Key takeaways
- A kick turn reverses your direction 180° in place while skinning, without taking skis off.
- You pivot one ski to point the other way, then bring the second ski around to match.
- It lets tourers switchback up slopes too steep to skin straight.
- Smooth kick turns on steep, exposed terrain are an essential backcountry/touring skill.
What a kick turn is
A kick turn is a technique for reversing your direction 180 degrees while skinning uphill, done in place without removing your skis. You pivot one ski to point the opposite way, then bring the other ski around to match — changing direction on a steep skin track.
Why it matters
You can’t skin straight up steep slopes — the skin track has to switchback, and at each corner you must reverse direction. Kick turns let you do that efficiently in place, without slowly stepping your skis around or taking them off. Smooth kick turns conserve energy and keep you secure on steep, sometimes exposed terrain.
Skinning up a steep backcountry slope, a tourer reaches the end of a switchback, sets a stable stance, lifts and pivots their uphill ski to point the new direction, then swings the other ski around to match — reversing direction in two smooth moves and continuing up the next leg.
How to do one
On a stable stance, lift one ski and pivot it to face the new direction, then bring the second ski around to match. It takes balance and practice — especially on steep ground — but becomes automatic with experience. Kick turns are a core part of efficient ski touring and backcountry skiing, used with climbing skins.
The bottom line
A kick turn reverses your direction 180° in place while skinning — pivot one ski around, bring the other to match — so you can switchback up slopes too steep to climb straight. It's an essential, energy-saving ski-touring skill, and doing it smoothly on steep, exposed terrain separates efficient tourers from those who flounder at every corner.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kick turn in ski touring?
A kick turn is a technique for reversing your direction by 180 degrees while skinning uphill, done in place without taking your skis off. You pivot one ski to point the opposite way, then swing the other ski around to match. It's how ski tourers change direction at the corners of a switchbacking skin track.
Why are kick turns important?
Because you can't skin straight up steep slopes — the skin track has to zigzag (switchback), and at each switchback corner you need to reverse direction. Kick turns let you do that efficiently in place, without the slow, awkward process of stepping your skis around or taking them off. Smooth kick turns conserve energy and keep you secure on steep, sometimes exposed terrain.
How do you do a kick turn?
On a stable stance, lift one ski and pivot it to point in the new (opposite) direction, placing it down so your feet are momentarily pointing opposite ways, then bring the second ski around to match the first. It takes balance and practice, especially on steep terrain, but becomes a smooth, automatic move with experience — a core part of efficient skinning.
Sources
- Ski touring technique — The Mountaineers
- Backcountry skills — American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education