Telemark: Free Heel Skiing

You've heard of freestyle, free lunch and get out of jail free. Now we have free heels. Telemark skiing isn't what it was few years ago. New equipment has created a new sport, and we look at the latest tele style as NATO (North American Telemark Assn) instructor Biff Russell conducts a clinic at Belleayre Mountain, New York's Winter Snowpark. Another RadxSports video.

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Script: We've heard of free lunch and get out of jail free, but what happens when you free your heel? The answer is telemark skiing, which is a whole new approach to sliding down a mountain.
Bindings are the most obvious difference between telemark and other types of skis. The free heel requires a completely different movement to control the ski from the fixed heel alpine variety.

Russel turns the mountain into a classroom where the teacher points out subtle movements required for good results.

After the standing-still instruction it's off for the slopes and new challenges. This one is to ski backwards, or switch, and execute 360 degree turns. It's like dance class, only the students fall when they don't get the steps right.

Skiing steep trails requires good straight ahead form. It's not just high edge set and speed, it's about staying in control. Like we always say, turn shape and balance are critical.

And to reinforce that point the clinic hits the bumps.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• action
• extreme
• winter
• sports
• telemark
• ski
• Belleayre
• snow
• agility
• extreme sports
• action sports
• travel
• tourism
• resort
• destination
• snow sports
• winter sports
• equipment
• mogols
• bump skiing
• bumps
• Tony Lanza
• snowboard
• snowboarding yt:stretch=16:9

[fr3agnt]

Alpine seems more graceful.

[GerryPallor]

@fr3agnt These are students and a teacher breaking down and / or exaggerating movements to show them how it's done. Could be that it's all in the eye of the beholder.

[trappantrasig]

@carvermarks

Agreed.

This teacher is the most awesome I have ever seen!

[GerryPallor]

@SovietKardinal Are talking about the instructor or the students? It's kind of a harsh thing to say about students. If you don't like the instructor's style, take it up with NATO. They certified him.

[69mag]

"You are an animal. Commit to your front foot back here, okay? When the mind's screaming "I want mommy", she ain't coming.

[llandudnoboy]

Telemark skiing is recognised as one of the biggest calorie burning excercises you can do.

It gives every muscle in the body from the shoulders right down to the legs a very intense workout.

[goYankees19]

good stuff

[fr3agnt]

I have heard that telemark is actually harder to learn.

Is it possible to go fast using telemark method vs alpine?

Newbie looking to learn.

Thanks.

[AceForever17]

@BanjoMD1  Way to go daddy! Nice post.

We LOVE Biff. He's the man. Definitely born to ski.

[AceForever17]

@BanjoMD1 Way to go daddy! Nice post.

We LOVE Biff. He's the man. Definitely born to ski.