: Lifting the ski
03:30 Second Mistake: Climbing too steep
07:53 Third Mistake: Climbing risers
09:32 Bonus Mistake: Using an old skin track

SECRET RECIPE for successful efficient ski touring:

Make long strides with your skis, trying to glide the ski the most possible without lifting it.

Follow the Path of Least Resistance! Losing elevation to go around an obstacle will help you conserve more energy. When breaking a new skin track, lift your knees to get your ski tips out and glide them along the snow. And on steep sections, keep your back straight and move your hips forward when skinning; this will optimize traction.

Ah! Risers. It's so much fun to play with your high-tech ski gear with all the options, adjustments, bells and whistles... But in reality, don't let the gear get in the way of your efficiency. You should avoid using the risers, unless the terrain dictates it. They limit your range of motion and reduce your stride length. Use them sparingly, and put them back down as soon as possible.

REMEMBER: If the skin track is not good, then open a new line. You're in the backcountry. Take the freedom to skin up your own path of least resistance. Follow a skin track that makes sense for you. If it doesn't, break trail for your party and enjoy the feeling of your skis popping up and gliding on the snow. Always travel in groups. Minimum 3 people, that form a team to cover all aspects in the backcountry such first aid, rescue, communications, decision making, terrain evaluation, route finding, snow safety, good morale with humour and someone to carry the emergency chocolate!

FULL RISK DISCLOSURE

THIS VIDEO DOES NOT REPLACE THE NEED FOR AVALANCHE AWARENESS COURSES, WILDERNESS FIRST AID TRAINING, MOUNTAINEERING COURSES, AND THE NEED FOR A GUIDE.
Backcountry skiing by definition is a non-organized, at your own risk activity. Gaining experience is invaluable and an online course cannot completely provide the required knowledge you need to guarantee your safety. Our goal is to make you a better, well-rounded backcountry traveller, a better teammate, and more educated skier.

#skitouring #backcountry #skiing #bcski #backcountryskiing #skinning #climbingskins #skilife #greatoutdoors #skintracks #freeheel #spreadtelemark #alpinetouring #horspiste #pathofleastresistance #golh #golhtv #greatoutdoorslearninghub #kickturn #roundturn #goinguphill #splitboarding #snowsafety

[jf]

Nice tips, even for someone with lots of experience skinning.
I learned by trial and error by spending lots of time in the backcountry. It would have been usefull to learn these tricks when I started.

Good point about the use of risers! Without knowing the proper use of it, I naturally try not to use them too much, and try to take the time to lower it when not necessary. I also realised that using them too much put a lot of pressure on the soles of my feet and I will often get bad cramps. Reducing the use of it helped for my pain, and also, not to climb too steep, which is so important!!!
As you mentionned, I noticed most people use them as soon as they travel up. I will definitely share that knowledge next time I tour with friends.

[ChristianPaulPhotography]

Great video! Yes! For sure stand up and trust your skins! Putting all your weight the front of the ski is going to pull the rug out from under you. Those folks who insist of putting in a steep skin track with terrible switchbacks have "Steep Disease" Its common here in the Wasatch. I was out today and put in a new corner on the upper part of the track on a well used skin track because they went straight up in a corner right next to a tree. When we are hiking dirt trails, we have a tendency to lean into steep sections of trail. But that is self defeating on skins. I always keep my line of sight forward when going up steeps. Yes put those risers down on the flats! I have found, even on mellow terrain, when the snow is deep, being in your low riser makes the rear of the ski sink and brings the tip to the surface when breaking trail. It's like putting the board into 4 wheel drive. Really enjoyed this! Pray 4 snow!

[MrPacobolo]

One of the only times I use risers is for breaking trail in super deep conditions. Gets the tips to the top on each stride without burning out your hip flexors.

[esgee]

listening to the Québecois english has been fun.

[DaveMarkelPhotography]

Good advice. I'll add that if you are planning your route 100 m in advance, a small change in angle lower down can put you in a better position to get around steep areas or obstacles ahead without significantly changing how steep your track is.

[katiearcher]

Great reminder tips, Rene-Martin. I recently took an Avy Level 2 course, and the instructor demonstrated choosing the 'path of least resistance' by putting a hat over his eyes and blindly choosing his skin route up a slope. It has significantly lowered my "need" for kick-turns. Though it is also important to remember up-track etiquette to not disturb the best skiing lines!

[geeberg]

Hips forward and butt out seems kind of contradictory. I think I get the idea, push hips forward then move your upper body even more upright by arching your back, but I don't think butt out is a particularly good way of explaining this.

[MarcoJovi]

Great tips, especially the not using the risers part. I personally always use a very low riser ca. 20 mm (on top of a small TLT binding) and never change that. For me it works everywhere, if too steep you most likely shouldn't go up there in the first place (i.e. go around, choose another line).

[pietjepuk]

6:47, I'll try it. Sounds effective. Never too old to learn. And the rest: I see those mistakes regulary.

[wertigo]

Good tip for the steepest parts, I Will try it in upcoming winter season. Btw. Always glad to see someone skiing like you do.

[charlespitz]

Renee-Martin, great video, thanks You mention at one point that it can be a better choice to lose a little elevation while climbing...a rule of thumb I use when climbing, choose a route that keeps the loss of any elevation to an absolute minimum. Much more efficient to not climb something twice!

[kurtXhecticXpl]

Great sound quality and overall, everything.

[MaticHrovat]

I am not sure I agree with you about the risers unconditionally. In deep snow you might have a point, but on hard pack picking the steeper line using the risers is IMHO more energy efficient and faster, even though the stride is shorter. Especially with fatter skis.

[nicolapoco]

great to see some telemark bindings out there :)

[IoachimSavianPopovici]

I didn't even know one could travel by skis, before. I always just went by foot and it was so tedious. I've got to try this method as well

[SnowShackboy]

I definitely need to ease up on my heel riser use and my friends often remind me of that... Though It should be mentioned that my boots have about 20 degrees less motion in the ankle compared to theirs :(

[mordicuspb]

Great new series. Well needed and rounded. Can't wait for next episode!

[nurmibeowulf]

Long steps and not bending forward are really important. As it gets steeper with risers the steps shouldnt be to long, which will lead to crunching and moving the hips back. I try to focus on literally walking up with a continous movement and active "push" from the back foot. Try not doing step-rest-step, which in my case will result in lifting all the weight with the front foot and arching the back - leaning forward.
Nice vid. Greets Stefan

[alexwipe]

He’s exactly right here, good video!!

[kb-f]

Thanks for your tips.You explain it very easy to understand. Cheers from Switzerland