Tele --> AT

[changed]

I appreciate the often philosophical musings on this forum, oft tinged with sarcastic humor. Maybe tele-people are simply built different...

I'll start looking on Craigslist for some plastic boots, something I haven't been doing recently.

[fgd135]

I know this...

I also want to learn how to do parallel ...


I can learn parallel turns on my fat XCD skis ..

Repeat your mantra above, as you focus on learning the ways of the Force.
Don't go over to the dark side.

[fgd135]

duplicate entry

[bauerb]

remember: its easy to do parallel turns in tele boots, but its much harder to do tele turns in alpine boots

[scottyX]

i'm gonna be contrarian and say that the fastest route to doing more miles/having more fun/less "feeling like you're going to die" is getting an AT setup (if you can afford it). You'll get out more, the learning curve will be shallower, and the climbing will be easier (so you'll ski more). And there's no reason you can't take out your current setup for an XCD day when the conditions are better for that or when you're just feeling it.

That being said, i do agree with the general sentiment to just do parallel turns on your current setup. when you feel like you'll die going straight down the fall line, you'll just need to cut across the slope back and forth as necessary to achieve an angle you're comfortable enough with (this is how I got into tele, on much less ideal snow, on a similar setup to yours).

Also, I have an old pair of t2's that might fit you, they're mondo 27. pm if interested.

Finally, as it seems like you're an inexperienced (or maybe never?) skier, I would think adding a cable to your current setup will go a long way to just feeling stable while sliding downhill, much less making any kind of turns.

[fgd135]

i'm gonna be contrarian...

... i do agree with the general sentiment to just do parallel turns...

... I would think adding a cable to your current setup will go a long way to...making any kind of turns.

For shame! If it was easy, it would be called "AT".
The telemark turn, and the parallel turn, using XC gear, is about gracefulness on skis, which is, as we know, our raison d'être.

[JohnSKepler]

i'm gonna be contrarian...

... i do agree with the general sentiment to just do parallel turns...

Finally, as it seems like you're an inexperienced (or maybe never?) skier, I would think adding a cable to your current setup will go a long way to just feeling stable while sliding downhill, much less making any kind of turns.

For shame! If it was easy, it would be called "AT".
The telemark turn, and parallel turns w/XCD gear, is about gracefullness on skis, which is, as we know, our raison d'tre.

And my la destruction!

[changed]

Also, I have an old pair of t2's that might fit you, they're mondo 27. pm if interested.

Finally, as it seems like you're an inexperienced (or maybe never?) skier, I would think adding a cable to your current setup will go a long way to just feeling stable while sliding downhill, much less making any kind of turns.

You don't think the T2's are overkill on the Panorama 78's?

I do have the cables for my 3 pins, I've just never used them because I don't really know what their purpose is.

I've found a few pairs of T4's spread out across the USA, usually around $200 without shipping. It's crazy to be able to find a light AT boot from the later 2020's that costs less than $100, versus an old technology T4.

[bauerb]

T2's are great, but they got the magic blessing of gear hoarders and the price went up...not as bad as F1's, but same idea. Garmont makes a few boots that will be great. I can tour all day in my Excursions. are they overkill for skinny skis? no, not if they are cheap and comfortable. in the old days we had problems with wide boots/bindings hitting the snow when we turned and so used risers to help. but I believe you ski powder so no prob

[scottyX]

the price and availability of used, lightweight, higher tech AT gear is real. the real question for you is do you care enough about the tele turn to accept a much longer learning curve? clearly for most of us here the answer has been yes, but then most of us also got into it with more sliding on snow experience than it seems like you have!

personally i do think t4s/excursions are the best match for that setup and t2s would be overkill, but i know there's a dude on the other forum that rips all kinds of terrain on t2s/m78s, so who am i to say?

at your experience level, the cables should feel like they provide a lot of general stability -- they'll help keep your heels closer to the ski, preventing tippy toe/going over the handlebars when going downhill, trying to turn, stop, etc, regardless of the turn technique. once you're making tele turns, the tension in their springs actively helps return your heel to the binding, as well as helping flex your boot at the bellows (rather than just pivoting over your toes as you lift your heel)... both of which, when you get the technique right, help you keep weight on the ski at the ball of your foot (not tippy toes). so they'll also help with that motion when you get there.

p.s. to all the televangelists out there, lay off, you're preaching to the choir! i've never skied AT in my life and i learned by trial and an absolute shit ton of error in almost exactly the same way and setup @changed is going about it!