Telemark Skiing: Snow Sports, Competitions, International Ski Federation And Telemark Turn

The next time a skier is seen skiing at an awkward angle, with their hands flailing about, look a bit closer before deciding to call the paramedics. There is a chance they may be Telemark skiing.

Telemark skiing, also known as free-heel skiing, is a skiing technique which features the Telemark turn. Telemark turns are properly executed with the heel flat on the outside ski, and by pulling the inside ski beneath the skier's body all while flexing the knee and raising the heel at the same time. Telemark skiing is similar to cross country skiing in that the skis have a binding that only connect the boot to the ski at the toes.

Sondre Norheim was the first person to ever be seen Telemark skiing in public when he preformed the Telemark turn at a ski competition in Norway in 1868. For many years Telemark skiing was not very popular, mainly because of the commercialization of recreational skiing in Europe and the United States in the 1900's. Another reason for lack of support was because techniques similar to Telemark skiing are much easier to learn and do not require nearly as much skill, especially on hard snow. The limitations of equipment back then also didn't make things any easier either.


Even though the popularity of the sport died down in the 1940's, it regained its popularity when it was introduced in the United States in the 1970's. Today, Telemark competitions are a big part of the snow sports scene, especially in the United States. Every year there is the U.S. Extreme Free-skiing Telemark Championships at Mt. Crested Butte, Colo., which features both male and female competitors. As prestigious as the Telemark Championships is, it is just one of many in the international ski community.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) covers and regulates all ski-related snow sports including Telemark skiing. The organization is currently made up of 107 National Ski Associations. Like all other types of skiing, the FIS has strict guidelines that participants must obey in the competition and it is the job of the judges to enforce those guidelines onto competitors through time penalties. There are three official Telemark skiing competitions in the World Cup: the Giant Slalom, the Classic and the Classic Sprint. There is also an unofficial race called the Parallel Slalom.

For those interested in pursuing Telemark skiing, the North American Telemark Organization (NATO) provides instruction to both Telemark and back-country skiers. NATO's official website has all the information need for both a beginner and veteran Telemarker. NATO offers instructional clinics, workshops, camps and adventure tours to skiers all the way from Maine to Alaska. They also sell many types of ski equipment at wholesale prices through their website and at their annual North American Telemark Festivals.


Sources:
Staff Expert. “How to Telemark Ski.” eHow.1999-2007. eHow, Inc. 28 May 2007.
http://www.ehow.com/how_11987_telemark-ski.html< br />“Telemark Skier Magazine Announces Staff, New Steamboat Office.” Telemark Skier Magazine. 15 May 2007. 28 May 2007.
http://www.telemarkskier.com/articles/articles_n ews_index.htm
FIS-Ski. 28 May 2007. http://www.fis-ski.com/
"Telemark Skiing." Wikipedia. 14 May 2007.28 May 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telemark_skiing
Weber, Mitch. “What is Telemark Skiing?.” Telemarktips.com 28 May 2007.
http://www.telemarktips.com/WhatsTele.html
North American Telemark Organization. 2007. 28 May 2007.
http://www.telemarknato.com/