Alpine Touring Skis

At Telemark Pyrenees we stock a huge range of skis that can be used for alpine ski touring. Many of these skis have been designed specifically for ski touring, while others are alpine models that lend themselves well to being used for ski touring and backcountry skiing. Advances in ski design and materials in the last few years mean that many alpine skis weigh much less than previous models, so they can be considered for ski touring. Some of these "alpine crossover" skis weigh only a little more than the dedicated touring models, but offer superior downhill perfomance.

Ski touring has evolved and now encompasses a wide range of different skiing styles and adventure skiing. Sidecountry skiers only venture a short distance from the resort and usually prefer performance downhill skis. Ski Mountaineers want to climb and descend as many vertical metres as possible and count every gram: uphill performance is as important as the downhill. Backcountry skiers covering long distances will want a lightweight mid-fat ski that climbs well and skis well in most snow conditions, from ice to powder. Ski touring has always been a great way to keep fit and the latest trend is "resort - fitness touring" where skiers skin up the pistes or (better) next to them, then ski back down the pistes. These skiers want a lightweight ski for efficient uphill combined with a medium-stiff flex for skiing down on the hardpack.

To help you choose which models best suit your skiing style and touring itineries we have listed our skis in four "Touring Categories": Touring Race, Touring Efficient, Touring Free-Ski and Touring Powder.
Many skiers are also using alpine skis for touring. These are often only a little heavier than true touring skis and can offer superior downhill performance. To show these we've added the categories Freeride All Mountain, Freeride Powder, Piste and Backcountry Freestyle.

TOURING RACE SKIS

Narrow short skis designed for skimo (SKI Mountaineering) use and fitness training, when fitness means climbing as fast as possible. These skis are designed to be as light as possible. The international Skimo regulations specify a minimum length of 160 cm for men and 150 cm for women, and since every gram counts, race skis are usually these lengths, or maybe a few cm longer for additional stability / skiability. Climbing with these is fantastic, the minimal weight helps the metres fall away and the narrow sidecut helps them grip well in icy conditions. While Skimo competitors manage to ski these skis well in all snow conditions, it has to be said that these are not the easiest skis offpiste; the narrow width limits float while the short length reduces directional stability. Choose these skis if you're racing or a performance fitness fanatic timing each outing. They can also be a good choice for fitness skiers who will be skiing down resort slopes, the minimal weight makes them good fun on the piste....up to a certain speed!!

2020 TOURING RACE SKIS

ATOMIC BACKLAND 65 UL
BLIZZARD ZERO RACE
DYNAFIT DNA
DYNAFIT PDG
DYNASTAR PIERRA MENTA F-TEAM

TOURING EFFICIENT SKIS

Wider than race skis, Efficient skis have a waist of 70-85 mm, are lightweight and can be considered the latest generation of "traditional" touring skis. These skis are generally touring specific models with medium flex and medium radius sidecuts. Modern ski design and materials enable the manufacturers to build touring skis that are robust, that ski well and very light. The relatively narrow width means these skis tend to be very versatile, gripping well on ice and coping well in deep snow. If you're looking for ski for covering long distances, for a ski that will not be tiring when climbing since it's still light, then take a look at the efficient skis. These skis are also a good choice for small and lighter skiers who may find the wider models too heavy for pleasant climbing. We spend most of the day skinning so you need this to be fun.

2020 TOURING EFFICIENT SKIS

ATOMIC BACKLAND 78 UL
ATOMIC BACKLAND 78 W
ATOMIC BACKLAND 85
ATOMIC BACKLAND 85 W
BLACK CROWS OVA FREEBIRD
BLACK DIAMOND HELIO 95
BLIZZARD ZERO G 85
DYNAFIT PDG
DYNAFIT SPEEDFIT 84
DYNAFIT SPEEDFIT 84 W
DYNASTAR MYTHIC 87 CA
DYNASTAR VERTICAL PRO
DYNASTAR VERTICAL
FISCHER TRANSALP 82 CARBON
FISCHER TRANSALP 90 CARBO
K2 TALKBACK 88 W
K2 WAYBACK 80
K2 WAYBACK 88
KASTLETX82
LINE PANDORA 84
SALOMON S/LAB X-ALP
SCOTT SPEEDGUIDE 80
SCOTT SPEEDGUIDE 89
SCOTT SPEEDGUIDE 95
TRAB MAESTRO
VOILE OBJECTIVE
ZAG UBAC 89

TOURING FREE-SKIS

Advances in ski construction and materials means that ski widths that would once have been hopelessly heavy for touring can now be made with weights that allow their use in the backcountry. We call skis with waists between 85-100 mm "Free-Tour" skis., the backcountry equivalent of free-ride. These skis generally weigh a little more than the efficient series models but offer superior soft and deep snow performance. More width makes these more stable with better floatation in fresh and spring snow. Many of these skis are alpine models that also tour well, or high performance touring skis, and the downhill performance of many of these is superior to the lighter models. Free-tour skis are the best choice for skiers who are prepared to work a little more on the uphill, for skiers looking for downhill performance in all the snow conditions we find in the backcountry.

2020 TOURING FREE-SKIS

ATOMIC BACKLAND 102 W
ATOMIC BACKLAND 107
ATOMIC BACKLAND 117
ATOMIC BACKLAND 95
ATOMIC BENT CHETLER 100
BLACK CROWS CAMOX BIRDIE
BLACK CROWS CAMOX FREEBIRD
BLACK CROWS CAPTIS
BLACK CROWS DAEMON
BlACK CROWS NAVIS FREEBIRD
BlACK CROWS NAVIS
BLACK CROWS ORB FREEBIRD
BLACK DIAMOND HELIO 105
BLACK DIAMOND HELIO REACON 105
BLACK DIAMOND HELIO 95
BLIZZARD ZERO G 95
DESMAN ANETO 87
DPS ALCHEMIST WAILER 99
BLIZZARD RUSTLER 10
BLIZZARD RUSTLER 9
BLIZZARD SHEEVA 10
BLIZZARD SHEEVA 9
BLIZZARD ZERO G 105
BLIZZARD ZERO G 95
DPS ALCHEMIST WAILER 100RP
DPS TOUR1 WAILER 99
DYNASTAR MYTHIC 97 PRO
DYNASTAR VERTICAL DEER
DYNASTAR VERTICAL DOE W
FACTION AGENT 2.0
FACTION AGENT 2.0x
FACTION CANDIDE 2.0
FACTION CANDIDE 2.0x Mlle
FACTION PRIME 2.0
FACTION PRODIGY 3.0
FISCHER HANNIBAL
FISCHER RANGER 102 FR
FISCHER RANGER 92 TI
FISCHER RANGER 99 TI
HEAD KORE 105
HEAD KORE 117
HEAD KORE 93
HEAD KORE 99
HEAD KORE 99 W
K2 MINDBENDER 90C ALLIANCE
K2 MINDBENDER 99TI
K2 TALKBACK 88 W
K2 TALKBACK 96 W
K2 WAYBACK 88
K2 WAYBACK 96
KASTLE FX96 HP
KASTLE TX90
LINE PANDORA 104
LINE PANDORA 94
LINE PESCADO
LINE SAKANA
LINE SICK DAY 94
LINE VISION 98
MOONLIGHT EAGLE CARBON 95
NORDICA ENFONCER 100
NORDICA ENFONCER 93
NORDICA ENFONCER FREE 104
SALOMON MTN EXPLORE 95
SCOTT SCRAPPER 115
SCOTT SCRAPPER 95
SCOTT SUPERGUIDE 88
SCOTT SUPERGUIDE 88 WOMEN
SCOTT SUPERGUIDE 95 2019
SCOTT SUPERGUIDE 95 2020
STOCKLI EDGE 100
STOCKLI EDGE 88
STOCKLI STORMRIDER 88
STOCKLI STORMRIDER 95
VOILE HYPERVECTOR V6 BC
VOILE HYPER V6
VOILE HYPERCHARGER WOMEN
VOILE HYPERVECTOR BC
VOILE HYPERVECTOR
VOILE HYPERVECTOR WOMEN
VOILE ULTRAVECTOR BC
VOLKL M5 MANTRA
VOLKL MANTRA V WERKS
ZAG H-95 LADY
ZAG H-95
ZAG H-96
ZAG UBAC 102
ZAG UBAC 95
ZAG UBAC 95 LADY

TOURING POWDER SKIS

You guessed!! These skis have waists over 100 mm, loads of float and are the skis you see in just about all the offpiste / backcountry ski videaos. Excellent fun when conditions are right, fat skis are definately the way to go if you're lucky enough to only ski powder, and are either un-naturally strong or will only be climbing relatively short routes. While fat skis make skiing deep snow much easier, they tend to be harder work on ice, so are not the most versatile backcountry tools. These skis are also a great choice for lift-assisted side-country tours and heliskiiing. Nice to have a pair or two if you're lucky enough to have a "quiver" of skis.....

2020 TOURING POWDER SKIS

BLACK DIAMOND HELIO 116
FACTION PRIME 4.0
VOLKL 100EIGHT W
ZAG UBAC 95 LADY

PISTE SKIS

These are narrower alpine skis designed for use mainly on piste but that can also be used in moderate offpiste conditions.
Mounted with touring bindings they can be a good choice for skiers who ski mainly in resorts but want one pair of skis with which to also tour occasionally.

2020 PISTE SKIS

BLACK CROWS VERTIS BIRDIE
BLACK CROWS VERTIS
LINE PANDORA 84
SCOTT SLIGHT 83 WOMEN

FREERIDE ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS

The latest freeride skis are often not much heavier than dedicated touring skis and can be an excellent choice for strong confident tourers wanting the best possible downhill performance while touring. Probably not the best choice for beginners since turn initiation may be a little more demanding in difficult snow conditions, and the slight weight disadvantage compared to true touring skis can tire less experienced skiers faster.

2020 FREERIDE ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS

BLACK CROWS CAMOX BIRDIE
BLACK CROWS CAMOX
BLACK CROWS DAEMON
BLACK CROWS ORB
BLACK CROWS VERTIS BIRDIE
BLACK CROWS VERTIS
BLIZZARD BONAFIDE
BLIZZARD BRAHMA
BLIZZARD RUSTLER 9
BLIZZARD SHEEVA 9
DPS ALCHEMIST WAILER 99
FACTION DICTATOR 2.0
FACTION PRIME 2.0
K2 FULLUVIT 95 TI W
K2 PINNACLE 95 TI
LINE PANDORA 94
LINE SICK DAY 94
SCOTT SCRAPPER 95
SCOTT SLIGHT 93
STOCKLI STORMRIDER 88
STOCKLI STORMRIDER 95
VOLKL 90EIGHT
VOLKL M5
VOLKL MANTRA V WERKS

FREERIDE POWDER SKIS

These are powder skis that offer the very best performance in the deepest soft snow conditions. If you're considering touring with these skis then you'll have the experience, technique and strength required to make the most of the deepest untracked in the backcountry. These skis are by definition heavier and require more work when skinning, especially should you encounter icy traverses. A good choice for "sidecountry" skiing if you are lucky enough to live where it dumps often, and of course for heliskiing.

2020 FREERIDE POWDER SKIS

ATOMIC BENT CHETLER 100
ATOMIC BENT CHETLER 120
BLACK CROWS ANIMA
BLACK CROWS ATRIS BIRDIE
BLACK CROWS ATRIS
BLACK CROWS NOCTA
BLIZZARD RUSTLER 11
BLIZZARD SHEEVA 10
DPS ALCHEMIST WAILER 112 RP2
FACTION CANDIDE 2.0
FACTION CANDIDE 3.0
FACTION CANDIDE 4.0
FACTION CANDIDE 5.0
FACTION DICTATOR 3.0
FACTION DICTATOR 4.0
FACTION PRIME 3.0
FACTION PRIME 4.0
KASTLE BMX115
LINE MORDECAI
LINE SAKANA
LINE SICK DAY 104
LINE SICK DAY 114
LINE SIR FRANCIS BACON
NORDICA ENFORCER 100
SCOTT SCRAPPER 105
SCOTT SCRAPPER 115
STOCKLI STORMRIDER 105
VOLKL KATANA V-WERKS

BACKCOUNTRY FREESTYLE SKIS

If you're looking for these then you almost certainly don't need any advice!! These are pretty specialised fat freestyle skis designed to turn tricks in the backcountry. Great fun for those with the technique and stamina....

2020 BACKCOUNTRY FREESTYLE SKIS

FACTION PRODIGY 3.0 COLAB

FACTION PRODIGY 4.0

Other considerations:

SKI LENGTH

When skinning you need a ski that will be short enough for you to easily make kick-turns when climbing.
This generally means that the ski should not be longer than your height, and probably about 10 cm shorter. (Yoga helps if you're determined to use longer skis).
Skis with progressive tips tend to be longer and one needs to take this into account when deciding which length to choose.
If you'll be skiing a lot of powder go for longer skis, if you'll be spending most of the time on ice and / or steep couloirs then choose a shorter ski.

SKI BUDDIES

When touring it's important that the group has a more or less similar level of fitness and endurance. However there are always differences and the choice of gear can help mitigate these. Do you usually ski with skiers who are stronger than you? If so then try and save a few grams using a lighter ski, it'll make the trip more fun for you.
Always waiting for the others to catch up? Then you've a margin of effort to play with and can use a wider ski without losing speed over the day.

ALPINE TOURING SKI BOOTS

We've listed our alpine touring boots using the same "Touring Category" choices: Touring Race, Touring Efficient and Touring Free-Ski.
Try to have a coherent set-up with boots of the same category as the skis.
Skimo race boots are generally too flimsy for driving wider skis, and stiff 130 flex boots are overkill on narrow touring skis.
We hope this information is useful for you. Should you like some suggestions or help selecting the best model for your needs, please get in touch. We're here to help!!

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