Ski Touring Skills & Coaching

Ski Touring Skills & Coaching

Ski Touring Adventures
Season
December to April
Difficulty
4 / 10 Moderate
Duration
Choose the number of days
Availability
Dec 2026 → Apr 2027
Group
max 5 people
Ratio
1 : 5
Meeting point
We agree on the meeting point once we have chosen the area for your coaching days.

This trip uses our 1-10 overall difficulty scale (technical + fitness + exposure + environment). How this scale works

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights

  • Practise skills during a tour, then use them along the route.
  • Work on the parts you find difficult, from kick turns to changing snow.
  • Discuss navigation, terrain and the decisions behind the day.
  • Book one day or build on the work over several outings.

OVERVIEW

About this trip

Perhaps kick turns still interrupt your rhythm, transitions take longer than you would like, or skiing becomes more difficult as soon as the snow changes. You may already be comfortable with the skiing itself but want to understand more about the decisions behind a ski tour.

We work on these things while touring together. There is time to stop, look at what could work better and try it again, then put the same skills into practice as we continue along the route. Depending on what you need, we might spend more time on uphill technique and pacing, skiing different types of snow, or understanding how terrain, snow conditions and the group influence the choice of route.

You don’t need previous touring experience, but you should already be comfortable skiing off-piste. If skins, touring bindings and kick turns are new to you, we start with the basics. If you already tour regularly, we can focus on the parts you would most like to improve.

You can join for a single day or build on the work over several days. A longer programme gives us more time to include navigation, avalanche awareness and tour planning, with you gradually taking a more active role in the decisions we make together.

ITINERARY

Itinerary

  1. Section 1
    Starting with your skiing

    These are possible areas of coaching, not a six-day course. For a single day, we choose a few priorities. Over several days, there is more time to practise and take a greater part in planning the tours.

    We ski together and look at what you already find comfortable. If you are new to touring, we introduce the equipment and basic routines before adding more.

  2. Section 2
    Uphill movement and transitions

    We practise skinning, kick turns, traverses and changing between uphill and downhill equipment, returning to the movements that need more work.

  3. Section 3
    Skiing different snow

    On the descent, we work on control and adapting your technique when the snow changes.

  4. Section 4
    Terrain and navigation

    We use the map and what we see around us to compare routes, discuss slope angles and understand where a track will take us.

  5. Section 5
    Avalanche awareness

    We review the rescue equipment and discuss how the forecast and observations influence the day's choices.

  6. Section 6
    Bringing the skills together

    With more time available, you take a greater part in planning and pacing a tour while the guide continues to provide feedback.

REQUIREMENTS

Requirements

  • Touring experience
    Previous touring experience is not required. If skins and touring bindings are new to you, we start with the equipment, uphill movement and transitions.
  • Avalanche safety equipment
    For ski touring days, you must have an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe. Rental is available on request.
  • Skiing level
    You should be comfortable skiing off-piste in different types of snow and able to control your speed and turns. This programme teaches ski touring; it is not a first skiing lesson.
  • Fitness
    You should be comfortable spending several hours in the mountains and moving at a steady pace. The elevation gain, distance and length of the tour are adapted to your level and the objectives of the day.
  • Personal equipment
    You need suitable winter mountain clothing, a suitable backpack, water and food for the day. A detailed equipment list is provided before the activity.

GEAR CHECKLIST

Gear list

Required Provided Optional Available to rent

clothing

6
  • Gloves & hat
    Required
    Light gloves, warm gloves or mittens, wool hat / buff. Bring light gloves, a warmer pair and a hat or buff.
  • Insulated jacket
    Required
    Warm insulated jacket (down or synthetic) for stops, summits and emergency situations. Bring extra warmth for pauses while we practise.
  • Shell jacket & trousers
    Required
    Waterproof / windproof jacket and overtrousers (Gore-Tex or similar). Bring weather protection for the climb, exposed ground and changing conditions.
  • Ski clothing (layers)
    Required
    Breathable base layers, fleece or light insulating jacket, ski touring pants. Wear breathable layers for uphill movement, with enough warmth for teaching stops.
  • Ski touring boots
    Required Available to rent
    Ski touring boots compatible with bindings and crampons if needed. Let us know your boot size if you need rental. Boots must be compatible with the bindings.
  • Ski touring socks
    Required
    Technical ski touring socks suitable for cold conditions. At least one pair required.

emergency

1
  • Emergency bivouac shelter
    Provided
    Lightweight emergency bivouac shelter or thermal blanket for unexpected stops or emergencies. Guide carries an emergency bivy/thermal blanket.

hut

1
  • Overnight kit
    Optional
    Overnight kit for hut or bivouac nights: sleeping-bag liner (huts) or lightweight sleeping bag (unmanned bivouacs), spare socks, small toiletry kit; see the trip note. Only needed when a hut stay is agreed: sleeping bag liner, spare socks and base layer, and a small wash kit. Bring a headtorch.

personal

6
  • Backpack
    Required Available to rent
    Backpack with a gear-carry option; recommended size varies by trip, see the note. A backpack with room for the day's equipment and an extra layer for practice sessions.
  • Mobile phone
    Required
    Fully charged mobile phone for communication and emergency use.
  • Personal kit & snacks
    Required
    1L thermos or bottle, small personal first aid, snacks for the day. Pack food and drinks for the planned outing, plus any personal medication. We will confirm how much to carry for your route.
  • Sun protection
    Required
    High SPF sunscreen and lip balm for protection against sun and wind at altitude. Bring sunscreen and lip protection for the day.
  • Sunglasses & goggles
    Required
    Category 3–4 sunglasses and ski goggles for bad weather. Bring sunglasses for bright snow and goggles for wind, snowfall and the descent.
  • Power bank & cable
    Optional
    Power bank and charging cable to keep devices operational in cold conditions. Recommended to keep devices operational in cold conditions.

safety

6
  • Avalanche transceiver / beacon (ARTVA)
    Required Available to rent
    Modern 3-antenna transceiver/beacon with fresh batteries. Each participant needs a working avalanche transceiver. We check the equipment together before setting off.
  • Probe
    Required Available to rent
    Avalanche probe (240–300 cm). Each participant needs an avalanche probe; rental is available through us.
  • Shovel
    Required Available to rent
    Metal avalanche shovel (no plastic models). Each participant needs an avalanche shovel; rental is available through us.
  • Skimo Helmet
    Required Available to rent
    Ski Mountaineering helmet. A helmet suitable for the planned skiing is required. Available to rent through us.
  • Lightweight harness
    Optional Available to rent
    Lightweight harness for glacier travel or short roped sections. Required for glacier travel or roped sections if these are part of the agreed programme. Available to rent.
  • Whistle
    Optional
    Emergency whistle, often integrated into backpacks or chest straps. Recommended (often integrated into backpacks).

technical

8
  • Climbing skins
    Required Available to rent
    Skins cut to size and in good condition, with reliable glue. Bring skins fitted to the skis you will use, or arrange a complete rental setup.
  • Poles
    Required Available to rent
    Adjustable ski poles for touring.
  • Ski crampons
    Required Available to rent
    Ski crampons compatible with your bindings, for hard or icy snow. Ski crampons must match the bindings; these are different from boot crampons.
  • Ski touring skis
    Required Available to rent
    Touring skis suitable for ski mountaineering, with touring bindings. Touring bindings are needed for the uphill sections. Tell us what you already use or what you need to rent.
  • Navigation tools
    Provided
    Map, GPS device or smartphone app with offline maps and route information. Guide carries primary navigation tools (map/GPS/offline maps).
  • Ski repair kit
    Provided
    Basic ski touring repair kit (duct tape, cable ties, multitool). Usually carried by the guide. Basic repair kit carried by the guide (duct tape, cable ties, multitool).
  • Boot crampons
    Optional Available to rent
    Crampons compatible with your boots (if conditions require). Required if the agreed route or training session calls for boot crampons. We confirm this beforehand; rental is available.
  • Ice axe
    Optional Available to rent
    Lightweight ice axe for ski mountaineering (if conditions require). Required if the agreed route or training session calls for an ice axe. We confirm this beforehand; rental is available.

PRICES

Prices

  • 1 people
    €450 Per person / day
  • 2 people
    €280 Per person / day
  • 3 people
    €210 Per person / day
  • 4 people
    €175 Per person / day
  • 5 people
    €155 Per person / day

INCLUDED

Included

Included

  • IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide for each booked day.
  • Individual coaching focused on your experience and what you want to work on.
  • Planning and daily route choice, taking the snow, weather and group into account.
  • Practice during the tour, covering movement, skiing and the decisions we discuss along the way.
  • Daily equipment checks and a briefing before setting off.
  • Primary navigation and emergency equipment carried by the guide.
  • Flexible choice of objectives according to conditions and the level of the group.

Not included

  • Personal clothing and other personal items.
  • Personal technical equipment rental, unless specifically included in your quote.
  • Lift tickets and cable cars used during the programme.
  • Accommodation and meals for clients and guide.
  • Transport to and from the meeting point and any local transfers not specifically included.
  • Personal travel, health and mountain-rescue insurance.
  • Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses.
  • Anything not explicitly listed under Included.

Optional

  • All personal technical equipment needed for the outing is available to rent through us. Tell us what you need when you send your request; we will confirm the equipment and rental cost before you book.