Industry News
Ski mountaineering is where skiers make their way up to the summit of a mountain, then downhill-ski back to the base. It is a sector of skiing that has been growing in popularity since the pandemic. Until now, skiers have had to climb up the mountain mostly by human power unless skiers have access to a snowmobile, CAT, or helicopter. However, E-Skimo has developed a ski that can change all of that.
The E-Skimo system is designed to make the trip up the mountain much easier by putting motorized treads on the skis. E-Skimo’s revolutionary powertrain, advanced track system, and lightweight battery pack are designed to make climbing easier and keep your energy focused on the thrill ahead. At the summit, skiers can transform their gear in moments and ski down the mountain stronger with the energy they saved by using the electric-powered skis.
E-Skimo features a smart auto-activation system powered by advanced sensors and a 6-axis inertial platform. It intuitively engages the motors during your ascent, giving skiers the boost they need when it matters most. On the descent, it analyzes acceleration and slope data to refine skiing techniques for peak performance.
“E-SKIMO is not just a product; it’s a movement to democratize and enhance the ski mountaineering experience,” Ivan Mura, CTO of E-Outdoor SA, Ivan Mura, said in a press release. “We are dedicated to revolutionizing ski mountaineering through innovation and technology. Our mission is to make the sport more accessible, exhilarating, and inclusive, empowering more people to explore the beauty of the outdoors with ease. Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 is the perfect platform to introduce this to a global audience.”
Each of the two skis in the setup features a removable 20-Nm (15-lb-ft) gearless hub motor, a 220-Wh lithium battery, and a splittable snowmobile-like rubber tread that is threaded through the body of the ski. The motor units are each equipped with a 6-axis motion-sensing IMU (inertial measurement unit) and a GPS module. As the user skis up to the summit, the IMUs continuously monitor the position of each ski and the weight/angle of the user’s heel. This data automatically activates each motor as the ski slides forward, boosting the user’s muscle power. If the skier falls and lets go of either of the poles, a sensor in the hand grip of that pole triggers the motors to stop.
E-Skimo allows users to ascend mountain slopes up to 80% faster than they would on non-powered skis, with 30% less effort. One charge of the batteries will last about three hours of runtime, depending on factors such as snow conditions. Once the skier reaches the summit, removing the system and transitioning to ski down the hill takes less than a minute.
E-Skimo states that skiers can climb the mountain up to 80% faster. The company uses the statistic that during a one-hour climb of about 700 EG+, 4.7 kilometers an hour on a medium-difficulty trail (blue color as per Swiss classification). It also claims that the E-Skimo will allow skiers to climb up to 4 times the elevation of human-powered mountaineering. E-Skimo says typical skiers record up to 700m EG+ an hour. Non-trained individuals using traditional skis manage about 150m an hour. Skiers will also use up to 30% less muscle workout and energy consumption during the sliding step, based on bioenergetics research in ski mountaineering.
This could be a game changer for backcountry skiers wanting to try E-Skimo out to save time and energy. There has not been an opportunity for independent testing and reviews of the E-Skimo as of yet, but E-Skimo will be at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas showcasing the product. At the show, there will be live demonstrations, and E-SKIMO will hold on-stage product demos at CES on January 5 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and throughout the show in the Swisstech Pavilion at the Venetian Expo, Hall G, Booth 61033. Attendees can explore how E-SKIMO’s electric-assist technology parallels the e-bike, making ski mountaineering more accessible and sustainable.
