Comments on: Steep Skinning – Technique

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:08:48 +0000

Hi Aimee – Hmm, I don’t know about that and can’t think of why size/weight would make a difference. Perhaps if you weighed 5 pounds, yes, but anything over about 50lbs seems like plenty of ummph to get the skin bristles to engage with the snowpack. Are you using synthetic/nylon skins? Mohair and 50/50 mixes are gaining popularity in the US, but perhaps not gaining any extra traction. If your local hills tend to have steep skin tracks, as the Wasatch does, you’d be better off with a grippy skin.

By: Slipped, Again or Revenge of the Starfish « Notes from the Dry Side

Slipped, Again or Revenge of the Starfish « Notes from the Dry Side — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:28:52 +0000

[...] have decent skinning technique. I stand up straight, try not to break at the waist, breathe, and attempt to keep my skis flat and [...]

By: Aimee

Aimee — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:40:28 +0000

Hi Andrew,
I’m a shrimp. 5’2″, 110 lbs fully geared up. It doesn’t bother me. Recently, however, I’ve been finding I don’t stick to steep skin tracks if there is any ice present, and there’s always at least a bit. I think I have decent technique, but I’m sure it could be better. When I asked a few of the local guys what I could do, they essentially said it was my “petiteness” that was the root of my problem. Is there any truth to this? If so, do you know if there’s anything I can do to compensate? Thanks!

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:56:20 +0000

Hi Andrew,

Thanks so much for this info. I will try it next time I go out!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:35:58 +0000

Hi Yvonne – I know exactly what you are talking about. Oftentimes the switchbacks are the worst part of a skin track. I think I wrote something along the lines of “skinning outside the box” on straightchuter.com a while ago where I described the idea of going deeper into the switchback (basically breaking another 3-4′ of trail) and then stepping down onto the old track. As skin tracks get used and people stomp down the switchbacks to help establish their skis for the kickturn, the turn itself tends to get steeper and steeper, as well as slicker. The main thing to try and avoid is stepping onto the new ski/foot where it is placed in steep, greasy track – you’ll never stick. By going a bit deeper, you cut down on that steep section and also give yourself a bit of new, fresh, grippy snow. I’ve been meaning to make a little helmet cam video of this technique, so hopefully I get around to it this year… if it ever snows here.

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:08:06 +0000

I am new to skinning on my split board and have slipped off the skin track when trying to negotiate the end of a switch back on a real steep slope. Which leaves me in some crazy yoga pose face down in the snow. How do you weight one ski and get your other ski around onto the track????

By: tim

tim — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:41:49 +0000

Great Bloodhound Gang reference. Let’s see you work “The Ballad of Chasey Lain” into your next post.

By: Grizzly Adam

Grizzly Adam — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:04:07 +0000

By chance, I read through the steep skinning guides last night, and then found myself on a steep, slippery slope this morning. The tips and techniques you have listed here helped me quite a bit. As a newcomer to the backcountry I am still learning how to not flail about out there.

So, thanks!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:08:21 +0000

I did have Bela and I can see his point, but it is not for me.

PS – I hate cornflakes – pissed on or not. :)

By: Evan

Evan — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:28:45 +0000

Wow, I don’t know what certified guide pissed in Andrew’s cornflakes, but his generalizations about certified guides are just too much. I think that he is actually the elitist here! In my exams and courses I was evaluated to make sure I had steep skinning techniques, moving up slick, icy steep slopes at a 3,000′/hour. I almost always have clients use heel lifts as well. Granted not the top step, but the middles alleviate some of that leg strain, and I can put in a slightly steeper track than the so called guide 12 degrees. You must have had Bela as your examiner/instructor…every guide is different my friend so don’t paint us all in the same light!