What characteristics must skis, bindings and boots have to practice this sport safely and effectively? Learn the fundamentals of the equipment
Go up with your skis on and go down on immaculate slopes surrounded by nature. This is it ski mountaineeringa discipline that combines the Alpine skiing With the’Mountain climbing, and which allows athletes to explore the mountains with unique freedom and independence. In this guide, we will explore the basic equipment necessary to practice this sport safely and effectively.
the choice of skis
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Backcountry skis are designed with a focus on light weight and versatility, as they must tackle a variety of conditions and terrain in a single excursion. The relationship between weight, width and structure of the auction is the key to allowing minimal effort during the climb, allowing the skier to save energy for the descents, but at the same time as ensure safety and fun downhill. For those who are purchasing for the first time, the The categories into which the proposals are divided take into account the style of excursion what are you looking for. Starting from the extreme examples, we then go from wide skis over 100mm with a weight of 1.8kg dedicated to those who prefer the fresh, deep snow (with focus on downhill fun), gli “vertical” racing skis which are approximately 60mm wide and weigh less than 700grams. In the middle, there is precisely the search for that compromise between the ascent and the descent, which can generally be found in a ski between 80 and 90mm wide with a weight of 1kg-1.5kg.
bindings for ski mountaineering
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Ski touring bindings must be sturdy enough to resist the forces during the descent, but also light enough not to weigh down the skier too much during the climb. Many bindings also allow for a walking mode to aid in uphill progression. Here too the choice goes hand in hand with that of skiing, from minimalist bindings (in jargon Low Tech race) from Approximately 200g for climb lovers to very structured bindings (“hybrid” or “plate”) and consequently heavier, for those looking for performance, power and comfort on the descent.
the boots
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The boots must be light and flexible to allow comfortable walking uphill, but also stiff enough to ensure good power transmission when descending. They have soles that adapt to both bindings and crampons and, here too, the difference in the offer is wide and reflects that search for balance between weight and structure that we have seen for skis and bindings, with “4 hooks” boots weighing over 1.5 kg to very light boots (600 grams) for those he wants to go very fast uphill.
sealskins
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Skins are essential for ski mountaineering, they attach to the base of the skis and allow the skier to advance uphill while maintaining a traction on the snow. They can be made in mohairthe fleece of the Angora goat, or in mohair blend – synthetic. The mohair It has excellent rolling and braking qualities and is very light and water-repellent for a long time, while the synthetic material has the advantage of being robust and long-lasting, as well as much cheaper. Taking good care of them extends their life (they usually last for around 150,000 meters of altitude difference, often even longer) and safety in use. This means check the condition of the glueavoid them getting wet as much as possible (waxing them regularly, to avoid the formation of “clogs”) and clean them with a damp cloth in case of dirt.
the basic accessories
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In addition to the “basic” equipment (skis-bindings-skins-boots), ski mountaineering requires a series of essential accessories. Let’s go, come on stickswhich must be robust to maintain theequilibrium and the stability on variable terrain, to the complete equipment that is also used in other mountain disciplines: a backpack, crampons, helmet, ice axe, sunglasses and sun cream. In the coming weeks, we will see specifically all the essential safety equipment (artva, shovel, probe, GPS, etc.), as well as some valuable advice on how choose clothing for ski mountaineering.
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