Learning Telemark on Scaled Skis

[bauerb]

I learned tele on XC racing skis/boots in the 80's...its what I owned at the time. can you say: zero torque-ability? run what you brung

[TallGrass]

Is it more difficult to learn to tele on downhill skis that have scales vs. smooth bases?

Scales will have more friction, not slide as easy, and you may notices "rumbling" depending on snow conditions as any little snow "bump" runs down the scales, noticeable but not necessarily objectionable.

* I WOULD make sure you have properly fitting boots, and they to your bindings. *

There are two lines of thought regarding learning with different types of gear:
1. It will make learning harder as you have "learn" the new gear AND "learn" technique, aka more variables at play and to juggle.
2. It will make you a better skier having the experience of using different "tools."

run what you brung

I favor that approach, initially. Best to "dance with the one who brought ya" and no sense buying more gear before you have the experience to know what "you" want/need.

Use the same stuff both at "home" and in "school" so the focus is on learning the technique. If you "learn" the gear deep enough, you can bend it, stretch the limits, to do much more than its "niche." See the 0:20 mark...


That said, once you have the technique down (vertical learning), then get it down with other gear (horizontal learning). You'll doubt discover the Trade Offs among designs (A<--->B, better at A = worse at B, vice versa). I say trade-offs as if one was better at both A & B (and there is no C, D, ...) then that is all that'd be sold, and why there are different knives in a butcher block.

That said, it's all sliding around on snow... and falling... and mostly just Type I and II fun (DAMHIK). Good luck!

[WinterWoodsman]

Thanks guys!! A lot to consider there. I think because I have no downhill tele skis at all, I'll just buy something that is downhill oriented (as opposed to XC) and isn't too weird. May not be the correct most bestest thing, but I'm sure it will do fine as long as those boots fit well and the setup is functioning normally. Will deliberate gear once I have learned well years from now.

I have super wide feet at the front and my left is even wider due to surgical reconstruction so ski boots in general are very hard for me to find that actually fit. Not sure if there is a ski boot in existence that actually fits me correctly. And tele boots aren't exactly punch-able in the bellows area where my feet are widest. So I will likely resort to some makeshift voodoo to keep my foot from banging around in an oversized boot. Just a personal struggle I have with footwear in general. But, on the plus side, despite a being injured so badly that I maybe would never walk again, I'm running and hiking and skiing!!! Lucky guy!! Cheers y'all!

[WinterWoodsman]

By the way, that video is a priceless gem!!! Thanks!!

[JB TELE]

I would just get some old school downhill oriented tele skis, the kind with 65-80mm waists and lots of sidecut, some heavier duty 75mm bindings like the voile hardwires or 22 designs axl, a binding with a more "active" feel for more powerful tele turns, and keep using your excursions. The combination of a skinner waist and softer boot will translate the skills better into bcxc skiing. Lots of old school dudes still rocking 2 buckle soft plastics at the resorts and charging hard. 2 buckle soft plastics require a bit more skill and balance but they are still very capable for aggressive downhill.

[bauerb]

that Bill Koch movie is great. those years were my glory days of XC racing. note the quality of the "groomed" trails...a ski-do dragging a single track setter was normal for elite competition. lol. these days they have million dollar machines and scientific snow grown in a lab

[WinterWoodsman]

I would just get some old school downhill oriented tele skis, the kind with 65-80mm waists and lots of sidecut, some heavier duty 75mm bindings like the voile hardwires or 22 designs axl, a binding with a more "active" feel for more powerful tele turns, and keep using your excursions. The combination of a skinner waist and softer boot will translate the skills better into bcxc skiing. Lots of old school dudes still rocking 2 buckle soft plastics at the resorts and charging hard. 2 buckle soft plastics require a bit more skill and balance but they are still very capable for aggressive downhill.

Good advice!!! Thx!