Ice climbers often hike 3 hours to a frozen waterfall. The final approach is across a snowy glacier. With the Suki Ski Solo Portable, you glide across the flats without postholing, then stash the ski at the base of the climb without taking up space in your rope bag.
Because the Suki Ski Solo Portable lives a hard life (folding, stuffing, dragging), maintenance is crucial. suki ski solo portable
Using a mono-ski system requires a slight re-wiring of your muscle memory. You do not ski parallel; you ski luge style or telemark lite. Ice climbers often hike 3 hours to a frozen waterfall
Step 1: The Hike (Ascending) Strap the folded Suki to the outside of your backpack. Use the included compression straps. Hike in flexible, insulated boots (think La Sportiva Trango or Scarpa F1). Use trekking poles or whippets for balance. When you hit a steep snow slope, deploy the ski. Because the Suki Ski Solo Portable lives a
Step 2: The Climb (Skining) Place the Suki on your dominant foot. Unfold the binding and cinch your toe and heel down tight. Because you only have one ski, you will "step and slide." Your unencumbered foot (wearing a crampon or micro-spike) does the stepping; the Suki does the sliding. This is surprisingly efficient on moderate slopes (under 20 degrees).
Step 3: The Transition (Portability) Reached the ridge? Pop the binding release. Fold the ski. It slides back into your pack in 45 seconds. Continue scrambling over rocks.
Step 4: The Descent This is the fun part. Put the ski back on your dominant foot. Bend your knees deeply. Shift your weight over the ski. Use your free leg as a rudder—dragging your toe or kicking snow to brake. To turn, you lean into a carve like a luge athlete. For steep terrain, a "falling leaf" technique (sliding sideways, alternating tail and tip pressure) works perfectly.