#154

There are always questions floating around about Telemark skiing that go something like this: "What is the point?", "What are the benefits?", and "Is it easier?"
On today's episode I attempt to answer not only these more specific questions, but also the larger question of, "Is Telemark Skiing Still Relevant in 2022?"
DEFINITION OF RELEVANT:
Definition of relevant 1a: having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand b: affording evidence tending to prove or disprove the matter at issue or under discussionrelevant testimony c: having social relevance Sign-up for the mailing list: bit.ly/FHLMailingList
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[@joeh839]

I have been tele skiing since early 80’s. LOVE IT!!!! Got my first day in all ready. Why? The same reason I mountain bike (don’t road bike), backpack, carry canoes in the boundary waters, climb 14ers and live in a van all at age 68. It’s fun, it’s hard and it’s challenging. Like Tom Hanks said in “a league of their own” if it were easy everyone would be doing it. FREE THE HEEL, FREE THE SOUL.

[@AnonymousOtters]

I can resonate with the puzzle analogy. I was just at a work event where I got to meet THREE new tele-skiers out of our group of nearly a hundred people! But I also met a couple split boarders and alpine skirts who couldn't figure out why I tele. I simply responded, "because it's still fun!" The turn is still exciting and it still challenges me, whereas I felt like I was hitting the top of the experience curve on alpine skis.

[@FreeheelLife]

Glad that the puzzle thing made sense to you too. We are an interesting group to say the least and fun to hear the ratio at the work event too, thanks for sharing. - Madsen

[@CO111]

I throughly enjoyed your podcast and topic. I had been hard-charging 40+ years making "P" turns until about five years ago. My conversion has all been resort based and I love it. The community, feeling the turn, challenge ( do you ever master this thing, I kind of hope not😆 as it always leaves me wanting more) and bringing me back to what I love the most, being in and on the snow. Thank you for your support, you are truly relevant!

[@FreeheelLife]

Thanks for sharing! Really glad you enjoyed the episode and thanks for sharing your experience too! - Madsen

[@gluondufou]

to somebody asking me the reason why ??? I always say that the feel on the snow is just AWESOME, the sensation, the carving, the satisfaction of a beautiful turn is truly unique and brings shivers when I remember some epic turns. I started telemarking in 1999 and never went back, for this sole reason only !

[@FreeheelLife]

Couldn't agree more!

[@BenKleimer]

Thank you Josh! You've said so much here that is relevant to me about telemark in a world that is trying to convert me to "french for can't tele" it is very nice to hear a comrade in turns. Telemark is simply the way I prefer to do it and that is all the relevance I need.

[@FreeheelLife]

I think what you just said at the end there sums it up perfectly! Thanks for listening and glad it resonated! Cheers.

[@macmurfy2jka]

Is Tele skiing relevant? No, not really. It more fun? Oh yes! The surfy dancing rhythm of skiing Tele is very much for fun! I was skiing alpine for a long time. Picked up snowboarding to say I gave it a fair shake. It was fun but had a more cruzy feeling. Picked up XC skiing for that jog in the woods experience. Then I finally picked up Telemark Skiing to start touring. Spent 3 seasons on the setup before i bought some skins. Now all I do is Tele. Tele has that surfy feel like snowboarding but in skiing! I have heard it said once that it’s like a toe side turn, carving the snow crouched down, touching the snow, every turn. I can do than everywhere and anywhere. Love it.

[@adambernhard8177]

My homeboy from Pittsburgh is in Duluth Minnesota-he says the snow is big rite now(early December)

[@FreeheelLife]

they are having a great year.

[@rawrbert336]

A personality choice that reminds me of the choice to tele is driving a manual car. No real advantage, it’s just more engaging.

[@FreeheelLife]

the manual car thing has come up several times and I agree that it's another great comparison! - Madsen

[@glenmellan8018]

Show some mercy, don’t talk too much about snow and skiing. Out here on the East Coast, we’re still praying to the snow gods. Soon baby. Skiing 🎿 is back🎉

[@FreeheelLife]

Fair enough! haha. I just talk about it every week and figure that it will sync up with someone, some place, where it's snowing. Hope you see it soon!

[@pickledsausage7513]

That's what makes us such technical skiers

[@pickledsausage7513]

Unfortunately I may have to go back to alpine for this season as my right bellow on my boot is cracked and I cannot afford to transition to NTN this season.

[@FreeheelLife]

What a bummer! Sending good thoughts that you can get some boots dialed for the season. - Madsen

[@adambernhard8177]

Not yourself? Been at the beer?

[@FreeheelLife]

Alwasy.

[@jsmith5278]

No. Telemark skiing is an anachronism that has never been relevant to modern winter sport. It's hard to learn, the equipment is archaic, limited and more expensive, and to an outsider it looks bizarre. Sure is fun - and yeah, totally agree you should definitely market it as Hard.

[@FreeheelLife]

Sounds like we agree on how to market it, so that's a plus. I totally disagree with it being an anachronism though. That was one of my points, is that if one compares the Telemark turn with another turn and the associated equipment it's easier to draw the conclusions that you are doing. If you look at Telemark equipment in the 1860s to 2022 then it's difficult to make the argument that the equipment didn't evolve and thus archaic. Respect your point of view, but wholly disagree. Thanks for listening. - Madsen

[@jsmith5278]

@@FreeheelLife I listen ever week - thanks for the podcast. Of course, telemark will never die but it's dead to the mainstream ski industry. I don't care. Embrace it. "Telemark is hard." "Lost Art", "Telemark's Dead", "The Ghost of Telemark", etc... all building to develop an esprit de corps around the lost discipline of telemark skiing.