Easy Kick Turn Technique for Ski Touring

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Easy Kick Turn Technique for Ski Touring

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Күн бұрын

Learn how to make a good kick turn to make your ski touring more enjoyable! This is the easy way. The 2 common flaws to avoid when doing a kick turn while skinning in the backcountry are not making a stable platform and not lifting your knee as you transfer your weight. Correct these by watching the video and practicing.
How to do a kick turn and avoid the most common ski touring mistakes. When climbing up a hill on skis, or skinning, you have to traverse and change directions using a turning technique. Going up efficiently with allow you to descend with more remaining energy. There are two major techniques; the round turn and the kick turn. So what is better? A kick turn, or a round turn? Answer: you want to take the path of least resistance.
In this video, Backcountry Skiing expert, Rene-Martin from the Great Outdoors Learning Hub, is going to demonstrate the difference in each type of turn and how to do them efficiently. You will also learn about the 2 mistakes to avoid when performing a kick turn.
HOW TO CLIMB
You should always use the path of least resistance. Climbing up the lowest slope angle to conserve energy is the key to having a successful, energetic day of backcountry skiing. Practice these 2 types of turns when skinning up a slope in the backcountry.
ROUND TURN
The round turn, combined to long progressive traverses are the most efficient way to skin up a mountain so you can ski down the turns that you earned. It is a simple progressive change in direction that makes a nice gradual curve as you change direction. Little steps help conserve energy.
KICK TURN
The kick turn is more technically challenging then the round turn. It is used when the terrain forces you to change direction in a tight space. Professional backcountry ski coach Rene-Martin summarizes the kick turn into 6 easy to remember steps:
1-Make a nice PLATFORM before turning.
2-CUT the slope with your uphill ski.
3-TAP the snow with your uphill ski.
4-Transfer your POLES uphill.
5-Transfer your WEIGHT onto your uphill ski.
6-Lift your lower ski up and bend your KNEE to bring the ski up.
THE TWO BIGGEST KICK TURN MISTAKES TO CORRECT
The 2 common flaws to avoid when practicing a kick turn while skinning in the backcountry are not making a stable platform and not lifting your knee as you transfer your weight. Correct these by watching the video and practicing.
#skitouring #backcountry #skiing #golhtv #greatoutdoorslearninghub #bcski #backcountryskiing #skinning #kickturn #roundturn #goinguphill #climbingskins #skilife #thegreatoutdoors #skintracks #freeheel

Пікірлер: 42

@RobertJBallantyne 3 жыл бұрын

This (2020-21)will be my first season (ever) with a tech binding toe and not a 75mm duckbill. With my duckbill and G3 Targa bindings, those uphill turns were easy and controlled. I can see how floppy the ski is with the tech-toe binding you are using, and how necessary is that jolt you give to the ski with your heel to raise the tip, and then the quick rise of the knee to bring the tip around while it is still high. Thank-you for that demo... it will be one of the first things I'll practice this season. Next, I hope you will demonstrate the outside turn on a really steep slope. That used to be easy for me with my 75mm setup, but my buddy skiing on AT and Dynafit tech bindings could (would) never do it.

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Robert, this is Rene-Martin for GOLH. The teck-toe binding will provide a resistance-free climbing stride. The feeling is quite different than a duck bill binding. For the steep uphill turns, you need to use the kick turn shown in the video to cut across the slope and traverse. The slope in the video was 38 degrees; the camera effect flattened it out. I consider this to be a steep uphill pitch.

@thorstenreitz7302 3 жыл бұрын

Two tips in addition that make kick turns more efficient: 1. For the platform, reduce the slope angle that you're going upward at. This reduces the risk that you slide back or that your platform collapses. 2. When you turn the first ski, place your feet close to each other. This requires more flexibility in the hips, but reduces the effort required for transitioning your weight from the second to the first ski a lot, and again it reduces the risk of sliding back. In this video, the instructor actually places the feet quite far away from eahc other, which is less stable and which I wouldn't recommend on a really steep andor slippery slope. Let me know what you think about these :).

@pietjepuk9408 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely agree. Learned back years ago in Austria to really place the ski's almost parallel to each other. So, not 90 degr, but almost 180 degr. Makes a small step, little weight transfer. Especially op steep slopes, this is helpful. However, the kick: yesss. See that go wrong many times.

@joebrady9829 4 ай бұрын

Awesome video, thanks for making it!

@sidecut999 3 ай бұрын

All good, however, on steeper terrain and for those of us who are less strong and flexible - ok, let's just say older - there is the technique of driving the uphill, kicking ski tail beneath the middle (under the foot of) the downhill, platform ski, and continuing to rotate the uphill ski as far as possible across the fall line. The two feet are then closer together, making it easier to transfer weight onto the uphill ski and lift the downhill ski off the buried tail of the uphill ski and to bring it around. Sounds odd but works well and lots of people do it this way. On seriously steep terrain there is no replacement for the downhill-facing kick turn which permits a full 180 degree turn across that steep fall-line, but of course this is less efficient.

@steventhaw3765 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your great videos! While making a 180 "kick" turn facing downhill is an advantage for me. Cheers, Steve

@kostapopov384 3 жыл бұрын

Really helpful information. And demonstration as well.

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it, please share with your friends that you go touring with. That way you can all be on the same page.

@m.k.7199 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent video. However, there is a third turn, another kick turn, but if the slope is really steep and you have a heavy rucksack, you need to make the platform, upper body rotated downhill. place poles behind you for support, and execute a 180 degree kick turn, and head up hill on your traverse.

@matprsf 3 жыл бұрын

Thank's for the tips!

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

You bet!

@ondrejrohon5696 3 жыл бұрын

You make the best tutorials, thanks man!

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them! thanks for the kind words

3 жыл бұрын

Oh my god I still need practice on those kick turns!! Great video!

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Let us know how it's going mid-season.

@beatle9090 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your tips!

@charles-louisallizard5630 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks 🙏

@hagvaktok 3 жыл бұрын

A lot of kick turns on a steep skin track is way more than 90 degrees [like to 150 degrees] and getting that back leg out of the snow and pivoted around can be a problem in deep snow.

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Doug, This is Charles for GOLH.TV and I think you will appreciate the bonus tip in this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pbuZmsaVr7Wohn0.html

@b3hmer 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. Great videos.

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them! If there is something else you would like us to share, let us know.

@davidlawton6220 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tutorial! It was cool and interesting.

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! More to come.

@kinimod178 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video! Good explanation and a lot of details! Have you considered doing a video on how to not lean back while descending? I‘m always afraid that I‘ll get stuck while leaning forward

@enricopedroni102 2 жыл бұрын

Facevo questo 30 anni fa!!! Senza fare video.

@GOLH 2 жыл бұрын

Quando sai già qualcosa, è ovvio. Ma se non lo conosci, impari.

@martin.feuchtwanger 3 жыл бұрын

I always thought t a kick turn was a 170° to 180° turn. See kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p8eciZOXt5zae2w.html&ab_channel=REI. Your turn is so narrow, it looks like you're lucky you don't land on your other ski.

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Hello Martin, thanks for the feed back. What you are talking about is just a different technique, not related to ski touring. Just apples and oranges. As for skiining up while touring, the kickturn angle depends on the angle of the slope. The goal is to keep a constant ascension. Cheers

@Larock-wu1uu Жыл бұрын

The larger the angle, the easier the turn gets. If you are able to do a 180 turn, you can always level out before the turn and stand parallel to the slope. Gives much cleaner technique.

@TonyHobbs 6 ай бұрын

I read in Chris Townsend book it's 180 how on earth my feet won't do 90 lol😅

@DaveMarkelPhotography 3 жыл бұрын

When you kick the first ski dig the tail under your second ski. Biggest problem beginners have is the first ski getting on top of their second and tripping them up.

@Hikebike365 3 жыл бұрын

I've found the kick turn in shallow to moderate new snow isn't a problem. Where i do have trouble sometimes is on steep well tracked snow that's hard or icy. The skins loose grip because your balance point is wrong or it looses contact with the surface because the ski is on edge - not flat. Any tips? Thanks!

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, make your own skin track. Honestly. Following an old skin track only makes sense if you are saving energy. I would make at least a new skin track to avoid those icy kick turns... and for a more technical tip, there are many. Make sur your skins are well centered over the skis. Change the angle of your first ski turning it more or less so that you are less on edge and more flat to the snow. Then, it’s all about balance really. If you put the right pressure on the skin, it will hold.

@aaronb1195 3 жыл бұрын

I thought this was pretty good advice for kick turns in hard-packed or icy snow: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o59lh5tn38fZXas.html

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

@@aaronb1195 This is a great tip indeed. I will try this for sure. Thanks Aaron.

@2003rikkert 3 жыл бұрын

Don’t be afraid to use ski crampons on icy tracks/slopes. You won’t lose face.

@KSNT-TheTaint 3 жыл бұрын

Would snow shoes be better here? Or is it too deep?

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Snow shoes are sometimes faster as you can climb steeper, in a straight line. But they are definitely not a good travelling tools in the mountains compaired to skis as they don't glide, don't traverse good, harder on balance and much more cons. I've guided a few very talented snowboarders that liked snowshoing better, and they rocked so it can be done. In my experience, it's just way harder almost all the time.

@endrezalan8462 3 жыл бұрын

Duude your kick turn sucks ballZ... You put so much energy into it, you would be tired by the third turn...also let's not talk about how much extra pressure you make on the snow pack and how dangerous can that be in an avalanche terrain

@GOLH 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah! Balls of chocolate cake! 'cause those are gooood. If you think your kick turn will send down a slab, then I would definitely not go there. Cheers.

@endrezalan8462 3 жыл бұрын

@@GOLH well then go have fun riding on a flat terrain, Mr. noob, it is safer for you...