LEXICON: skins

Strips of fabric designed to attach to the underside of skis or splitboards to enable rider powered uphill travel. They have 3 main elements 1) Clips that attach to the front and rear of ski / splitboard to hold them in place 2) A rubberised top side covered in a reusable adhesive to stick to the underside of the ski / splitboard 3) A synthetic material (originally seal skin) whose fibres are angled such that they grip the snow, preventing the ski from sliding backwards down the mountain, whilst simultaneously allowing the ski to slide forward / uphill to ease ascent.