A Swiss company is launching a technical solution that allows ski touring with electric support.
Getting up the mountain is becoming easier and easier. E-mountain bikes have long since found their way into the bike sector, despite initial resistance and head-shaking in the scene. Is mountain sports now facing the same fate?
Recently, the Canadian outdoor brand Arc'teryx in cooperation with a Google start-up, we have developed trousers with integrated climbing aids. So why not make climbing easier in ski touring too?
The robot pants Mo/Go from Arc'teryx
80 percent faster to the summit
The Swiss company E-Outdoor SA, based in San Bernardino, is behind the solution in the ski touring sector. The promise of the E-Skimo brand is simple: 80 percent faster ascent, four times more vertical meters per hour and 30% less muscular strain.
Provided by: https://e-skimo.swiss
This is made possible by battery-powered climbing skins that run over a roller. The system is controlled by numerous sensors, and the motor is powered at the moment the ski tourer needs support. According to the manufacturer, the system also analyses the acceleration and inclination data during descents in order to provide the user with optimal support.
Provided by: https://e-skimo.swiss
Future of ski touring?
Back to the question of whether a solution such as the one Eskimo presented, will find its way into the market. The answer is yes. Provided the solution works perfectly from a technical perspective, there will definitely be a lot of buyers. The number of people who move around off the slopes will certainly not decrease.
What do you think about battery-assisted ascents in ski touring? Write your opinion in the comments! ????
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Credits: Cover picture Eskimo
Times are changing. A few years ago there was a similar report about e-touring skis. But that was on April 1st 🙂
So cool! Finally! And the E-Skimo .02 will definitely have the GPS auto-guided peak app that will take you from the car park up to the summit and back down again, no matter what the weather! And really, it's about time to increase the climbing speed by 80%, because the battery life of the latest mobile phones was barely enough for the climb to the Laucherenstöckli with photo stops, GPS control, social media feeds and online tracking 🙁
If it wasn't still January, I would have thought it was an April Fool's joke.
Yes, the age of e-alpinism is dawning, let's keep up to date because we don't want to miss anything 😉 But seriously. Such "developments" are long gone since we only go mountaineering digitally in the form of avatars...
Sorry, I just find this disturbing!
People are becoming more and more comfortable…
I no longer see any connection between sport and passion…
That is my opinion,...but everyone as he likes/can...
I find this very worrying! How far should this all go? Sport should remain sport, people should earn the mountain experience themselves. There are and should be limits!
Where will this technological advancement lead? To the point where people will one day be too lazy to walk on their own???!!!
This is just shit.
The inventor also seems to be proud of his crap. Where is nature and environmental protection?
This only brings more people to the mountain who have no business being there 🤦♂️
If you are physically unable to make the ascent without support, how are you supposed to manage the descent, which requires just as much strength and ability?
But no problem, we just call the air taxi and let ourselves be flown comfortably into the valley 😉
A sick development, can only describe it like this
Oh yes, and how am I supposed to go down? The article says for the descent...
I'm not going downhill on touring skis! I'm going downhill!
Such a stupid invention.
We should climb the mountain using our own strength. Then we will have the strength and fitness to go down. And the climb is just as much fun as the beautiful descents.
I always ask myself why such half-solutions, I might as well just take the lift. I have also been asking myself the same question for a long time when it comes to high-altitude mountaineering. With porters, fixed ropes and xenon to the highest mountain, wouldn't it be cheaper, safer and more inclusive (because cheaper) to build a lift straight away!
Wasn't the exact achievement of redpoint climbing or free climbing that you set rules for yourself in order to have a meaningful challenge?
Or to put it another way, if any means are acceptable to achieve the goal, what is the goal still worth?
For all the skeptics…….
Every year we get older. Increasing age equals decreasing stamina and safety.
This technique allows you to enjoy a descent after a strenuous climb. It also carries the risk of overestimating your own abilities!
The inventor experienced this in his own environment (you can read about it on his page). Do you know the feeling of arriving at the finish line last in the group and being completely exhausted? And now the exhausting descent!?
Not a pleasant experience!!
I always thought that moving up was like getting older. The older I get, the further I can see.
I am just a snowshoer and will remain so.
I find this development (including the e-bike) simply sad. It will probably be unstoppable, as it is a symptom of our sick, narcissistic society.
Have everything – do nothing (or little) for it, or rather chase after the mere money and no time for endurance – so what – I simply buy myself, with my oh so hard-earned money, the latest technology that will take me to the top.
And it's exactly the same with getting older.
The most natural thing would be to gradually accept that our radius of action becomes somewhat smaller as we get older. Of course, that's completely unacceptable in this sick "forever young" society.
But yes – to each his own. Certainly not me…
When it's fully developed, it will find buyers and if you don't want it, you don't have to use it.