Skishoeing on Altai Skis

Nils Larsen, who emerged as a free-heel downhill skiing guru in the 1980s, is promoting 'skishoeing' -- a different approach to getting out on snow inspired by ancient Asian hunter-herdsmen. Outdoors editor Rich Landers tagged along with Larsen during the 2016 Hok Fest at Sitzmark Ski Hill, where Larsen and other area skiing experts shared the joy of trekking with a single long pole on the Hok, a short, fat ski with built-in skins for going uphill, downhill and all around. Larsen distributes the Hok and promotes the one-pole technique from Curlew, Washington, world headquarters for Altai Skis.

Section:Gallery

Wed., March 16, 2016

Don Portman, veteran Methow Valley skiing instructor, heads downhill through the woods on Hok skis.
Nils Larsen of Curlew introduces a woman to going downhill Altai Hok skis and, instead of poles, a single tiak patterned after the skiing setup used for centuries by herdsmen in the Altai Mountains of northern Asia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Nils Larsen of Curlew rigs a pair of Altai Hok skis featuring a build-in skin, patterned after skis used for centuries by herdsmen in the Altai Mountains of northern Asia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Gregg Markmen, an ambassador for the Altai Skis, helps a skier clamp into three-pin bindings to try out the Hok ski at Sitzmark Ski Hill near Tonasket.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Don Portman leads a group of skiers trying out Altai Hok skis at Sitzmark Ski Area. Instead of ski poles, they each hold a single tiak used for centuries by herdsmen in the Altai Mountains of northern Asia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Nils Larsen and Hok maven Lisa Green help a skier get ready for her first test run on Altai Skis.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Washington ski writer Andy Dappen, right, returns from becoming acquainted with using a single pole (tiak) for trekking during a Hok skis test drive with Methow Valley ski instructor Don Portman.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Lisa Green demonstrates using a tiak (single pole) while downhilling on Hok skis in tight, brushy terrain.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A skier takes off to demo a pair of Hok skis and a tiak (single pole) during the Feb. 6, 2016, Hok Fest at Sitzmark Ski Hill near Tonasket, Washington.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Nils Larsen and Lisa Green ham it up during a demo of Hok skis during the Feb. 6, 2016, Hok Fest at Sitzmark Ski Hill near Tonasket, Washington

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Altai Skis ambassador Gregg Markmen set up a Irene Kuhlmann in the universal bindings option for a Hok skis demo in her winter boots. Kuhlmann, 88, has been a regular at Sitzmark Ski Area near Tonasket, Washington, with her kids, grandkids and great grandkids since the 1950s.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Stetson tries out the Ballahoks, the kids' version of the Hok made by Altai Skis. Stetson, age 2, was the youngest participant at the Hok Fest at Sitzmark Ski Hill.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Nils Larsen of Curlew introduces a woman to going downhill Altai Hok skis and, instead of poles, a single tiak patterned after the skiing setup used for centuries by herdsmen in the Altai Mountains of northern Asia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A skier demos a pair of Hok skis and a tiak (single pole) during the Feb. 6, 2016, Hok Fest at Sitzmark Ski Hill near Tonasket, Washington.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Some of the participants in the 2016 Hok Fest with Altai Skis at Sitzmark Ski Hill near Tonasket gather for a group photo.

J. Foster Fanning
Nils Larsen, a free-heel skiing guru based in Curlew, Washington, demonstrates impressive downhill technique on Altai Hok skis and and single tiak patterned after the skiing setup used for centuries by herdsmen in the Altai Mountains of northern Asia.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Nils Larsen sets out on a quiet skishoeing trek through the winter woods on his Hok skis. "This is where they shine," he said. "Getting out and discovering a piece of pocket backcountry."

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review