Freetouring – the unique combination between ski touring and freeriding

For all skiers who love the calmness of touring but do not want to compromise when it comes to going downhill there a new trend has evolved over the past years: freetouring! The name already says it all, as freetouring combines classic ski touring with freeriding to enable a unique powder experience.

 

 

the drawbacks of ski touring and freeriding


Not only since Corona has ski touring become a huge trend. Tourers appreciate the peace and solitude away from the hustle and bustle of the slopes and love the focus on movement and endurance. They simply just love climbing mountains. The ski descent, on the other hand, is of secondary importance for most touring enthusiasts. That’s why classic touring doesn’t appeal much to downhill-oriented skiers, because while the thin, lightweight touring skis make for a quick and effortless ascent, they are no guarantee for fun in untouched deep-snow terrain. The thin skis sink into fresh powder instead of gliding over it, making it difficult to make fast turns.

 

Freeriders, on the other hand, want to enjoy skiing in fresh powder. However, due to the missing touring-compatible binding, they depend on lifts and are therefore limited in possibilities. They usually can’t reach remote deep-snow runs at all, or only with great difficulty and their skis piggybacked.

 

 

 

 

freetouring for the downhill oriented skitourer 


The solution for the downhill oriented skitourer that makes up for the cons of ski touring and freeriding is freetouring. This dicipline combines the best of both worlds. When you choose to go freetoruing you can climb the mounatin on your own and explore untouched terrain while at the same time not compromising on the way downhill.

 

 

With a medium width between 95 to 106 mm freetouring skis are much wider than touring skis. This width allows for a good ascent while clearly focusing on the pleasure downhill. The skis also do not sink into fresh powder but almost float over the lose snow. So when freetouring, you have countless downhill options to choose from because your ski can handle anything and you can reach any place. Admittedly, the ascent is a little more exhausting than with thin touring skis, but you make no sacrifices on the way down. Here, we have linked some options for freetouring skis for you:

 

 
 

 

Freetouring skis have either a pin binding, frame binding or a shift binding attached to them – this is completely up to you, whatever you prefer. While pin bindings are extremely lightweight when climbing a peak, shift bindings as well as frame bindings guarantee for stable support on your way down. Here at Sport Conrad, you will find the perfect binding for you:

 

 

 

It is also no problem to find the right skins for your freetouring ski as manufacturers produce skins in all different widths.

 

 

And now have fun enjoying the freedom of freetouring!