We've lost a telemark legend

This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web. We have fun here, come on in and be a part of it.
User avatar
phoenix
Posts: 866
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Northern VT
Ski style: My own
Favorite Skis: Varies,I've had many favorites
Favorite boots: Excursions, T1's
Occupation: I'm occupied

We've lost a telemark legend

Post by phoenix » Thu Oct 31, 2024 2:16 pm

Sad to post this, and surprised it hasn't shown up here yet. I'm quoting from Craig Dostie's post on the other site:

"Just got the word from a friend, one of the Telemark Kingdom's princes passed away today. Paul Parker.
I know it was cancer of some form, but am not privvy to the details. He was one of the first to turn us all on to the turn and he knew how to make it look beautiful.
Rest in Peace my friend. Hope to see you on the other side."

User avatar
blitzskier
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2024 10:48 am

Re: We've lost a telemark legend

Post by blitzskier » Thu Oct 31, 2024 11:50 pm

any historical data on the guy for those of us who are new to the teleworld?



User avatar
phoenix
Posts: 866
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Northern VT
Ski style: My own
Favorite Skis: Varies,I've had many favorites
Favorite boots: Excursions, T1's
Occupation: I'm occupied

Re: We've lost a telemark legend

Post by phoenix » Fri Nov 01, 2024 8:10 am

Paul wrote "Free Heel Skiing", a couple of editions of it. Probably the best instructional book on tele skiing to date, with only one or two others that could come close. Definitely the first to bring the newer equipment and techniques to an instructional and informative book. Worked with Tua in developing their iconic tele models. Yvonne Chouinard wrote the foreword to one of the books; Paul mentored Chouinard as a skier.
That's just the key bits I can think of at the moment. I highly recommend his book(s) for aspiring tele skiers looking for some really good advice. Very surprised yours is the only response here (though I'm sure a few folks have seen it elsewhere as I have).



User avatar
blitzskier
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2024 10:48 am

Re: We've lost a telemark legend

Post by blitzskier » Sat Nov 02, 2024 11:39 pm

i have a couple tele-books but none of his writings on the subject. I will put him on my list of books to look out for, thanks 8-)



User avatar
greatgt
Posts: 947
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:37 am

Re: We've lost a telemark legend

Post by greatgt » Sun Nov 03, 2024 5:15 am

Enjoyed his book way back. Must still have it around somewhere. RIP. TM



User avatar
randoskier
Posts: 1042
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 2:08 am
Location: Yank in Italy
Ski style: awkward
Favorite Skis: snow skis
Favorite boots: go-go
Occupation: International Pop Sensation

Re: We've lost a telemark legend

Post by randoskier » Sun Nov 03, 2024 4:11 pm

My wife has an early edition of his book. He developed a lot of modern tele gear too. Surprised he is not better known.



User avatar
Capercaillie
Posts: 215
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2022 1:35 pm
Location: western Canada
Ski style: trying not to fall too much
Favorite Skis: Alpina 1500T, Kazama Telemark Comp
Favorite boots: Alfa Horizon, Crispi Nordland, Scarpa T4

Re: We've lost a telemark legend

Post by Capercaillie » Mon Nov 04, 2024 7:19 pm

Whatever Paul Parker's last thoughts were, "I spent too much time skiing" probably was not one of them. Life is short, I hope everyone gets to ski more this upcoming season.

From the March-April 2002 issue of Skiing magazine:

"Few athletes have had the impact on a sport that Paul Parker has had on free-heel skiing. A member of the Alpine and telemark PSIA demo teams, Parker has conducted countless on-snow clinics, created designs for boot, binding, ski, and clothing companies, and written dozens of skiing-related articles over the past 20 years, influencing an inestimable number of free-heelers. If you haven't had occasion to participate in one of Paul's instructional workshops, a solid substitute is his best-selling book, Free-Heel Skiing: Telemark and Parallel Techniques For All Conditions."

https://books.google.ca/books?id=LXTS-8 ... rk&f=false



User avatar
lilcliffy
Posts: 4156
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger

Re: We've lost a telemark legend

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Nov 09, 2024 7:53 pm

Sad to learn of Paul Parker's passing -

Didn't have any personal connection to him, but his book has been a continuous resource-

I not only retread it regularly-

But I often have thoughts and or experiences that trigger a deeper insight into Paul's mindset and instructions.

Paul Parker's mindsets and teachings on free-heel/Nordic downhill skiing are timeless and second to none.

As Paul wrote and demonstrated- for those that are truly free free-heel Nordic downhill skiers- the telemark turn is just one technique of many.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



User avatar
fgd135
Posts: 472
Joined: Sun Jan 19, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Colorado
Ski style: Yes, sometimes.
Favorite Skis: Most of them
Favorite boots: Boots that fit
Occupation: Yes

Re: We've lost a telemark legend

Post by fgd135 » Mon Nov 11, 2024 11:11 am

Here's the obituary from the Summit Daily. Very sad.
I first met Paul when I worked for the Alpineer, in Frisco CO, in the 1980's, when we both lived in Summit County, CO. He was a brilliant skier, instructor, author, innovator. Paul and just a very few other dedicated tele skiers from the late 1970s and early 1980's are responsible for modernizing the telemark turn, improving the gear and encouraging the revival the sport.

https://www.summitdaily.com/news/obitua ... ul-parker/
Last edited by fgd135 on Tue Nov 12, 2024 12:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"To me, gracefulness on skis should be the end-all of the sport" --Stein Eriksen



mca80
Posts: 1001
Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2022 5:24 pm
Location: Da UP eh
Ski style: Over the river and through the woods
Favorite Skis: Nansen, Finnmark, Kongsvold, Combat NATO, Fischer Superlite, RCS
Favorite boots: Crispi Bre, Hook, Alpina 1600, Alico Ski March, Crispi Mountain

Re: We've lost a telemark legend

Post by mca80 » Mon Nov 11, 2024 11:19 am

With most, but not all, books, one would do best with the latest edition. Same with this book? Anyone compared the 1st and 3rd editions and can explain how they differ? Thanks.



Post Reply