What is Telemark Skiing?

Though telemark skiing has had a long history and has been growing in popularity steadily over the years, I get enough strange looks at the ski resorts to make me think that it is still quite a novelty to most people. Telemark boots and skiis look very similar to their alpine cousins, thanks in the large part to the introduction of the first plastic boot, the Terminator, by Scarpa a few years ago, but their most distinctive feature is still the free heel. The free heel makes possible the telemark turn, the most graceful move you can see on a snowy slope. Back in the old days (3 years ago) when almost everyone wore leather and telemark turn was notoriously difficult to learn, the ski community had created a cult of the turn. Plastic boots made the turn, if not easy then doable; however, the cult of the tele turn is still alive and well. At ski resorts, each tele skiier is checking out the technique of every other tele skiier -- it does not matter if they are better or worse than you -- every turn has to be appreciated. Another big part of the tele cult is griping about how much you hate the ski resort, how you would rather be in the backcountry. Granted, the backcountry has its charms, but you can get a lot more turns in when you don't have to climb the mountain first.

Common ski styles and equipment

Variety	length & width	camber (flex)	edges/bases	boots	binding	technique	calories burned	Best for going...
ski skating	short & skinny			high leather	clip-in toe		*****	fast on flats
cross country	long & skinny	double (soft)	no metal edges	low leather	same as above	stride & glide	***	on groomed trails
backcountry	same as above	1 1/2	metal/textured	leather (like hiking)	3 pin + cable	anything	***	through the woods & over the hill
telemark	shorter & wider	single (stiff)	metal/textured or smooth base	leather or plastic*	cable, free heel	free heel skiing: tele turn	*****	up & down mountains
alpine touring (AT)	short & wide	single	metal/smooth base	beefy plastic	heel locks to go down	parallel	****	up & down
alpine (downhill)	same as above	single	same as above	very beefy plastic	locked toe & heel	same as above	*	down the mountain

Big part of telemark skiing is going out into the backcountry where there are no lift lines (and no lifts). The best place and the best time for tours is springtime in Sierra Nevada. On second thought, it's a terrible place, don't even think of going there... At least not until I am all skiied out. The most important thing to keep in mind when heading off into Sierras in the spring The sun is intense. To be prepared for the adventure, you need lots of sunscreen, the strongest SPF you can find, and don't forget the areas under the chin and the nostrils. Sunshine reflecting off the snow can still scorth the skin.

A Well Dressed Telemarker

{-------- beautiful scenery (Ruby Lake, Sierra Nevada)

{--------- sun protection, lots of it

{--------- avalanche beacon (we'd rather not have to use it, but keep practicing anyway)
{--------- ventilation (get pants with zippers)

{---------- tele boots*
*skiis and poles are not pictured

Created 07202000
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kL