A farmer’s son, Sondre Ouverson Norheim, from Morgedal in the Telemark region of Norway is often credited with performing the first Telemark turns. Fact or fiction the truth is that since 1870 the telemark style of skiing has been greatly admired.
Sondre, a talented craftsman, also carved a ski with a waist to help him turn; even into the 1940’s they were called telemark skis. Now we just call them carvers.
The Telemark style declined with the arrival of fixed heel bindings but during the 1970’s there was a resurgence of Telemark in the mid western American ski resorts. Ironically Sondre had moved too and eventually died in North Dakota in 1897. Perhaps his spirit was telling us something?
Telemark Today
From this historic tradition, modern Telemark has evolved to be a dynamic and graceful component of modern snow sports. The advantages of Telemark are many:
Telemark offers grace and dynamic rhythmic turns not possible with fixed heels
It offers the ultimate expression and feeling for off-piste and ski-touring
Modern equipment and advances in safety now allows everyone to participate
Learning New School Telemark is the new challenge in snow sports
It is easier now than ever
A cave painting dating back to 2000BC in Tjoetta, Norway, shows elk hunters on skis using long sticks known as lurks. The skill of using a lurk - taught by Ski4Real - has been resurrected today with the use of traditional wood poles as well as modern variants such as The Telestick
Telemarkers love meeting up to ski together and there are several festivals held all over the world including the freeheel festival at Livigno – La Skieda (www.skieda.com)
Telemark Courses
Ski4Real Courses consist of small, compatible groups with the emphasis on learning and progression through enjoyment and intuitive coaching.
Our coaching helps you focus on your own feelings providing the ultimate route to guaranteed performance.
Skiing is as much in the mind
as on the snow.
Using the positive aspects of your skiing we lead you to greater improvement and enjoyment.
We make extensive use of digital video, giving instant feedback on the mountain. This allows repeated retrial and encourages your improvement. A motion evaluation package provides later feedback, promoting further development. At the end of the course, students are offered a personal performance DVD together with an action plan designed to take you to your next step.
Course Levels
After the first lesson – in reality – all skiers are improvers. Definition and categorization can often create confusion and inhibit skiers but here at Ski4Real, we recognize each skier as an individual. All our coaching is personalized and tailored-made and so we prefer to discuss your individual needs and then suggest the correct course for you. Please telephone for a no-pressure chat.
