A few years ago it was still a niche sport for early adopters, but it has now arrived in the mainstream: ski touring is firmly established in winter sports and will not disappear as a trend anytime soon.
“The trend sport of touring over the last two years is stabilizing, even if the winter is a bit worse this year and sales are slowing down. But the products in the ski touring sector are getting better and better and retailers and brands are still very satisfied with sales,” confirms Ralf Jirgens, organizer of SkitouringPreview.
What is happening: Today there are different types of games that are evolving in the respective communities. Shorter tours at night and with a headlamp on the slopes are the ideal start for beginners. The pros can be found away from the pistes in freeride touring or in uphill and competition-oriented light and speed touring.
The target group has also developed and branched out: the communities are getting younger and younger, and women have discovered outdoor sports for themselves. Winter sports brands have adapted their range to this, for example with products whose fit and performance have been specially developed for the female target group. Another signal that ski touring has made the leap out of the niche sport? In 2026, ski mountaineering will be back in the Olympics for the first time in 78 years.
