If you’ve been skiing in the Alps there’s no doubt you’ll have seen people ski touring. Those crazy-looking people going uphill on their skis. But ski touring is, in fact, a great way to explore the mountains and challenge yourself, all while burning calories and getting a healthy dose of fresh air.

Ski touring European Snowsport — Ski Touring is challenging, but it’s also social and fun!

You can learn to tour at any point in the winter, from early to late season, providing there’s enough snow. And there are so many benefits to earning your turns it would be a shame not to give it a try. For starters, it’s really good for you. Like going for a hike or a run, but on skis. And while walking downhill may be a little hard on the knees, skiing certainly isn’t. You’re also doing your bit for the environment if you forego the lifts (and the crowds!) for a few days and experience a more natural way of travelling uphill. Not to mention all the stunning views and beautiful scenery you’ll see along the way.

Despite popular belief, touring doesn’t have to be to be mega difficult. The average tour is about kicking back and taking it easy with a mellow ascent, lots of photo stops, a drink and a bite to eat at the top and then a fun ski back down. You can even do a tour up to a mountain refuge and have a fondue before skiing back to base. Short, mellow routes are the best ones to get you started, but after that, the possibilities are endless. Multi-day tours like the Haute Route, where you stay overnight in remote refuges, and races like the PDG are some of the more extreme examples!

It’s Not as Hard as it Looks!

If you’ve never been ski touring before, it’s easy to learn. Before you start you’ll need to have a decent level of physical fitness and be able to ski confidently off-piste. You’ll also need some special equipment; touring skis are fitted with special bindings that detach at the heel so you can lift them in order to easily walk uphill. You’ll also need skins, which are essentially strips of carpet that stick to the bases of your skis and stop you from sliding backwards as you walk. Often when you go touring, you’re heading outside the marked ski area so avalanche equipment and knowledge of how to use it is essential. It also helps to have adjustable touring poles.

Luckily, all this equipment can be easily rented from a decent ski shop, including avalanche gear. Now just to find someone to show you how to use it! Taking a lesson is a great idea and will start you off on the right foot. At ES we have plenty of instructors who are qualified to teach you the basics. Your instructor will show you how to use all the equipment, teach you the most efficient touring techniques and most importantly, keep you safe. They will carefully plan a route based on the snow conditions, the weather and your ability level, and will never take you anywhere you can’t handle. There are so many places to tour in the Four Valleys; there’s something for everyone.

Your first tour may be difficult (after all, you are walking uphill with a bit of extra weight on your feet!), and while a lot of people are put off by the fitness aspect, don’t let it scare you away. The fun is in the challenge, and you’ll always be rewarded by the ski back down. There really is nothing like the feeling of all that hard work paying off as you reach the top of a deserted mountain, knowing that a fun ski back down awaits!

If you’d like to learn the basics of ski touring, get in touch with ES to organise a lesson. And of course, all your equipment can be rented from Mountain Air in Verbier, Glacier Sport in Zermatt and Premier Alpine Centre in Nendaz. Happy touring!

Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons

So, you’ve skied for as long as you can remember. You go skiing at least once, if not twice, three times a year. You can ski all the pistes in resort no problem, and a lot of the off-piste. You’ve even helped your friends and family with their ski technique. You don’t need ski lessons anymore, right? Here is why you should still take ski lessons.

Not necessarily.

Even if you can already ski confidently on- and off-piste, you’re probably aware you have a weak point or find a particular aspect of skiing difficult. If you avoid black runs like the plague, always take the easy way out of the moguls or find your legs burning beyond belief in the powder, don’t just muscle through! Take a lesson. Ski lessons aren’t just for those who want to learn the basics; a ski lesson can focus on anything, from psychological aspects of skiing, like improving your confidence on steeper slopes, to the technical, like nailing your speed and control in the bumps.

In fact, skiing is such a technical sport that every day is a school day. The phrase, ‘Skiing? Completed it, mate,’ doesn’t exist when it comes to two planks. Even us ski instructors put weeks of our winter into training and making sure our technique is up to scratch. And that’s all part of the fun. But having someone around to let you know your skills are heading in the right direction makes the process that much more rewarding, enjoyable and adds just the right amount of challenge.

Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons : Technique

Efficiency is also a big part of skiing, so if you find yourself tiring quicker than the rest of your group, your technique may well be in need of a few tweaks. A good ski technique is all about getting the maximum output while using the least amount of energy. Maybe your body position is all wrong, or you tense up all your muscles when you ski? Book a lesson. Those few hours with an instructor could see you skiing for longer every day.

And then there’s the bad habits. Maybe you never pole plant, or you snowplough when it starts getting steep, or you always forget to flex your ankles. Book a lesson. While there may be no quick fix for these little niggles, your instructor will help make you aware of them and help you find ways to improve them that you can practice in your own time.

Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons : Goals

And finally, have you ever wanted to really push yourself? If there’s a certain off-piste run you’ve always wanted to do, or you want something more challenging than cruising the pistes but you’re not sure where to start, book a lesson. A morning or afternoon with an instructor will give you a clear view of what you can work towards and how to achieve it. Even if you’re in a new resort and you’re looking for someone to show you the best places to ski, an instructor will show you the best slopes to suit your ability level.

So, there you have it. Ski lessons aren’t just for those just starting out, everyone can benefit from a little tuition or helpful advice every now and again. And it can work wonders.

If you’d like to give your ski technique a bit of a refresh or you’re looking for a new challenge, get in touch with ES. We’re always available to pair you with the perfect instructor and organise your ski lessons to suit your needs. We also offer snowboard and telemark lessons so if you want to learn the art of the powder slash or perfect your lunge turns, give us a call!

Ski Touring is Fun: Why not give it a try this winter?

It’s Not as Hard as it Looks!

So You Can Already Ski? Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons.

Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons