I could turn last week, but not this week, maybe next week?

[timpete]

I’ve had same experience. I’m learning on light tele equipment with NNN-BC and I while I admit that my technique is a work in progress, small variations in snow conditions seem to change my abilities to drop a knee a lot. (Non icy groomers -> easy, consistent powder -> easy, pushed around heavy snow -> difficult, icy hard snow -> difficult)

One thing I’ve found that helps in inconsistent snow is to really try to drop low so my trailing knee is almost on the snow. So far, I can only do this on moderate pitches safely though, working to improve that.

With the understanding that 75% of my issues are technique, I do think that some of the issues I have are because Asnes BC skis are SO light and soft that they get squirrelly and knocked around so easy in all but perfect conditions. So I’ve been curious if going to 3-pin and/or a slightly beefier ski would help me. (I won’t give up leather boots, this is why I switched to tele in the first place, and I’ve been happy with how planted my feet feel on Alaskas.)

[bauerb]

it seems to me that many beginner tele skiers stand too upright. while it takes solid fitness to stay low, in my experience it creates a better platform.

[fisheater]

Late to the party, but I have been watching. It’s relatively easy to turn a (“turning type”) double camber ski on soft snow on an easy pitch. It’s another ballgame in other conditions.
There is a reason for the S-bound/Panorama class skis, despite the fact they should not be confused with full on downhill skis

[Manney]

Skiing is all about opportunity. Knowing when to charge and ease up. Not every turn needs to be a telemark turn to be telemark skiing. The climb and traverse are part of the sport too. Stick with it.

[greatgt]

like skiing high! Go low when there is a need for power. Figure it's a good athletic position and gives you options when trees are coming at you and there are limited openings. TM

[bauerb]

yeah, go high so that you have options to maneuver around obstacles that may appear in front of you. I believe thats exactly what Jerome Powell said last year when he started raising rates.

[mca80]

yeah, go high so that you have options to maneuver around obstacles that may appear in front of you. I believe thats exactly what Jerome Powell said last year when he started raising rates.

Closing the barn door after the horses are out, par for the course for the Fed. To be fair, there's nothing they could do--runaway inflation or cause a depression and banking crisis were the only options. They put themselves between a rock and a hard place by how they "handled" 08/09. And 99% of us will bear the consequences. Just wait till the spigot gets turned back on at full blast and all currencies go to zero except maybe a gold-backed yuan.

[Montana St Alum]

My posture strategy is to stand as upright as possible. The upside is that more weight is supported by skeleton, rather than muscle. Also, standing upright, with a tight stance enables much quicker direction and lead changes. But it's aspirational. The downside is that your fore-aft balance has to be spot on! As snow gets heavier or deeper, it becomes harder to maintain a tight stance and I tend to extend the distance between my front foot and my back foot so that my balance "base" is bigger.

Also, there's just personal preference. I ski with a woman who gets super low. That works very well for her. There's no "right" answer. There are strategies that can improve efficiency, but those strategies also depend on your goal. Her goal isn't to get in quick turns, it's to dig low and power through tight arcs, so the idea of a high stance for her is out of the question.

Do what works, do what you enjoy. Just consider the pros and cons of different technical strategies to get the most out of however you ski.

[mca80]

@Montana St Alum, so it kinda seems to me, being new to this, that maybe the best approach is just do what works best for the individual? And to pay attention and learn what works and what doesn't and develop what needs to be developed? i.e. there is no right way to telemark, but many right ways?

[Montana St Alum]

@Montana St Alum, so it kinda seems to me, being new to this, that maybe the best approach is just do what works best for the individual? And to pay attention and learn what works and what doesn't and develop what needs to be developed? i.e. there is no right way to telemark, but many right ways?

I think there are some basic things everyone needs to do (or at least consider) when beginning telemark. Many people have mentioned them. Consider their recommendations and use what works for you individually. But the list of the basics is pretty short. For example if you're on double camber skis (which I know nothing about) there are lots of comments that seem to be consistent. If you're on more resort oriented gear and you're spinning out, it's likely you aren't putting enough weight and/or edge on the back ski. If you get to the end of a turn, and your rear foot pops forward without your input, you likely aren't keeping enough shin pressure against the tongue. Those sorts of general considerations might be universal in the learning process. If you can find someone more advanced to ski with and bounce ideas off of, that would be good. But it's simple enough that you might want to concentrate on one or two problem areas at a time, solve those, and move on. As you get better, I expect you'll make decisions based on your "artistic" preferences.