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Touring Ski

A Touring Ski is a special ski that is used for ski touring. A touring ski is usually shorter, wider, and softer than an alpine ski, to make backcountry skiing in the snow of rural regions and unmarked slopes or pistes possible. It is also lighter than a alpine ski to make it easier to climb up the mountain. However, the ride comfort on a slope is not that good because the ski is not as hard and stable as an alpine ski. A very unique fact about the touring ski is, that it has an upward arched head that should avoid that the ski undercuts into the snow.

Material
Going uphill or across a flat requires grip, so that the ski will glide forward but not slide backwards when weighted. There are touring skis that require the use of sticky wax or climbing skins. Skins are removable pieces of plush fabric whose nap runs at an oblique angle, allowing the ski to glide forward, but not back. If the snow is particularly icy or the skin track very steep, then the ski tourer may choose to attach ski crampons, sometimes called Harscheisen (German). The special binding allows a natural walking motion while ascending and traversing. When reaching the summit or destination to ski down, the ski tourer can lock down the binding and make it feel just like a typical alpine skiing binding.

Video
Ski touring in Austria