Hairpin (ski technique)
As hairpin when is ski mountaineering and skiing a technique referred to it in very steep terrain allows to turn. Basically, you can turn against the slope or away from the slope. While the hairpin has long since ceased to be of importance when skiing on the slopes, it is indispensable for ski tourers, especially on steep ascents.
On the rise
When climbing, where the hairpin is used more often, the turn is almost always done against the slope. The skis are placed parallel and horizontally, then the ski on the mountain side is turned and placed so that the distance and level difference between the feet are so small that the weight can be shifted onto the upper ski. Finally, the downhill ski can be turned past the mountain slope with an impulse of the heel lifting the ski tip. If the leg is stretched backwards at the same time, the tip of the ski can more easily be guided past the standing leg. In flatter terrain, experienced skiers do not put the skis exactly parallel, but often in a slight V-position.
During the ascent, ski mountaineers usually switch from curves to hairpin bends at an incline of about 30 °. This can be useful in assessing the steepness of the terrain, which is important for assessing the avalanche risk . From this incline, a slope is called a steep slope . This results in the frequent recommendation to avoid switchback areas from avalanche warning level 4 .
On departure
On the descent, it is more the technique off the slope that is used. The skis are placed parallel to the slope, then the downhill ski is relieved and placed upright on the rear end. Then its front end is rotated and tilted towards the rear end of the ski on the mountain side. After shifting your weight onto the twisted leg, lift the ski on the mountain side over the other and turn it 180 degrees. The ski tips are now pointing in the opposite direction as before the maneuver. The hairpin on the mountain side is almost impossible on the descent because the touring bindings are fixed and the ski can hardly be turned past the slope. The hairpin is rarely used in downhill skiing, but in open ski areas it is used in particular on difficult steep terrain when a normal downhill turn is not or hardly possible due to lack of space (dense vegetation, forest, rocky terrain).
Web link
- Ski tour tips, mediadb.alpin.de (pdf; 8.7 MB)
swell
- ↑ Werner Munter : 3x3 Avalanches - Deciding in critical situations . Pohl & Schellhammer, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1999, ISBN 3-00-002060-8 .
- ↑ Risk assessment for ski tours . alpinisten.info.