History of Telemark Skiing and its advantages today.
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by: Guest
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How Telemark was started: - A farmer’s son, Sondre Ouverson Norheim, from Morgedal in the Telemark region of Norway is often credited with performing the first Telemark turns. Fact or fiction the truth is that since 1870 the telemark style of skiing has been greatly admired. Sondre, a talented craftsman, also carved a ski with a waist to help him turn; even into the 1940’s they were called telemark skis. Now we just call them carvers.
The Telemark style declined with the arrival of fixed heel bindings but during the 1970’s there was a resurgence of Telemark in the mid western American ski resorts. Ironically Sondre had moved too and eventually died in North Dakota in 1897. Perhaps his spirit was telling us something?
Telemark Today
From this historic tradition, modern Telemark has evolved to be a dynamic and graceful component of modern snow sports. The advantages of Telemark are many:
•Telemark offers grace and dynamic rhythmic turns not possible with fixed heels
•It offers the ultimate expression and feeling for off-piste and ski-touring
•Modern equipment and advances in safety now allows everyone to participate
•Learning New School Telemark is the new challenge in snow sports
•It is easier now than ever
•A cave painting dating back to 2000BC in Tjoetta, Norway, shows elk hunters on skis using long sticks known as lurks. The skill of using a lurk - taught by Ski4Real - has been resurrected today with the use of traditional wood poles as well as modern variants such as The Telestick
•Telemarkers love meeting up to ski together and there are several festivals held all over the world including the freeheel festival at Livigno – La Skieda
About the Author
Based at La Thuile, Italy, Kim George provides a unique approach to ski coaching with tailor-made, bespoke courses in the elegant art of Telemark skiing and all forms of Alpine ski instruction. A key member of BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors), Kim has years of experience, teaching all levels of skiers from apprehensive and recuperating skiers to international instructors.
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