Telemark Technique

[tkarhu]

@greatgt Good points! The above ”manney rants” sounds like a local scene issue, or a cultural issue, to me, too.

Where I live, people learn to XC ski at elementary school. So every downhill skier has basic skills and experience in skiing XC skis. Maybe for that reason, it feels that most people can understand what XCD takes and ”has eaten”. At least in my age group of 45 (+- 15) years.

For example, at a local outdoor store, the guy who mounted my FTX’s NNN-BC today, is involved in organizing FIS alpine ski competitions, too. At another local XC store, where I took the FTX’s for base prep today, a couple next in queu were very curious about the FTX’s. The lady had skied tele with old school skinnies in the 90’s.

I ski out in the nature mainly, but will go to a DH resort for a few days in a week. We’ll see how that feels after a 30 years break in resort skiing. Skiing in the backcountry would be nicer, but it will still take a month or so before we will have enough snow for that.

[Montana St Alum]

My opinion one great turn in the bush is equivalent to a day at a ski area. TM

That's reasonable, once you have the skills. In the early stages, the kind of repetition you can get lift served, can make it easier to develop them. Even a day or 2 dedicated to developing the "turn" can help quite a bit.

[wabene]

I agree with some of your points above but learning to tele ski doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the tour.

You can learn to xc ski in an afternoon, it doesn’t need to be a part of learning to Nordic downhill ski.

Sid I agree with all of your points except the bolded portion. Yes it is possible to hop on a pair of rented fishscale skis at the golf course and get the hang of shuffling around very easily. Nordic classic skiing is a subtle art, however, and mastery can take years.

[CwmRaider]

My opinion one great turn in the bush is equivalent to a day at a ski area. TM

That's reasonable, once you have the skills. In the early stages, the kind of repetition you can get lift served, can make it easier to develop them. Even a day or 2 dedicated to developing the "turn" can help quite a bit.

Wise words

[tkarhu]

I agree with some of your points above but learning to tele ski doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the tour.

You can learn to xc ski in an afternoon, it doesn’t need to be a part of learning to Nordic downhill ski.

Sid I agree with all of your points except the bolded portion. Yes it is possible to hop on a pair of rented fishscale skis at the golf course and get the hang of shuffling around very easily. Nordic classic skiing is a subtle art, however, and mastery can take years.

Good point! Where I live, expedition skiers say that skiing with heavy gear is not really skiing, it is walking with skis on.

Certainly you can learn to walk with skis on in an afternoon. I guess many also get a hunch of kick & glide in that time, if you are athletic. But when you get a flying feeling, and maintain it, then you know that you are really XC skiing. Skiing is like running.

It will take more than an afternoon to get that flying XC feel, and to fine tune it. And in deep snow, skiing will often still be actually walking with skis on, like on an expedition. Both running and walking have their places.

[xcdnewb0313]

Wow! Some really great stuff, thanks for posting

I lived and skied in Japan for three and a half years. I am going to do some more research on the XCD schools in Japan that is mentioned in the backcountry thread. There is just something about the Japanese approach to doing things - their striving for perfection is an art.

[Harry M]

I am wondering if I have anything to add to the discussion, or if I should just keep to myself. So I have a question at the end.

I had a knee replacement that didn't go so well, so I can't ski anymore. I skied tele for 35 years and I am really missing tele skiing (badly), so here I am doing what I can -- reading about tele. Yes, I am now an armchair climber and armchair skier.

I was told that I had a nice technique, in the fall line, fast transitions, carving from inside to outside edges. I learned my best techniques from a woman tele instructor at Santa Fe, it's not my own original style.

I was never into tele discussions, so I never followed the "latest techniques." Perhaps I have something to offer, perhaps I don't. I have been looking at a lot of technique videos on YouTube, including telehiro's stuff and videos from tele skis schools. But so far I haven't seen anyone discussing fast transitions, or skiing the way I skied. I see a lot of people advocating low crouched positions, two-stepping across the fall line instead of carving down the fall line, skidding through turns, etc. I haven't been too impressed, frankly.

Can someone point me to some videos of the "latest" techniques? Perhaps I should review these videos in detail before I open my mouth.

Thanks.

[fisheater]

How is that for modern technique? It’s not me, I just recommitted to riding chairs weekly, because my technique isn’t what it once was. It’s been 21 years since I stopped regularly riding a chair.
This is @Montana St Alum i think it’s fine modern technique.

[Harry M]

How is that for modern technique?

Thanks
After watching that, perhaps I do have something to add after all.
There is a better way. But I'll keep watching and looking for now.

[Montana St Alum]

Thanks you both, and I'm also open to better ways!