TRANSITIONS- As Easy As 1,2,3...Removing your skins

“There's more than one way to skin a cat” or in this case, de-skin a ski. The following is one such way and is more than anything a starting point for speeding up your transitions in a ski mountaineering race. This technique can be adapted to any situation (racing or a lazy day in the “slack country” for example) and in one form or another, to any type of gear - tele, fritsch/naxo or Dynafit binding.
A few key things to remember - as you come in to the transition point/summit, have your pole straps removed and poles in one hand (so you don’t get tangled up) and your shirt/jacket unzipped so you can stuff you skins easily. Whatever routine you adapt, make sure it is a routine and that you practice and perfect it. While most people will spend well over five minutes farting around folding skins, you should spend less than 20 seconds!
Jane Harper, winner of last years inaugural Temple Basin Randonnee Rally and the 2007 Asian Ski Mountaineering Champs takes us through today’s lesson.
Comments/ questions are welcome.