TELEMARK Ski – WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Almost everyone has already seen such a skier on the slope or out of the slope, perhaps you were interested in looking after because of the strange looking technique. This was a telemark skier. They have a very unique technique and the way of riding down the slope. Every turn, they make, is done with a sidestep and a movement of the knee down to the ski. Mainly because of this movement, they are easily recognizable. Telemark is one of the oldest and probably one of the purest ski technique, which has been evolving since it’s very beginning. In this article, we would like to inform you about the newest trends and products on the market so you can learn more about this Telemark skis at Shop Telemark Pyrenees.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT TELEMARK-TECHNIQUE?

Telemarking excels mainly due to the fact, that similar to cross-country skiing, the binding is not fixed. A special technique makes it possible, that the shoe is only on its forefront fixed to the binding. On piste, you can fast recognize a  Telemarker, as the style differs from alpine skiing: the inside ski is going to set backward with a smooth movement of the unfixed heel. During this move, only at the forefront of the shoe should remain above the binding. Experts call this movement the Freeheel-Position. Before ever testing to do free-heel skiing on the slope, it makes sense to practice it first not on snow.  For that reason you place yourself over the skis and put one leg forward and the other one backward. The body’s center o gravity should be found over the middle of the skis. With a jump, you can change the forefoot to come in the knee bend. A good advice is, that you hold a pole with both of your stretched arms above your head. That promises stability.  

Basically, you should start télémarketing on a very flat ski piste. As a first exercise, you practice crossing a ski slope in the bended knee position. And back with the other leg in exactly this télémarketing position. Once you can handle that, you can try to do some small curves.  Be careful, try not to overtwist the curves. Please keep in mind while crossing a ski slope the slope should be almost empty – for safety reasons. 

WHAT TELEMARK EQUIPMENT YOU NEED?

As in other ski disciplines, telemark also contains basic equipment such as telemark boots, special binding, and proper skis. Additionally, for a ride out of slope, it is recommended to have similar equipment for ski touring such as climbing skins, avalanche emergency equipment, and protective gear.

There is right gear for every person and skier type. Nowadays, there are two popular types of binding. Either there is a classical 75mm- binding with the well-known beak on the shoe or New Telemark Norm binding, shortly named NTN. Both variants are made out of the newest material, which offers new opportunities and best telemark experience. Telemark offers a variety of possibilities from skiing tours, telemark or when the conditions do not allow then also alpine skiing.

Similar to Alpine or Ski touring binding, also telemark binding is classified according to weight classes, and for every ski style and taste, there is a possibility to find the right product. The 75mm- is a known and old-fashioned binding and boot type, which almost everyone has learned to recognize or at least has asked why there is a “beak”. In terms of bindings, there is a great variety of offers. The NTN boots are without any “beak”; therefore, it is easy to differentiate from the 75mm- type.