Telemark
Telemark skiing is named after a region in Norway where a method of turning was developed using bindings, which attached boots to skis at the toe only, leaving the heel free to lift off the ski.
Telemark equipment has always been widely used for ski touring and mountaineering where the versatility of the binding allows skiers to travel downhill, across flats, or uphill with the help of skins, but the development of plastic boots which flex across the toes has made telemark skiing easier and the sport is enjoying a massive resurgence.
A growing number of Telemark festivals and competitions are held throughout the world. The annual Braemar Telemark Festival is the biggest on snow ski event held within the UK. As with other skiing disciplines, the highest level of competition is the World Cup circuit. Telemark is aspiring to Olympic status, although this is unlikely before 2010.
The majority of national telemark ski teams are part-time athletes and the World Cup circuit is planned to permit racers to compete without taking the entire winter off from work or studies. Far from resulting in low standards, telemark racers live a frenetic life, juggling work commitments with training programmes and racing schedules.
The Disciplines
Giant Slalom This is similar to an alpine giant slalom except that all turns must be executed using telemark technique and failure to meet this criteria results in a one second penalty per non-telemark turn. (Gate judges have a handset which automatically registers penalties with the electronic timing). An additional element of telemark giant slalom is the jump. Racers must achieve a required distance (usually 20-25 metres) and must land in the telemark position to avoid time penalties.
Classic A Classic course is designed to be a test of all skiing skills and, with a winning time for the single run of up to four and a half minutes, is a test of physical as well as technical ability. The course consists of the following elements:
- 1/3 Super Telemark (fast sweeping turns)
- 1/3 GS
- 1/3 Cross country skating.
- Also included is a jump as in GS and at least one 360 degree banked up turn.
Sprint Classic This contains the same ingredients as the Classic discipline, but is a two run event with each leg being around one and a half minutes long
