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Ski touring is a
combination of classic
cross-country skiing, hiking,
orienteering and mountain
climbing on natural, less ac-
cessible slopes. Ski touring
does not require cable cars
and ski lifts and the best ter-
rain for this kind of winter
activity are wilderness areas
with lots of snow and major
differences in altitudes;
sites where there is virtually
no civilisation, dominated
by complete silence punctu-
ated by the occasional howl-
ing of the wind and the roar
of the forest.
This sport has
branched out in Alpine
countries – where a wide
network of mountain lodg-
es and boarding homes
have been built to cater for
hundreds of thousands of
off-piste tour skiers – while
in Serbia it attracts increas-
ing numbers of followers
each season. From the be-
ginning of every December
organized groups head out
to mountain ridges and ski
touring routes.
The most well-known
route for ski touring in
Serbia runs from the city of
Kraljevo to the Kopaonik
tourist centre, via the moun-
tains of Goč and Željin.
Traversing this route takes
at least two days and it is
known for the large number
of roe deer and stags that
tourists encounter. The
whole Mount Kopaonik
area is extremely attrac-
tive for tour skiers, includ-
ing Studena Mountain’s
Kavgali, Stolovi and the
Kopaonik massif itself.
Ski touring develops
physical fitness and mental
stability. For those possess-
ing the skills to enter the
wilderness, the experience
is indescribable. A fit tour
skier can travel great dis-
tances in a single day, trav-
elling much faster than on
foot. Here skiers have the
opportunity to experience
a sense of isolation, so rare
in the modern world.
Ski touring comprises
two segments: uphill and
downhill - classic skiing.
The uphill section is similar
to hiking, with the ski heels
“withdrawn”, like in Nordic
Telemark skiing, and slid-
ing over deep snow. This
sport’s slightly wider and
longer skis allow climb-
ing skiers to avoid falling
more than 20 cm into the
even the lightest snow.
This saves strength while
carving a pathway through
the snow, while the fact ski
touring is most commonly
a group activity means all
participants follow the path,
while the leader of the col-
umn is alternated at regular
intervals. The ski binding
for the heel of the skier
must be free during uphill
sections. The ski touring
binding has two positions:
Turno skijaši mogu se susresti
sa planinskom faunom, kao na
fotografiji ovih divljih konja sa
planine Stolovi
e
Tour skiers can come across
mountain fauna, as in this pho-
to of wild horses from Stolovi
Mountain
Najpoznatija putanja za turno
skijanje u Srbiji je tura od Kraljeva
do turističkog centra Kopaonik,
preko planina Goč i Željin.
e
The
most well-known route for ski
touring in Serbia runs from the city
of Kraljevo to the Kopaonik tourist
centre, via the mountains of Goč
and Željin.
Photo:
Miloš Radević
