Ski touring for beginners

When you go on a ski tour as a beginner, it is crucial that you can move at a steady pace over a longer period of time without losing your rhythm. Instead of focussing on speed, what counts above all is a stable core. Ski touring requires stamina and body tension, but you don't have to be a top athlete.

This will help you in your preparation:

• Regular exercise (e.g. cycling) is more important than intensity.
• Endurance sports such as Nordic walking, mountaineering or cross-country skiing will prepare you well.
• Stabilisation exercises with your own body weight protect your knees and back.

Our tip: take it slow! This applies to both the choice of route and the pace. Start with shorter, manageable routes before tackling longer ones. Move slowly and steadily up the mountain instead of trying to keep up with other tourers!

In our article "Fit for the slope", you will find even more useful suggestions on how you can optimally prepare for the upcoming season.

Read now and get fit!

Make sure you have these skiing skills:

• Ride safely on red and black slopes before venturing off-piste.
• Learn kick back turns and cornering techniques for narrow passages.
• Practise controlling your speed in changing snow conditions and poor visibility.

Of course, the technique required depends on the route you choose. In many ski touring areas, there are red slopes on which you can ascend and descend on your skis. Practicing your skills is therefore possible - you are on your way to master the technique just like a pro.

• touring skis with bindings and skins
• ski touring boots
• Adjustable poles
• helmet
• ski goggles
• gloves
• breathable, multi-layered clothing

Things to know about ski touring clothing: When ski touring, you are generally much more active than when skiing on the slope. You sweat on the ascent and cool down quickly on the descent, so the magic word is the onion principle.

To ensure that ski touring remains affordable for beginners, we recommend renting all the equipment you need for your first adventures from INTERSPORT Rent! 

Ski touring for beginners not only opens up access to a new world of overwhelming and untouched nature. You also have to make decisions about your own safety.

Especially when you leave the slopes, you should have considered the following aspects:

• The assessment of the weather, terrain and group dynamics.
• The duration of the tour, including possible obstacles, and the time of dawn in winter.
• Avalanche equipment such as transceiver, probe and shovel only make sense if you know how to use them properly. Familiarise yourself with it!
• When you leave the slopes, you should not only know the avalanche report, but also understand it.

We recommend this: You may not need it for your first few ski tours on the slopes, but as soon as you are travelling in the backcountry, an avalanche course is a life-saving and absolutely sensible investment.

Checklist for "dry training":

• Put on and remove skins
• Switch the binding from walking to descending mode
• Use the climbing aids
• Pack your ski touring rucksack correctly

To learn the right technique, you can watch online videos before your first ski tour. Most of it is basically learning by doing. However, if you want to get everything right from the start, we recommend special ski touring courses. There you will learn more about avalanche safety and other important things about ski touring.

You won't recognise a good beginner's location by its well-known summit, but by the terrain that gives you confidence and orientation. It should be clear, moderately steep and without surprises.

Until you have gained enough experience, it is best to stay close to the marked ski runs or on ski touring routes. This way you can practise in a safe environment. Once you have done a few tours and your technique is good, you can always switch to more difficult routes.

This is what ideal ski touring routes for beginners look like:

• Evenly inclined, wide terrain instead of narrow gullies
• Clearly recognisable route guidance, possibly tracked by other tourers (so called trending tours)
• Choose a route where you can turn round at any time and return the same way.

Where do you want to go? Europe is blessed with many areas that are perfect for ski touring. Perhaps one of the most beautiful ski touring areas in Austria, Switzerland or France is close to you?

Yes, by all means! Until you have mastered the technique and gained more experience, it is best to stay close to the slopes, ideally in the company of friends who are keen on touring. In many ski resorts, there are designated areas at the edge of the marked runs that allow you to go up the mountain without getting in the way of alpine skiers.

Ski touring on the slopes offers several advantages:

• You are safe from avalanches.
• You have the opportunity to familiarise yourself with your equipment.
• It's easier to go up the mountain on groomed runs than on steep slopes in the backcountry.
• There is no danger of getting lost.

Ski touring for beginners makes little sense on your own. Friends with experience or a course will make it easier for you to orientate yourself and give you a better feel for speed, technique and safety. If you are travelling alone in the backcountry, you cannot be rescued by friends in the event of an avalanche. At best, you may be found by fellow travellers who happen to be in the area.

As soon as you leave the secured slopes or marked ascent tracks, you need avalanche equipment. This includes an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. It is important that you not only have the equipment with you, but also know how to use it. This is best learnt on an avalanche course.

By the way: You can also easily rent the needed gear directly on site at one of the more than 800 INTERSPORT Rent locations.

Renting is usually the better option for beginners. This is because you get different touring skis, boots and bindings and can try them out at your leisure. Only a few tours are needed to decide which ski length, stiffness or shaft flexibility really suits you. If you start by travelling with rental skis for one or two seasons, it will then be easier for you to decide whether your passion is primarily for freeriding, summit conquering or slope skiing. Then you can make a more targeted decision for your first own touring skis. Last but not least, expert advice from our RENTertainers will help you choose the right equipment for your first ski tour.