Skiing that combines beauty and grace?  Telemark skiing makes onlookers heads turn and eyes peer at every knee bend, heel lift and rhythmic es turn.  An avid telemark skier frees their heel as they gracefully, rhythmically, descend down a ski slope.

 It’s definitely a physically demanding sport as its best described as doing squats as you ski, downhill. As K2 is quoted saying ‘if it were easy, it would be called snowboarding’. 

 Telemark skiing remains a minority sport, despite the improvement in equipment and ultimately in where the telemark ski can take you.  The telemark ski turn originated in a region in Sweden, called the Telemark region, in the late 1800’s.   In the early 1900’s north Americans adapted the sport modifying Nordic skiing on slopes. 

In the 1980’s telemark skis looked similar to alpine skis, yet used a soft leather boot, similar to a Nordic ski.  Boots were originally made with three pin holes at the bottom of the front of the boot which would secure into pin bindings.  This is why telemark skiers are often referred to as “pinheads”.  The early 1990’s marked the beginning of the firmer, stiffer boot still offering flexibility demanded by the telemark turn. Some telemarkers are still using the soft leather boot, but the most commonly sought after boot is made of polymer, creating a stiff boot with flexibility built in the forefoot of the boot.

Discover the Elektra Mg Wmns Tele Boots by Garmont (shown here to the right)

Now, cable bindings allow the boot to slide in (without the pins) while restraining the boot with a cable suspension system. This allows for more control with the telemark ski turns. Check out (on the right)O2 Binding by Black Diamond.

    Telemark skis are lighter and more flexible than alpine skis, yet similar in their width.  Most ski manufacturers are creating their own selection of Telemark skis since the physical demands of Telemark skiing differs greatly from alpine skiing. 

Access is not limited to the ski slopes with telemark skis.  Telemark skiing is also your passport to the backcountry.  With skins on your telemark skis, you can climb into the alpine, remove your skins and ski down on untouched powder.  Be sure to gear up in insulated thermal underwear, proper outerwear and carry survival gear
 

With great form and telemark skis there are no limits in snow country.  Free your heal.  Free your Mind 

 

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