Touring on a Fat Ski Technique

[skibum93]

I'm a second year backcountry skier rocking Athlete flex Fat-ypus D'Riddums (118mm underfoot) with Marker Kingpins. If it makes any difference, the D'Riddums are a 5 dimensional ski (similar to a JJ), so they have more sidecut.
The ski tours fine when going directly up a slope, but I'm really struggling with the technique when going across a hill with any sort of angle.
For reference, I was touring in the Loveland resort, so really wind scoured hard snow.

This probably is situation dependent but as a general rule for a ski this large is it better to:

A) Keep the ski flat on the slope the whole time and stay upright by tweaking my core


B) Keep my body position totally upright and use the edge to dig into the snow. For this position the majority of the skin is off the snow, and it makes my knees nervous, so not sure about it.


C) Any idea that's actually better



I know this isn't the most economic touring setup and any ideas would be much appreciated.

[Skidog]

go straight up...

[Meadow Skipper]

use narrower skis on hard snow...

[MagnificentUnicorn]

use narrower skis on hard snow...

Use narrower skis in general for ski touring. Unless you know everything will be deep and soft keep it to 100-105 underfoot IMO.

[XXX-er]

be in really good shape ... fat skis are fucking heavy

[gregL]

Narrower skis with less sidecut work way better for sidehilling on firm snow. If you don't believe us or aren't willing to buy a new setup right away, there are ski crampons.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

1) Roll your ankles downhill to get more skin surface on the snow.

2) Sliding (not lifting) your ski forward then stomping your heel slightly can also help your skis/skins/edges sink in just a bit and give you more grip.

3) All of this is easier, and frankly more comfortable, on narrower skis.

[plugboots]

^^^This and everything's a trade off. Fat skis ain't so good on the firm.

[PNWbrit]

1) Roll your ankles downhill to get more skin surface on the snow.

2) Sliding (not lifting) your ski forward then stomping your heel slightly can also help your skis/skins/edges sink in just a bit and give you more grip.

3) All of this is easier, and frankly more comfortable, on narrower skis.

Good advice.

....and just practice.

[Ottime]

Talk it to Tech Talk jongs

What has happened to this place??

[mall walker]

1) Roll your ankles downhill to get more skin surface on the snow.

2) Sliding (not lifting) your ski forward then stomping your heel slightly can also help your skis/skins/edges sink in just a bit and give you more grip.

3) All of this is easier, and frankly more comfortable, on narrower skis.

Yeah... on firm snow maximize skin contact. You can also angle your skis more uphill while still moving more sideways, since on very firm snow you're usually not staying in a specific skintrack anyway. Like this http://straightchuter.com/skinning-tricks-crabbing/

[skibum93]

Yeah... on firm snow maximize skin contact. You can also angle your skis more uphill while still moving more sideways, since on very firm snow you're usually not staying in a specific skintrack anyway. Like this http://straightchuter.com/skinning-tricks-crabbing/

Thanks for this resource! Yeah I can't afford another setup, so this tip is super helpful.

Talk it to Tech Talk jongs What has happened to this place??

I'm asking about how to improve technique, not change gear, so that's why I posted here.

1) Roll your ankles downhill to get more skin surface on the snow.

2) Sliding (not lifting) your ski forward then stomping your heel slightly can also help your skis/skins/edges sink in just a bit and give you more grip.

3) All of this is easier, and frankly more comfortable, on narrower skis.

Thanks. I'll work on the ankles

[LightRanger]

Yeah... on firm snow maximize skin contact. You can also angle your skis more uphill while still moving more sideways, since on very firm snow you're usually not staying in a specific skintrack anyway. Like this http://straightchuter.com/skinning-tricks-crabbing/

Read the first post or two and thought, "That McLean trick would be helpful here." Googled the link, and then saw you already posted it.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Talk it to Tech Talk jongs

What has happened to this place??

I'm asking about how to improve technique, not change gear, so that's why I posted here.

Thanks. I'll work on the ankles

See where you posted "technique"? That applies to "tech" talk.

[cloud cult]

Also ski crampons would help.

[Ottime]

This is what happens when there are no rules. I came here for stoke, and I get this thread.

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...arison-of-Both

[brutah]

For reference, I was touring in the Loveland resort, so really wind scoured hard snow.

Have you tried the ski lifts at Loveland???
I was really slow until I realized I didn't have to walk up the slopes and that I could just ride the lifts.

[yeahman]

Yeah, put this in Tech Talk where the last post is like a month ago. That way nobody will ever see it. Great idea.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Yeah, put this in Tech Talk where the last post is like a month ago........

not even close ...... TT is poppin'

[mall walker]

yeah TT last post is 41m ago as I write this... that forum is alive and well

[pfluffenmeister]

Talk it to Tech Talk jongs

What has happened to this place??

Fuck, that's where I thought I was at?!?

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Yeah, put this in Tech Talk where the last post is like a month ago. That way nobody will ever see it. Great idea.

Yeah man

[raisingarizona13]

You might be able to cut back your skins a few mm to expose more edge.

Get some ski crampons, here on the Peaks you can't get by without them.

Don't tweak your core, that will get ugly.

[yeahman]

Yeah man

FTW