Learning to Ski Tour - Part 1/3

As I hung the phone up it dawned on me that I had just agreed to do something that I was entirely unprepared for. Quickly I had the computer open and was sending a hurried plea to my friends over at the Sports 1600 shop (just down from the Petit Onion pub – lovely croque monsieur, try it) for touring equipment.

I was told to come into the shop where I was greeted by one of the owners, Romauld, who set me up with a beautiful set of touring skis with top of the range Marker Tour bindings and custom skins. I was given a quick demo of how the bindings worked and sent on my merry way.

Recently under new management, the new look shop at 1600 has an incredible range of great equipment for a multitude of disciplines both for rental and purchase. They have a nice clothing range also, and, being the official Meribel retailer for the Misguided Fools clothing range, they are well worth checking out!

The next morning, myself and 5 other intrepid, overdressed adventurers convened behind the Tougnete lift station and waited for Mike, our instructor from New Gen.

Mike arrived, told us we looked warm, and we all jumped onto the Saulire Express gondola and made our way down to the Loze chairlift. Here we gathered and began to set up our skis for the climb ahead. It took a few moments to get used to the equipment we were using and it felt quite odd slapping these giant furry sticky pads to the bottom of our skis. One member of the group put his skins on backwards, entirely useless, unless he was trying to start a new trend in switch ski touring. The very patient Mike quickly corrected him and we were on our way.

We began by getting used to the sensation of sliding forwards and resisting the urge to just lift our feet up and walk. As the terrain got a bit steeper Mike showed us each how to use a clever feature on the bindings that allows you to bring your heel higher, meaning your foot remains flat even on a steep slope.

Very quickly it became clear that we were dressed like idiots. With about 40 layers between us, we began to deteriorate into a group of sweaty messes, trawling up the mountain. Jackets opened and a few layers stuffed into bags and tied around waists, we persevered. Despite the fact that we looked like the most rag tag group of ski tourers ever assembled, we began to make some real progress.

Next we were taught how to do the highly entertaining ‘kick turn’ which involves doing an impression of Bambi as you change direction from zig to zag on your way up the mountain.

We continued to slog our way up the mountain and Mike gave us various pointers to help improve our technique. The end of our lesson arrived and Mike had to shoot off to deliver a park lesson elsewhere on the mountain (a true multi-alpinist) but the 6 of us were determined to reach the summit.

The team pressed forward and after 25 minutes the end was in sight. Just as we began to take our final steps it began to snow lightly, making the mountain look just that little bit more perfect and victory taste ever so slightly sweeter.

Mike will be meeting us again for part 2 of our touring transition in a couple of weeks time and I can guarantee you that we will all be wearing a lot less clothing!

To Be Continued…