February 22, 2010
Free your heel, expand your ski horizons
by Brion O'Connor/
(Mike Powell/Getty Images)
Tired of the same old terrain? Or maybe you just want to add a little spice to your traditional ski outing? Here's a terrific option: Try telemark. Not only is the telemark turn a great thigh-busting workout, but by freeing your heel, you'll expand your ski horizons, opening a raft of new terrain to go explore, whether at your favorite ski area or in the backcountry. But don't our word for it. Take it from Dickie Hall, founder of the Vermont-based North American Telemark Organization.
"This sport is the perfect fit for the modern outdoor enthusiast, because it's so versatile," the 56-year-old Hall said. "You can ride the lifts at Mad River Glen all week and enjoy powder skiing in the glades, and when it gets crowded on the weekends, you can ski up Camel's Hump and find untracked powder."
Hall's telemark epiphany struck when he was a teenager working ski patrol at Killington. "I grew up an alpine skier, and I loved the thrill of coming down a mountain on skis," he said. "Then I discovered the magic of Nordic skiing, the sense of adventure and fun, the freedom to go up Mount Washington or across Lake Champlain. However, there was a big chunk missing, and that was coming down the hill. The best you could do was a snowplow. There had to be a way to connect alpine and cross country."
The "back to the future" moment came when Hall discovered old photos of turn-of-the-century skiers, employing the ancient telemark turn. He started badgering equipment manufacturers to put edges on their Nordic skis (Karhu, Rossignol and Fisher were among the first), and outdoor organizations such as the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Adirondack Mountain Club to host lessons. He hasn't looked back.
"To be able to have the freedom and fun of Nordic skiing, the adventure of going anywhere in any direction, and then being able to enjoy coming down the mountain with the control and thrill of alpine skiing, that became my mission," Hall said. "To develop that as a sport, and to go out and spread the word."
"It makes perfect sense that this sport has taken hold like it has — it's here to stay."
Clearly, Hall has an ulterior motive. After all, teaching telemark is how he makes his living. But you don't stay in business for 30-plus years (Hall started his first telemark school at Mad River in 1979) without delivering on your promises. And the fact is, telemark remains one of the fastest-growing winter sports. In the past 10 years, telemark equipment has improved by leaps and bounds. Long gone are the old leather boots and three-pin bindings that appeared to be a broken ankle waiting to happen. Today's gear offers tremendous support and crisp performance, which in turn builds confidence. Plus, with proper instruction, the learning curve is relatively steep. As a result, it's no longer uncommon to find free-heelers carving turns at resorts throughout New England.
NATO offers a number of workshops, tours and camps throughout the Northeast (primarily in New Hampshire and Vermont), including the long-running Telemark Festival at Mad River Glen (set this year for March 13-14). For a complete calendar and details on these and other telemark programs, contact NATO at 1-800-835-3404, or visit telemarknato.com.
