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Telemark Ski Training

Jan 17, 2011 | By Linda Tarr Kent
Telemark Ski Training
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If you've mastered alpine skiing and want a new challenge switch to telemark skiing. Telemark skiing utilizes a turn style in which one ski is advanced in front of the other and your heel rear ski is raised. You can gain ski training for telemark skiing from a variety of sources.

U.S. Telemark Ski Association

Turn to the U.S. Telemark Ski Association for advice on telemark training and other educational programs. The formed in 1993 as the governing body for Telemark racing in the U.S. and to support Telemark skiing via education as well as racing opportunities. The association and those affiliated with it have a long history to draw from when it comes to the skiing method. Telemark skiing predates the alpine method of skiing that is popular today. It was favored in the late 1800s after Sondre Norheim, who lived in the area of Telemark, Norway, won the first known ski jumping contest and impressed the audience with his ski style 1866. He used the telemark turn in the first national ski contest in Oslo, Nowrway. The telemark method of turning fell by the wayside in the early 1900s with the advent of groomed ski areas. On these, the parallel techniques were easier to learn and use and so alpine skiing became the norm. A telemark revival came about in the 1970s when back country skiing enjoyed a surge in popularity.

Lessons And Camps

Many ski areas feature telemark ski group and private lessons, and telemark ski camps. You will need to check with the facilities near you to find out what types of packages they have available, to determine whether telemark skiing is included in the area's repertoire and to see what skill level the instructors teach to, such as beginner or advanced. Some areas even offer a video analysis that you can use to improve your technique. Telemark ski lessons and camps also exist for special needs populations such as the Life Turns ski camp in Crested Butte, Colorado. .

Clubs And Teams

Join a telemark ski team or club to gain everything from advice to coaching to ski time. Local clubs are often set up to accommodate people of all ages and ability levels. Ski teams, on the other hand, groom skiers for USTSA sanctioned competitions. Such competitions are held around the country throughout the year. There are national and international events as well.

DIY Training

If you don't want to buck up for lessons or coaching, you can gain tips on technique and training for telemark skiing online and in numerous books. With such resources, if you are already proficient in alpine skiing you can gain the fundamentals of the telemark position. If you go this route, it's a good idea to practice the basic movements while you are stationary and then and during simple traverses along a mellow slope, according to Urmas Franosch, who teaches telemark skiing at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in California.

References

Article reviewed by Allen Cone Last updated on: Jan 17, 2011

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