Outdoor VLOG 73: Telemark Turns - A Session of Trial and Error (Mostly Error!)

I did a lot of stumbling around and falling down on one of my practice hills today. The snow was challenging and I've been a zombie all day due to sleeping poorly last night. And, I swear, those snow snakes were out in full force - haha!
I know, I know ... excuses.
Realistically, I was trying to work on being more aggressive going downhill while working on Telemark turns (angulating, reaching down the hill, and implementing a quicker lead change). I had some success on the lower angles and, honestly, I should've just started here rather than heading to the steep stuff right away.
Then, again, sometimes it's beneficial to get out of your comfort zone so that you can find your limits. And then when you dial it back (on easier terrain) you can feel good about the work you're putting in. So, who knows? Our minds respond to all kinds of different stimulus and ideas so maybe in the end it's all just a wash!
The backcountry xc skis that I used in this video were the Fischer S-Bound 98mm with Rottefella Super Tele 3-pin bindings. And I was wearing Alpina Alaska 75mm boots.
• BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKI GEAR, FOR BEGINNERS (PART 1): INTENTION, TYPES OF XC SKIS, AND WHETHER TO BUY NEW OR USED ( tahoetrailguide.com/buying-cross-country-ski-gear-for-beginners-part-1/ )
• BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKI GEAR, FOR BEGINNERS (PART 2): HOW MUCH GEAR TO ACQUIRE, EVALUATING YOUR COMMITMENT, AND THE VALUE OF TAKING XC SKI LESSONS ( tahoetrailguide.com/buying-cross-country-ski-gear-for-beginners-part-2/ )
• BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKI GEAR, FOR BEGINNERS (PART 3): CAN ONE SET OF CLASSIC CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS WORK FOR GROOMED AND OFF-TRACK XC SKIING? ( tahoetrailguide.com/buying-cross-country-ski-gear-for-beginners-part-3-can-one-set-of-classic-cross-country-skis-work-for-groomed-and-off-track-xc-skiing/ )
• OVERVIEW OF OFF-TRACK AND BACKCOUNTRY CROSS-COUNTRY SKI GEAR ( tahoetrailguide.com/overview-of-off-track-and-backcountry-cross-country-ski-gear/ )
Ways in which to support me and my little backcountry operation:
• Patreon.com/JaredManninen (monthly contributions of $3, $6, $9, $39, or $99)
• www.paypal.com/paypalme/JaredManninen (option for making a single, one-time monetary contribution)
• venmo.com/u/TahoeTrailGuide (option for making a single, one-time monetary contribution)
• JaredManninen.RedBubble.com​ (merchandise account featuring my outdoor-related imagery)
Cross-Country Skiing Explained:
Please note that I produced my series of articles and videos tagged “Cross-Country Skiing Explained” with the beginner or intermediate cross-country skier in mind. Therefore, I don’t intend to address racing-oriented philosophy, technique, or gear selection.
For the full library of articles and videos of the series at Tahoe Trail Guide, visit…
tahoetrailguide.com/tag/cross-country-skiing-explained/
For specific cross-country ski topics at Tahoe Trail Guide, read my introduction to classic cross-country skis…
tahoetrailguide.com/cross-country-skiing-explained-part-1-introduction-to-classic-cross-country-skis/
For and introduction and tutorials about waxing your waxless cross-country skis read…
tahoetrailguide.com/waxing-your-waxless-cross-country-skis-for-beginner-and-intermediate-cross-country-skiers-introduction/
For information about buying cross-country skis and xc ski gear for beginners read…
tahoetrailguide.com/buying-cross-country-ski-gear-for-beginners-part-1/
I've produced this collection of articles and videos about backcountry travel and exploration with the beginner and intermediate adventurer in mind. This is the demographic for whom I most often served while working in the Lake Tahoe outdoor recreation industry. In essence, these informational projects I create and publish are extensions of the many conversations we've had over the years.
Please note that, although I encourage you to venture out of your comfort zone, you need to know your limits and when to turn back. Tahoe Trail Guide and its contributors are not liable for property loss or damage, personal injury, or death. Always consult multiple sources when venturing into the backcountry. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario. Your safety is your responsibility.
Visit tahoetrailguide.com/ for more information.
Copyright © 2024 Jared Manninen

[@mikefreitas5537]

Yes! thanks for the honesty of the bloopers as well as your great turns. Love all your blogs. Been jumping between you and SKI ANDORRA TELEMARK CLASSIC TECHNIQUE- by Cinto Verdauger (You two folks have been my instructors this winter). Headed to Donner Campground tomorrow to see if I retained/learned anything. Thanks Sensi! ... Did you get your "!00 days" in?? :)

[@JaredManninen]

Very cool, Mike! I appreciate all your support :) And glad I could be of service! I just checked out that channel (Cinto Verdauger) and it's really great! I absolutely loved the video of the 1980s demonstration. I may have to watch that about a million times more to commit the movement to memory :) I know that Telemark skiing has evolved over the decades. However, that's also a function of the evolution of the gear. So, in many respects, what we're trying to accomplish as far as Telemark turning probably has more to do with the older style (because we're still doing it on super lightweight cross-country ski gear like they were). Anyway, it's all good stuff. So thanks for passing that channel on! As far as my xc ski days go for the season, I just logged day #95 this afternoon. I'll be going out tomorrow, as well, so I assume by next weekend I'll have 100. Thanks for asking :)

[@filmic1]

That was neat, Jared. Thank-you. I can imagine that pow catching a ski sidewall and throwing a guy's centre of gravity off. (especially if the ski slips sideways.)

[@JaredManninen]

Thank you! It was definitely challenging snow in which to turn. But it was snow, and I'm still skiing :) Hope you're doing well and enjoying your spring!

[@xcskier871]

I've always wanted to expand my cross-country skiing into back country and telemark. As much as I was inspired by watching others, the pitch of the slopes held me back. I'm glad that you demonstrated the reality of getting out and learning through trial and error. Now all I need is the gear and a place to practice. Thank you Jared I really enjoy your training sessions. P.S. Like the hat. Would like to see it added to the store.

[@JaredManninen]

Hey Dave! Thanks so much for the kind words. I appreciate it :) And glad I can inspire you to give backcountry xc skiing a go! I absolutely love going off-trail and exploring locations that are either totally new or made new because I'm use to traveling them during the warmer months (and mostly sticking to a well-worn trail). Dealing with steeper angles of terrain can definitely be a barrier to exploring, but first learn to be safe and then focus on style. For example, I can negotiate anything that's really steep either by side-stepping, side-slipping, snowplowing, or using the herringbone. But I actually want to have some fun going downhill by learning to turn (with some style!). So, ultimately, this is all just a long-term learning process. And it's a super fun one! Thanks for the feedback on the hat, too. It's actually a popular brand that features tons of nature-related designs. So, it's not my own. But you give me some motivation to design my own bird-related illustrations to put on ball caps. I'll have to see if that's an option and put one together :) Anyway, thanks again for tuning in and for all of the nice feedback. Let me know if you ever have any specific questions, and I'll do my best to answer them in a timely fashion.

[@xcskier871]

Thanks Jared, I agree on your comment. I can herring bone, side-step and to a limited extent do some sideslipping. As with you I really would like to enjoy the downhill skiing aspect rather than just making it down the hill...LOL Would like to see what you come up with for a hat design. Really appreciate Ospreys. Amazing how deep they can dive. A few times I didn't think they could make it back into the air. Always like to see the way they orient the fish head first when flying too. @@JaredManninen

[@JaredManninen]

@@xcskier871 Yeah, that's the name of the game for a lot of us -- having fun on those downhills! :) Osprey are definitely one of my favorite birds, too. And it's always neat to see it in flight with the fish facing forward!

[@hikingwheather]

You are way ahead of me, I'm still trying to learn downhill XC techniques for controlling my speed. It takes so much practice, I wish I could get out more. Thanks for sharing your struggles and successes. Love the sapsucker footage, too!

[@JaredManninen]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Heather. I appreciate it :) Yep, lots of training and practice and falling. But everything is possible. Just stick with it as much as you can. And I'll do the same - haha! Thanks for tuning in, and for contributing to the conversation :)

[@blairgarland9113]

What slope angle do you usually ski down with the tele turns?

[@JaredManninen]

Hey Blair! Generally speaking, I keep most of my backcountry downhilling on xc skis to less than 30 degrees. I don't really want to deal with avi concerns and, as you can see, I'm still working on my technique :) That said, I'm pretty confident doing Telemark turns in deeper snow on steeper angles (probably still around 30, but if steeper only for short pitches between easier terrain) as the deeper snow is a bit more forgiving. And in firm snow conditions I do some serviceable modified parallel turns fairly confidently. Well, assuming that the snow's surface is mostly uniform like groomed terrain. If things get too steep and icy, for example, I'll usually just sideslip the whole thing. I'm not getting any younger, and the falls hurt a little more nowadays ;) In time, I'd love to be able to perform any kind of turn in any kind of snow condition on any angle of terrain. But, for now, I pick and choose from my limited toolbox in order to get down safely. Thanks for tuning in, and for the question :)