Ski Touring Technique — A Practical & Fun Guide

Key Points at a Glance

• Don’t lift your skis when walking—push and glide smoothly uphill.

• On steeper terrain, load your entire foot and adjust the climbing aid to the slope.

• Practise the kick turn until you can perform it with confidence.

• For safety: Never use pole hand loops when touring.

• Improve your downhill skills by training on off-piste sections in the resort.

• As a beginner, choose a tour with an easy escape route back onto groomed runs.

• A guided tour or ski touring course is extremely helpful for technique and kick turns.

Walking / Skinning: Glide, Don’t Lift

Moving uphill on touring skis is surprisingly simple. It’s basically walking—just without lifting your feet. Instead of stepping, you shuffle or glide forward.
Your weight stays on the standing leg while the free leg is pushed ahead lightly. The skins should make that satisfying shhhrrr sound on the snow.

The moment you start lifting your skis, you’ll realise two things:

1. It costs far more energy.

2. You look a bit silly.

So glide smoothly, keep your hips open, and avoid walking with your legs too close together. If you do, your boots, knees, and skis can knock into each other and throw you off balance.
Be aware: narrow, deeply trodden skin tracks may force you into a “John Wayne” stance—helpful, but also a perfect moment to trip yourself up!

Using the Climbing Aid: Adjust Early, Not Late

Your stride length naturally adjusts to the terrain:

• Flat ground: long, almost cross-country–style gliding steps

• Steeper slopes: shorter, more controlled steps

Once the slope reaches about 25% or steeper, raise the climbing aid. This keeps your body centred over the ski and helps you maintain good form.

A common beginner mistake is leaning forward on steep sections. This dumps your weight onto the ski tip and causes the ski to slide backwards.

The golden rule:
✔️ Stand centred on the whole foot
✔️ Load the entire sole evenly
✔️ Match the climbing aid to the incline

Kick Turns: Your Best Friend in Steep Terrain

On gentle terrain you can walk straight up. As it steepens, you’ll zig-zag and perform small step turns on each switchback. These involve lifting the ski slightly and turning it before setting it down—perfectly normal here.

Once the slope reaches 35° or more, step turns don’t work anymore. Enter the kick turn.

How to Kick Turn

1. Stop at the end of the track where you want to change direction. Flatter is easier.

2. Stand horizontally and support yourself with your poles.

3. Put your weight on the downhill ski.

4. Lift the uphill ski, swing the tip around into the new direction.

5. Now stand with your legs apart.

6. Shift weight to the ski you just turned.

7. Lift the second ski and swing it around with a controlled downward “kick”—this helps avoid catching deep snow.

Kick turns require practice—start on flat terrain to build confidence. With time, you’ll move through steep sections more efficiently, securely, and with far less effort.

Pole Technique: Balance Without Hand Loops

On the ascent, your poles move opposite to your skis (left pole/right ski). They help you stay balanced, and on steep slopes, give you an extra push.

When traversing across a slope, choke up on the uphill pole to keep your upper body level—don’t lean into the valley.

Most importantly:
❌ Never use pole hand loops.
In falls or avalanches, poles can become anchors. If they’re strapped to your wrists, you can’t get rid of them quickly, which is dangerous.

Downhill Technique: Skiing Safely Off-Piste

To fully enjoy ski touring, you need solid skiing skills. The best training ground is off-piste terrain inside the resort, where you can build stability and confidence without avalanche risk.

Coordinate your stance and balance by playing with variations—lean forward, backward, or sideways to feel how the ski responds. Movements off-piste should be:

• Smooth, not jerky

• More controlled and tensioned than on groomers

• Tight ski position (skis close together)

• Slightly weighted heels—but without leaning back

• Use a gentle up/down leg movement to initiate turns easily

Challenging Snow Conditions

• Crust / refrozen crud: avoid edging; stay centred, keep skis tight, and use active flexing and extending.

• Heavy or wet snow: wide, rounded turns work much better than tight, quick ones.

These conditions are no one’s favourite—but with the right technique, they become manageable.

Ski Touring on Groomed Runs

When touring on pistes, everyone shares the same space—so rules matter.
Ski tourers must follow standard FIS slope rules to avoid collisions and ensure safety for both uphill and downhill traffic.

In Bavaria, the German Alpine Club (DAV), cable car operators, rescue services, and government offices have worked together for years to establish clear, amicable guidelines so that ski tourers and skiers can enjoy the mountain together.