Free-heel skiing growing
in the region
Telemarking on the ski slopes
steady and strong. The wind is in your
face. you are so close to snow you want to
reach down and grab it, but all too soon,
BY DAVE SAMPSON
it’s all over.
Back on the chair, I remember the days
From THe CHaIrlIFT, through the you will find telemark skiers hunting for when pinheads would sport floppy-eared
blowing snow, I saw them. assaulting the the perfect line in true all-mountain fashion. toques and wool pants. now we are clothed
slopes with speed, grace and precision. you can find them on the steeps and in the in technical skiwear lined with fleece
Three skiers flowing in a graceful rhythmic deep, getting air in the pipes, assaulting the and covered in gore-Tex® membranes.
pattern. as I sat there, their fluid motions bumps, grinding it on the rails, or just laying a stylish helmet and hidden kneepads
mesmorized me. out fat cruising turns on the corduroy. keep us comfortable from the elements
at first, they looked like a trio performing myself, I enjoy the buffet ski approach – and safe from rocks, death cookies
some kind of snow dance. as they came a little bit of everything. Some corduroy and tree stumps.
closer they looked like cross-country early in morning and by the afternoon why try telemark skiing? For some, it
skiers, but more stable. Their I am deep in the trees tracking up the last is to make old terrain fun
heels were free of their skis for of the freshies. again, for others it offers
sure. as they passed under a new challenge to the
my chair, it was clear they bored. Personally, I like the
were fellow ‘pinheads, physical workout, the great
telemarkers’ or ‘free- community and exploring
heel skiers’. Soon the backcountry without
after passing under needing other special
my chair their gear.
bobbing bodies
disappeared
into the
trees.
Telemark skiers were
once known as hippies on sticks.
However, gone are the days of
straight and skinny skis, bamboo
poles with plate-sized baskets,
and double leather boots.
SYNCHRONIzED
Today’s telemark skier
TELEMARK SKIING
embraces shaped skis,
plastic boots and
telescoping poles.
unlike alpine skiers Telemarch, the region’s annual telemark
though, the floppy while in the midst of a telemark turn ski festival, is being held at mont Ste marie
bindings that keep your skis will cross over the fall line and on Saturday march 7, 2009. There will be
the heel free but safe your body gets pulled by gravity for a brief lots of telemark skiers, gear demonstration,
is a dead giveaway. instant before your uphill ski slips back in various clinics and ample draw prizes.
when I reached the behind your butt, and you crouch down For more information on telemark
top of the chairlift, I headed to a fully compressed lunge. This lunge skiing and activities in the region, contact
to my preferred run. There is a long flat track is the ‘telemark stance’. Being such a Free-heelers united, a locally owned
to get there and many try to ‘skate’ over it, stable position, it is the preferred landing and operated not-for-profit ski school,
OL
but most do the ‘alpine waddle’. without technique for the sport of ski jumping. If it which provides high-quality telemark

NIC gravity, a fixed heel can be a challenge for works for the para-gliders of the ski culture, skiing courses and clinics by certified
j
IM
some on flat terrain. with my heels free, I why not use it? CanSI instructors at a reasonable price.

B
Y
:
T
O
slip into a smooth walking glide and reach while in this stance you will feel a Contact: free-heel@freehealers.net or visit
P
HO
my destination with ease. healthy burn in the legs. The heart pumps the website: www.Free-heelers.net.
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca OTTAWA >> WINTER 2008/2009 15
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