Practicing Telemark Turns on a Nordic Backcountry Ski Tour

I head out for a backcountry ski tour to enjoy the fine weather and this first proper snowfall this season in Lofoten, Norway. I also wanted to practice a few telemark turns on my backcountry touring skis, which can be quite the challenge.
The skis I’m using are my old and trusty Fischer E99 with a Rottefella BC Manual binding and Crispi Stetind BC boots. These type of backcountry touring skis are quite versatile, and while there are better systems out there to have more control on the downhill I enjoy the challenge of skiing downhill with simple gear, especially when the conditions are perfect with fresh and soft snow.
Location: Svolvær in Lofoten, Norway
Time of year: Winter - February 9th 2021
Website and blog: www.kristianpletten.com/
Camera gear used in this video (affiliate links):
Camera: amzn.to/2EqniwL
Lens: amzn.to/2Ylekbj
Lens: amzn.to/2IqEi8M
Variable ND-filter: amzn.to/3gczoH7
Tripod: amzn.to/2LDPmx1
Microphone: amzn.to/2ZgHEkA
Attachment: amzn.to/30z310v
Editing software: amzn.to/36nP3QR
Other gear used in this video (contains affiliate links):
Shell jacket: www.klattermusen.com/en/men/j...
Pants: www.klattermusen.com/en/men/p...
Sunglasses: amzn.to/36f81Zv
Backpack: amzn.to/2WNSbCp
Headlamp: amzn.to/2XEbXPW
Watch: amzn.to/3eIaDmb
Pocket knife: amzn.to/34O7KOp
Wool hat: amzn.to/37XsQM8
Ski poles: amzn.to/2Tl4mUR
Skis: amzn.to/3pmUHdA
Binding: amzn.to/3tWsU7p
Shoes: www.crispinorge.com/stetind-b...

[@timcline2799]

Excellent. I never thought watching someone put on skins could be so Beautiful 🙂 Thank you!

[@explorermike19]

IMO, this kind of video is more enjoyable to watch than "extreme" vids with skiers jumping off cliffs.

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you! 😄

[@gregsmith7142]

Perfect vid. ‘Love the sound of the mountain and the snow - And nothing else. It’s like being there.

[@MathieuStern]

Ok, this is the start of something new, and great! I was there before 100k subscribers. everything in your work is out of today's trends, and that's why it's going to revolutionize everything.

[@KristianPletten]

Hey Mathieu! This is so cool. I've seen several of your videos, especially those related to anamorphic lenses. Thank you! Your comment sure is motivating to keep it going. 😊🙏🏻

[@chlorophyll365]

The turns looked smooth as butter. Extra points for doing them in the deep snow 😜

[@KristianPletten]

Haha, thank you! 😄🙏🏻

[@BackcountryPilot]

This is exactly what we're after. Very cool vibe. Greetings from northeast Minnesota. I wish we had terrain like this!

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you! Probably not the easiest place to land a plane, but great for skiing! 😄

[@eugenebatstone5658]

Really enjoy your videos. Keep em coming! 😀

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you Eugene! 🙏🏻

[@neilspye]

Magnificent!

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you!

[@walkingwithouttalking]

Wow, that‘s commitment! Very nice :) 👍🏾

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you! 😊🙏🏻 What types of skis do you use for the terrain you are in?

[@walkingwithouttalking]

My „light“ ski is a heavy salomon rocker 2 which is 120mm wide and my heavy ski is a super heavy atomic automatic, 141mm wide. with this one I can‘t walk much more than 1200 to 1400 meters in altitude but they‘re fantastic to ride deep snow.

[@KristianPletten]

@@walkingwithouttalking Gotcha. Must be a lot of fun on the downhill with those skis!

[@walkingwithouttalking]

Yes it is. Worth the uphill struggle :)

[@ronaldlinkenhoker5705]

Nice turns and beautiful scenery. I’d be looking around so much, I be down more than up😂

[@KristianPletten]

Thanks Ronald! 😊 Haha, well, it's a lot easier to watch the stars when laying on the ground, so I would consider that a win. 😄

[@tshansen]

Hahaha.... the many times going back to get the camera at the end....👏🏻 It makes such a huge difference, but common...that stuff is insane 🤣🔥 looked like mint conditions. Another great video I enjoyed alot. Still struggle with lack of creative flow so my days are spent looking trough stuff that inspire me. Thank you. Keep up the great work. Congrats with the 1000 mark mate! You deserve it. Cheers

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you! 😊 Haha, when I was skiing back to get the camera that last time I was pondering the idea of getting a GoPro. 😄 And yeah, the conditions are great at the moment. Or, reasonable. There's actually a thick layer of solid ice under this layer of fresh snow. I took off my skis to get the camera in the steeper sections and I was slipping and sliding all over. Not the best conditions in terms of avalanche safety this year unfortunately, so will have to keep a safe distance. But yeah, we've finally got a decent amount of snow. I hope you're able to push through it! Are you able to ski at the moment?

[@tshansen]

@@KristianPletten Haha, I would enjoy to see all the behind the camera stuff 🤣 I do understand why you would like a GoPro, but I think you would be pissed by the quality it produce. I'm not sure it will mix all that good with the R5, but you never know. Try and see 🔥 It has been a great winter this far here on the west coast, but to cold for my liking. Yes it is no problem when you skiing cross country, but if you stand still or try to take a break you need to many layers of extra clothing. brrrrr... I guess I will push trough it when it get's a little bit warmer, so I can take a camping trip. I refuse to spend a night in tent or hammock under -10 degrees 🤣

[@KristianPletten]

@@tshansen Haha, you're right. I have an older GoPro, and a drone, but almost every time I've used them I've ended up not using the footage due to the quality. A GoPro wouldn't work in the dim conditions I had in this video, but it might just work in broad daylight if I record audio separately. I've seen you get good results with the setup and workflow you have. Yeah, I've heard that there actually is winter on the west coast this year. But I agree, wouldn't mind if it was a tad warmer. It was -12 degrees C when I shot this video. 🥶 My beard was full of ice when I went to the grocery store on the way home. 😂

[@tshansen]

@@KristianPletten If you only use the GoPro to film fast moving stuff it is kinda ok, because your focus is not on the details. But you tell a visual story with so high quality it is hard to add so poor footage if it's not fast pace. we have had between -13 to -18 the last couple of weeks. And here at the coast that is really cold. 🙈 I'm sitting outside woodcarving alot, and my nose is so damn sore. today we finally got 5 pluss degrees. Can't wait to have more warmth in the daytime 🔥

[@KristianPletten]

@@tshansen Interesting and valid point! Thanks. 🙏🏻 Haha, that's crazy. 😄

[@SoleSistersPH]

Beautiful😊😊

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you! 😊🙏🏻

[@articcircleado]

Nice

[@CampfireKodiak]

I often do the same thing in Alaska however I usually iron kick wax on the tips and tails instead of skins.

[@KristianPletten]

Hah, interesting. I've never tried that. Does it work in steeper terrain as well?

[@CampfireKodiak]

@@KristianPletten Yes, I have climbed 1000 ft mountains with just Swix Green kick wax ironed into the tips and tails. I just switch back and forth up to the top. Conditions need to be perfect however or you'll break your leg coming down. Under perfect snow I can easily climb a 20-25 degree slope.

[@KristianPletten]

@@CampfireKodiak Interesting! You seem to know your environment quite well. Maybe I'll try this out. Thanks!

[@NatureBoy711]

man, i need to learn backcountry skiing ! what is that you are attaching to the ski? .....some kind of traction device??

[@KristianPletten]

It's great fun and very efficient. The thing I attach to the skis are called skins and you are correct that they help with traction. They have short hair (either nylon or mohair) slightly angled in the direction of travel which means they glide on the snow when you move the ski forward, but once you step on the ski and push them backwards they provide a lot of traction. They have a glue on the other side which make them stick to the ski. If you have a skin that covers the entire ski you can pretty much climb straight up. There is also a half skin which only covers the middle section of the ski, which gives you some traction but more glide.

[@nord-zauber9081]

Hello Kristian The video is wonderful. It looks so nice with Telemark skis, but it's definitely difficult, right? There are also Telemark skis with integrated skins under the bindings, right? Med vennlig hilsen Bernhard

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you! Yes, it's quite difficult to do telemark turns, especially with the skis I'm using here, which are regular backcountry skis. With a wider ski, telemark bindings and a stiffer boot it's a lot easier. And yes, you have lots of options for the skis. The ones I use here are backcountry skis with full length skin. Some skis have a skin only for the middle section (perfect for flat or rolling terrain). Some modern cross country skis have integrated skins, but they are used more for groomed tracks. And then you also have waxless skis, with a pattern underneath that provides grip, which can also be combined with either a half skin or full length skin if needed.

[@nahomiihinojosa5571]

🆒❤️💕

[@joshb.6166]

What skins are you using?

[@KristianPletten]

Oh, they are quite old. Synthetic skins from a Swiss-company called Montana. They've lasted for 15 plus years, but probably need a renewal of the adhesive some time soon.

[@AppalachianJonathan]

So was this also the rode stereo mic x?

[@KristianPletten]

Yes, all the hiking videos without music are with the Stereo Videomic X.

[@OmmerSyssel]

Hej Kristian, fine optagelser fra en flot tur ..! Vil du vælge E99 igen, eller der kommet bedre ski på markedet, til dit brug i fjeldet?

[@KristianPletten]

Hei der. Mange takk! Jeg har vel hatt dette paret med E99 nå i minst 15 år, og selv om jeg er svært fornøyd med skiene så skjer det jo stadig utvikling. Jeg har hittil ikke følt behov for å erstatte E99, men jeg kjenner stadig vekk på et behov for et nytt skipar som kan komplementere E99 til turer slik som på denne videoen. E99 er akkurat smal nok til å gå i preparerte løyper, så for meg er E99 en perfekt ski for bruk i løyper og de er også lette å gå med utenfor løyper, spesielt hvis snøen er tørr slik at det er lett å smøre dem. Men når snøene er dypere, det er mildere, eller det er kupert terreng så skulle jeg ønske jeg hadde et annet par ski. Skiene jeg vurderer å kjøpe i tillegg til E99 er Fischer S-bound 98, evt. Fischer Traverse 78, og bruke dem med BC-binding. Fordelen jeg ser med dem er at de først og fremst er bredere og har mer innsving som gjør dem mer kjekk å kjøre ned bakker med. Så er de også smørefrie og har feste for kortfelle. Det gjør dem i mine øyne mer fleksibel for turer som på denne videoen hvor det går kupert, så bratt før en nedkjøring og så kupert igjen. Da har man alltid litt feste med den smørefrie delen, og kan enkelt ta av og på feller. Har man ski som bruker smøring som mine E99 så er det ikke alltid så lett å veksle mellom kupert og bratt terreng, for å feste fellene utenpå smøring er ikke alltid det lureste. Jeg ender dermed ofte opp med å gå på feller, selv om det er kupert, og selv om det gir godt feste så er det ikke akkurat et fartsfylt opplevelse. Så det kommer an på hva slags terreng du går i. Mine neste ski kommer i hvert fall til å være smørefrie, med kortfellefeste og med mer innsving. Samtidig kommer jeg til å beholde E99 og foretrekker dem på kalde vinterturer på hard snø eller i preparerte løyper. Hvis du ikke har skisko fra før så ville jeg også vurdert den nye Rottefella-bindingen som heter Rottefella Xplore. Den virker spennende! Jeg har allerede skisko som jeg er fornøyd med som passer til BC-bindingen, så jeg kommer til å holde meg til det en del år til. Håper det hjelper!

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@KristianPletten mange tak for uddybende svar. Bra fjellski er tydeligvis mere end en model... Man må vel starte et sted og blive klogere på hvad der er passende, eller snarere bedste kompromis. Vekslende terræn, vejr og sneforhold er ingen herre over ☃️ Forsat gode ture i Fjellet ✌🏻🇳🇴🇩🇰

[@KristianPletten]

@@OmmerSyssel Takk. Lykke til!

[@Hgulix62]

ASMR for adventurers ! Keep going, you gonna blow up ;)

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you and thanks for noticing the audio! 😊👌🏻

[@rafas6476]

I am watching your videos non-stop that brutal, do you have instagram?

[@KristianPletten]

Thank you! 🙏🏻 Unfortunately I don't have an Instagram account. Soon I'll have a new website and blog up and running where I'll share more photos and information about Lofoten, hiking and filmmaking.

[@rafas6476]

@@KristianPletten I'll be aware, a hug from Portugal :)

[@xawerytrabka8813]

WTF telemark is ?