In reply to JFT:
> @doug - when you learnt in Scotland how long did you spend on piste before stepping into touring?
I started by XC skiing in the forests of Strathspey & later Deeside so in one sense, my first day on skis was touring (no XC tracks in Scotland) but on the flat/very gentle terrain. I guess my first 'mountain' tour was on the munros west of Drumochter but I dread to think how many times I fell, but my two colleagues were equally hopeless at the time and we didn't know any better. Initially I resisted skiing on the piste, partly due to the expense (I was a student at the time) but soon realised (or was persuaded, can't remember) that it would be quicker to learn the arts of turning in a ski resort (in my case mostly Glenshee).
But I learnt on XC/telemark gear in the days of narrow skis & leather boots so probably of little relevance to today.