Skialp or ski-touring? Let's go to the belts!

Stand at the bottom of the hill, put on your belts and make your way up. You will be rewarded with completely new feelings, views and, of course, off-road descents. However, whether it is as simple as we wrote it, that is what we are talking aboutthey talked withfans of the NORTHFINDER brand,successful Czech cross-country skier, ski alpinist and coach Pavlo Ondrášek. 

But first, let's solve a rather complex problem of nomenclature, which makes real ski alpinists foam at the mouth.

In our region, that is, in the Slovak and Czech regions, the expression has taken rootskialp, ski mountaineering, or perhaps more colloquially "go to the belts” apparently because only a few years ago there were really only a handful of people doing it and no one made it rocket science.But with the massive commercialization in recent years, real ski alpinists understandably try to clearly differentiate themselves from ski hikers with climbing belts. 

The difference between ski touring and ski mountaineering

Do you like hiking, but don't consider yourself a pro? Duringskitouringyou don't spit out your bronchial tubes along the way like in ski mountaineering. It isideal winter hiking on skis. If you ski well, love pedaling, moving in open terrain, skitouring is perfect for you! There is nothing more beautiful thanafter hiking, ski virgin powder.

Ski alpiniststhey passmore demanding terrain, where necessarymore experience and security. On the contrary, skitouring is a relaxing form of winter tourism on skis, the reward of which is downhill skiing.

Advantages of ski-touring

Pavel Ondrášek - successful cross-country skier, ski alpinist and coach

What are the differences in equipment, clothing and preparation?

"The most important thing is that he is a ski alpinist or a ski tourerwell dressed. Warmer clothing is used for ski-touring compared to racing. For skialp races, clothing similar to cross-country skiing is used, with small differences - belt pockets, etc. Equipment for ski mountaineering is different. During the races, the total weight of the equipment - skis, ski boots with ski bindings, poles, helmet, climbing belts - is taken care of so that you don't have to drag extra kilos up the hill.Racing skis are lighter and widerlike classic ski touring skis. 

It's ideallayering clothes, especially for beginner skitourers. The reason is the different number of layers during ascent and descent. In the mountains, you will often be surprised by a stronger wind, so it is necessary to take into accounttop layer. If you don't have a strong immune system and don't toughen up, you can catch a cold easily. Personally, I prefer not to be hot at races. When I'm cold, I prefer to speed up :) ." 

What problems do professional ski alpinists solve and what problems do beginners solve?

"It's mainly for beginnersselection of suitable equipmentappropriate terrain and abilities. Professional ski alpinists really only deal with the weight of equipment and good conditions for training. They venture into difficult terrains. 

If you are an advanced ski tourer and decide to go into open terrain, take themavalanche equipment - shovel, beeper and probe.  Overall, professional ski alpinists shouldknow conventionsago through them 1-2 times a few days before the competition. When I was at the cross-country race at Štrbské pleso, I came 2 days before the race so I could walk the track and get to know it."

Where do you train best?

"The best is in Italy. There is enough snow and an ideal altitude for cross-country skiing or skiing. The shape of the hills and their arrangement create ideal conditions.

Every time I prepared for the peak of the season, I had to be careful not to get sick. At the time of the best form, a person has a weak immunity, so I pay extra attention before the race so that I don't get infected and get injured. This is also why during my cross-country career I skied only after the season during Easter."

What do you need to improve in order to get among the elite?

"I mainly have to gain a lot of racing experience which is really important to progress among the elite."

Which routes would you recommend to ski tourers beginners?

"Slovak terrain has a lot I have no experience, but I regularly train in the northeast
Czech at Králicki Sněžnik, or I go to Praděd, Lysá hora and other mountains of Moravia and Silesia."

Run to mountains!

Don't know if skitouring is right for you? Rent ski boots and other equipment. Try it in Vrátna (Poludňový Grúň), Chleba (Trusalová) and other super skialp routes for beginners. For the sake of interest, take a look at the best skitouring routes in the world.

Don't forget your insurance.Before you go, see working with an avalanche kit. For your first skitouring, you prefer a 30-liter backpack pack spare clothes from underwear to a sweatshirt.

Basic equipment for ski-touring

You know where... We know what!

Choose quality clothing from the SKITOURING collection.

Do you want to learn more about the best pieces for skitouring? Read the article about skialp clothing and the most suitable functional materials.

Basic equipment for skitouring

• Light skis with bindings

• Compatible ski boots

• Climbing straps

• Telescopic clubs

• Ski-alpine helmet

• Glasses

• Headgear

• Backpack (up to 30 liters is enough) with the possibility of attaching skis

Avalanche set 

• Probe

• Shovel

• Avalanche finder

Clothes

• Quality underwear

• Socks

• Elastic or hybrid pants with good ventilation

• Insulating jacket or sweatshirt

• Insulating shorts or skirt

Additional equipment

• Enough fluids

• Quick sugar

• Dried fruit

• Nuts

• Sunscreen cream

• First-aid kit

• Watch

• Mobile

• Powerbank

• Dry-pack for keeping things dry
  

According to the difficulty of the ascent

• With the width and binding of compatible crampons skis

• So-called "harscheisen"

• Cats

• Climbing harness - seat, rope and ice ax

WARNING

WARNING