Ski Mountaineering: new sport on the slopes

Typically lasting just three minutes, ski mountaineering races are
designed to showcase core back-country skills – uphill efficiency,
fast transitions and speedy descent – all in a sprint format


EQUIPMENT
Ski: Notched to quickly
attach and detach “skins”

Pole
Single section for
greater rigidity,
greater transfer
of power.
Long grip
handle allows
it to be held
shorter when
skiing downhill

Minimum length
Men 160cm / women 150cm
Maximum width 68mm


1 Skin climb
One-third of course
Fibre direction allows
uphill glide,
backward
pressure
grips
surface

Skins:
Originally
seal skins
were used.
Direction of
mohair
towards
ski tail

Underside

Bindings
unlocked to allow
back of boot to lift

2 Bootpack
One-third of course
Skis off, carried on
pack, run uphill in
boots following
bootpack line

Using full
length of pole

3 Skin climb
One-third of
course

4 Fast transition
Switch from skinning
uphill to skiing downhill:
skins off, boots into ski
mode, bindings locked

5 Descent

Extra light
equipment
for hauling
uphill – unlike
alpine skiers’
heavier gear
to aid gravity

Helmet
just 300g

Boots 510g


Sources: Olympics, SkimTrack, SkiMo, Dynafit, Leki 
Picture: Getty Images
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