Skiing
Archive
Outside’s ethics guru on whether we should prioritize uphill or downhill traffic in the backcountry
It aims to simplify and speed up rescues
The untold story of why a generation of dreamers abandoned promising lives to deliver pizza and chase their wildest powder dreams
Skiers Lexi duPont and Drew Tabke seek out ski lines from the air
Mountain guide Mark Smiley released a digital snow safety course. Here’s how it stacks up to the real thing.
The chairlift’s single greatest quality is the sense of community it creates on the mountain
Are your skis the best tool for the season you want, or the season you have? An impassioned argument for thin-waisted planks.
We’ve been testing skis for decades. These are our all-time favorites for groomers, backcountry bowls, and everything in between.
The magnetic MFI system keeps your face covered without fogging up
The legendary filmmaker pioneered the stoke film and helped create skiing’s counterculture, but ‘Ski Bum’ on Discovery+ shows how his life behind the scenes was anything but easy
An avalanche is every backcountry adventurer’s worst nightmare. Know what to do with your beacon in case the worst happens.
And here’s how you can do it yourself at home, step-by-step
Professional skiers Tessa Treadway and Izzy Lynch venture through the mountains to unload the weight of life
The nonprofit Skiku has brought nordic skiing to thousands of Native kids in Alaska, where access to the sport has historically been limited
A massive storm led to a record-breaking 60-hour shutdown at Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon last weekend, followed by a day of private skiing exclusively for those already in the area
How to stay fueled and warm on the slopes without looking like a total nerd
Long stigmatized in the United States, wider adoption of guided backcountry skiing will boost knowledge, reduce gatekeeping, and promote human-powered skiing on public lands
When an avalanche killed Caroline Gleich’s brother, it didn’t end her pro skiing dreams. But it did change her approach to the mountains.
Two Yosemite locals just made the first summit-to-Valley ski descent of the iconic feature
From the outside, things seemed perfect for the former world extreme skiing champion: he had a family, a successful guiding business, and unending adventure out his front door in Valdez, Alaska. But something dark festered beneath the surface.
It’s 2021. Let’s retire the cringeworthy label already.
For a small weight penalty, the new system offers tech-pin efficiency and pro-level descending. Outside spent the past 11 months testing it.
Volatile weather has created dangerous conditions for backcountry skiers and set up the West for a bad water year. With climate change exacerbating the situation, it’s time to start assuming the worst for our winters and making plans to adapt.
The desperate race to save a skier who disappeared under an avalanche
In an uncommon skimo race in New Hampshire, two skiers climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest—twice
A simple mechanism makes Julbo's Aerospace goggles effective and easy to use
This pair has been my favorite for seven years and hundreds of ski days
MountainFlow Eco-Wax scored thousands of dollars from a powder-slaying investor on the reality-TV show
A dietitian weighs in on our favorite packable midday meals
What should do you if an avalanche strikes? Pro skiers Chris Rubens and Greg Hill discuss basic scenarios and rescue techniques.
Pro skiers Chris Rubens and Greg Hill show us how to use safety gear for backcountry skiing
New to using skins? Pro skiers Greg Hill and Leah Evans discuss basic uphill techniques.
Ten years ago, heli-ski guide Erin Tierney survived a helicopter crash and began a relentless journey of healing and recovery. Battling injuries invisible to the naked eye, she fought to reframe and regain her hold on the life she loved.
Light and strong have long been the holy grail of ski-design qualities—but have we taken them too far?
The revolutionary journey of this winter sport, from its origins in Michigan through the creation of the snowboard by Jake Burton Carpenter
The items we're using to stay outdoors—and keep cozy when we come in
Planning to tote your skis in the backcountry? Pro skier Drew Petersen shows us the diagonal and A-frame ski-carry techniques.
A revolutionary robotic device is opening up all kinds of new possibilities in the mountains
Interested in getting into the backcountry this winter? What gear will you need? Pro skiers Mike Douglas and Stan Ray go over the options.
Jacob Smith became the youngest blind skier to descend the Big Couloir on Lone Mountain
Professional freeskier Jérémie Heitz has transformed over his career and is now skiing 4,000-meter faces in Switzerland's backcountry
This season you're going to want an adventuremobile you can post up in at the base of the ski area. Here are some good ones.
Want to get into the backcountry this winter? Don't know what gear to bring? Pro skiers Cody Townsend and Josh Daiek show us what they take.
Base lodge closed? No problem. Turn your car into a private post-ski lounge.
Here's what you need to know if you're in the market to buy this season
Union members at Stevens Pass and Park City Mountain Resort want better wages and working conditions but say their parent company has dragged its feet in negotiations. If they still can't get to the bargaining table, could a strike shut down the two ski areas?
Need to know what to wear for backcountry outings this winter? Pro skiers Drew Petersen and Mali Noyes walk us through it.
Pro skiers Drew Petersen and Mali Noyes give a crash course in common touring gear
On Sunday the gold medalist became the first American to take the eight-day stage race in Italy
Since 1973, a groundbreaking organization has gathered thousands of Black snow-sports enthusiasts for a week of on-mountain revelry. But the event has always had a more serious mission, too: changing perceptions about who belongs on the slopes.
Our seven picks for cross-country-skiing trail networks that make for perfect, crowd-free winter outings
Sam Schwartz and Elsa Smith leave Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to discover an Oregon town where people live more simply
Know the risks, the terrain, and the gear you need before your maiden voyage into the backcountry
The backcountry is more popular than ever, but that doesn't make it safe
This Wes Anderson–inspired short film follows a small crew of skiers and snowboarders on the hunt for a legendary hermit
A creative, challenging at-home circuit to get you fit, no matter your sport
An all-women urban snowboarding group hits the streets to send and shred whatever surface they find
Fill your thermos and bring these warm mixed drinks along for après-ski, socially distanced happy hours, and cold-weather tailgates
The process of BASE jumping before the exit point
Last winter, when the robotics firm Roam released its latest version of Elevate, a revolutionary exoskeleton promising to boost skiing performance, our writer knew he had to give it a test drive. His analysis: the company's debut product is fun yet flawed—but its vision of a tech-assisted sports future will still blow your mind.
Get out there—it'll be worth it
This season we may not be able to have a post-ski beer at the lodge, but these decked-out tailgate setups will keep things festive
On skinny skis, access to socially distant outdoors time is easy. But picking out the right gear isn't.
If you plan to explore the backcountry this winter, these certified mountain guides will keep you safe, refine your skills, and bring you to secret stashes
Every mountaineer knows that getting to the summit isn't a requirement, but it sure is sweet if you do
A study from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center indicated something counterintuitive: experience doesn't always correspond with safety
After a challenging summer and fall, we're all wondering what the ski season has in store. Don't worry: resorts are working hard to open and ensure a safe experience for everyone, and there are plenty of other ways to delight in the white stuff. Here's the lowdown.
The legendary skier's latest project since retiring is an Amazon series called 'The Pack.' It's the perfect lighthearted binge to get you through the pandemic holidays.
Resort executives are warning customers that skiing will be different this season. I'm here to tell you that "different" means better.
Pull your van or RV into the cheapest slopeside lodging you can find: an overnight parking space
It's not as simple as you may think
Many backcountry huts are now available as private rentals, so you and your pod can have the entire place for yourselves. From Maine to Washington, here are a few of our favorites.
Come for the #vanlife inspiration, stay for the powder skiing in this short film about a young skier in the Cascades
Watch Kai Jones send it over massive drops in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Bust your gut like the gold-medal-winning cross-country skier
Skiers are claiming that there are issues with Pieps DSP backcountry safety devices
Fast tint shifts, seamless lens changes, and better antifog technology mean you can focus on your line
The right combination of power, finesse, and comfort