Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Ski touring (or ski mountaineering, 'skimo') involves ascending slopes under your own power using climbing skins (grippy strips on the ski bases) and free-heel touring bindings, then locking the heel down to descend. It accesses backcountry terrain beyond ski resorts, offering untracked snow and wilderness. Touring demands aerobic fitness, avalanche awareness and specialist lightweight equipment. Ski mountaineering became an Olympic sport for the 2026 Winter Games, reflecting its growing popularity as both a fitness pursuit and a backcountry access method.
- Climb uphill with skins, descend on skis
- Accesses backcountry beyond lifts
- Requires fitness and avalanche awareness
- Olympic sport from 2026
In practice
Ski touring (also called backcountry or alpine touring) involves climbing uphill under your own power — using specialized bindings that release the heel and climbing skins attached to the ski base for grip — before skiing back down, which demands a distinct fitness and technical skill set from resort skiing, along with genuine avalanche-safety training given the unpatrolled, ungroomed terrain typically involved.
FAQ
What equipment is needed for ski touring that regular skiing doesn't use?
Touring-specific bindings that allow the heel to lift for the uphill climb, climbing skins attached to the ski base for grip on the ascent, and typically lighter touring skis and boots designed to balance climbing efficiency with descent performance.
Is avalanche training necessary for ski touring?
Yes — since ski touring typically takes place in unpatrolled backcountry terrain, proper avalanche safety training, along with carrying and knowing how to use a transceiver, probe and shovel, is considered essential rather than optional.