Telemark Evolution Ep4.: 1990 telemark skis gear and it skis GREAT!

Let's try to telemark with my old telemark skis. This is epidose 4 of my experiment to ski telemark set ups from different eras.
I wear the Garmont Veloce Telemark boot and try 2 pair of skis.
The Salomon X-scream are mounted with the Voile CBR release plate that where pretty popular back in the day. I have not tested if they were still reliable and the one fall I took didn't need any releasing. The Binding is a Voile Binding, I think the Riva 2.
The other pair is the Rossignol Big-Bang mounted with the Rainey Super Loop. Fun fact is that 22Designs bought Rainey when they started and inspired their first binding, the Hammerhead.
In the end, I had lots of fun.
The telemark turn is a lot more fluid and I felt that I could play around more. The ski conditions outside of the groomers were not the best so I need to go back and try moguls, tree skiing and why not powder.
I really improved and felt more confident on these setups in the little time I had to try them. But I never managed to become as good as I used to be and I still feel that we are spoiled from modern telemark gear.
If you want to see more, visit our website: absolutetelemar...

[@WildMidwest1]

This is a wonderful series. I am a skier since 1969, and just dipping my little toe in the Telemark waters for the first time in 2022-23. I remember seeing other guys on the hill skiing tele with similar equipment in the 80s-90s. Wish I had their experiences, not just alpine and XC.

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thanks David. Had lot's of fun

[@larryparmer4578]

Rene; You have more nerve than me my friend. While I still have my Scarpa Brev F double boots, and Karhu 210's with 3 pin "mouse trap" bindings; there is no way I would take them out on the hill. Your video's brought back a lot of memories of skiing in the mid 60's though, and I thank you for that!! It was interesting to hear your comments comparing the different vintages of equip. While I lived through those changes myself it is difficult to remember many of the details after all these years. I am so thankful for the evolution that has taken place in both gear and technique. I feel the combination will prolong my skiing career by at least a decade. Even longer if I am lucky!

[@rbelang8331]

Très intéressante, cette façon de faire se rencontrer l'histoire, la techno & le ski via l'expérience. Malgré que tu sois un excellent skieur, tu restes humble et transparent... Qualité rare il me semble dans le monde du ski pro. BTW, j'aime beaucoup les Superloop...

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thanks

[@bc6881]

I love my vintage setup with Asolo Extremes and 1990 Tuas/Riva classic on 4” days in a mellow bowls.

[@michelemanfredi3078]

I really love this challenge even though the conditions were completely different. Always good quality video and lot of fun. Stay safe

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thanks Michele

[@johns3106]

As someone who has had many different setups, from leather lace ups and narrow 210cms skis (25-30 yrs ago), to Supercomps with Superloops (super!), to my current set up of plastic boots, 22designs bindings and super fat powder skis, I have to agree with your statement that we are spoiled with modern equipment. I always feel like I am cheating now! In the early days, tele was about doing "more with less"...now I just want to be able to ski well in gnarly places and will happily use what equipment it takes to do that...but I still get out on the old stuff every on in a while.

[@rickhalle-podell169]

trip down memory lane, I started tele in 1996, got my first gear with leather boots, then moved to scarpa boots like those very narrow skis and basic bindings, then moved up to Scarpa T race and now feel like I am ready to not work so hard. I forgot to mention I live in the Chicago area and only get to go on ski trips once or twice a year.

[@shanemilehi]

Hope to see more videos. Thanks

[@melissahopkinson8420]

Thanks so excited to ski this season!!

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thank you Melissa. Stoke for this season for sure

[@rickwiljamaa9829]

These are the type of equipment I learned on brings back memories. Hope you make some more videos soon?????

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thanks Rick, Will do

[@mononclesimon4528]

Love your winter beard 😉

[@Absolutetelemark]

Mononcle Simon thanks. I copied you

[@vireogilvus]

I haven't clicked my heels down since the late 80s. Super loop and squishier plastic boot was my favorite era in terms of feel. I absolutely cannot stand the feel of the modern NTN stuff, so I'm still out there a few days a week in nearly 20-year-old Garmonts (keep 'em pretty loose and ski in Walk mode) and G3 Reverends, but having to replace my bindings every so often (a few pairs of G3 Ascents and now Voile Switchback). If the industry doesn't revive any of this older tech, I'm going to be super bummed if my Ener-Gs die and I can't find something comparable in my size.

[@richardpetty4105]

I had Rainey super Loops mounted on Mega-Bangs.

[@Absolutetelemark]

Good setup! That was sooo wide.

[@macmurfy2jka]

That’s about the vintage setup I ski. You sure can get low. There has been at least a few times these last two seasons that I touched one of my knees to the ski deck. Balance is surely super important.

[@Absolutetelemark]

macmurfy2jka Yes. And I want to keep improving on this kind of setup. Maybe I could find another big bang

[@macmurfy2jka]

absolutetelemark yeah 75mm boots and binding really are just so simple, it’s hard to argue with the setup if you’re willing to ski none releasing bindings. Something like a Voile V6 with the Switcback hardwire binding and a set of Scarpa T4’s really seems like the ultimate simple rolling backcountry setup to me.

[@macmurfy2jka]

absolutetelemark btw Voile looks like they’re making everything in the States if that makes any difference. I’m sure you already know that, but if anyone else reading this didn’t realize that company is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. I always thought they were a French outfit! Go figure.

[@thestcroixkid]

Put a gopro mount on the top of your pole and use it like a selfie stick? Dude on another channel does that...you're a kickass skier by the way...

[@Absolutetelemark]

holding the gopro in my hand most of the time. It's too much assel when I'm patrolling to carry the pole or to set up. I just take a few minutes here and there when I got time, and this way it's easy.