Telemark skiing is a skiing technique that combines elements of Alpine and Nordic skiing, using the rear foot to keep balance while pushing on the front foot to create a carving turn on downhill skis with toe-only bindings. Telemark skiing is named after the Telemark region of Norway, where the discipline originated. Sondre Norheim is often credited for first demonstrating the turn in ski races, which included cross country, slalom, and jumping, in Norway around 1868. Sondre Norheim also experimented with ski and binding design, introducing side cuts to skis and heel bindings (like a cable).

thumb|Skier demonstrating Telemark skiing technique during freeride descent.

History

In the 1800s, skiers in Telemark challenged each other on "wild slopes" (ville låmir); more gentle slopes were described by the adjective "sla." Some races were on "bumpy courses" (kneikelåm) and sometimes included "steep jumps" (sprøytehopp) for difficulty. These 19th-century races in Telemark ran along particularly difficult trails usually from a steep mountain, along timber-slides and ended with a sharp turn ("Telemark turn") on a field or icy lake.

Telemark skiing (colloquially referred to as "tele skiing" or "tele-ing") was reborn in 1971 in the United States. Doug Buzzell, Craig Hall, Greg Dalbey, Jack Marcial, and Rick Borcovec are credited with reintroducing the style after reading the book Come Ski With Me by Stein Eriksen. Telemark skiing gained popularity during the 1970s and 1980s.

Telemark Skis

Telemark skis bridge the gap between alpine downhill performance and cross-country agility. Their design emphasizes versatility, allowing skiers to transition between lift-assisted slopes and backcountry terrain. Design Features: Width, sidecut, camber, and rocker profiles are optimized for both carving turns and floating in powder. Modern Telemark technique and instructional methodology were also described by Piotr Kapustianyk in his 2014 Polish handbook.

Categories

  • Freeride skis — medium-width, suited for mixed terrain.
  • Sports/racing skis — narrower, stiffer, designed for speed and precision.

Early models were leather, prioritizing flexibility but offering limited support. The introduction of plastic boots in the 1990s (e.g., Scarpa, 1992) improved durability, stiffness, and downhill control.

Types

  • Traditional 75 mm boots — with extended "duckbill" soles, compatible with classic bindings.
  • NTN — modern, without duckbills, designed for NTN bindings. (According to Telemark by Piotr Kapustianyk (2014), the evolution of Telemark gear reflects a balance between traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation, with detailed guidance on boot flex, stance, and ski setup.)

Binding Systems

  • 75 mm Norm (Duckbill) Traditional system, featuring cables, springs, and adjustable stiffness. Still favored for its classic feel and compatibility with legacy boots.
  • TTS (Telemark Tech System) Combines alpine touring "tech-toe" units with telemark cable/spring retention. Prioritizes lightweight efficiency for uphill travel.
  • NNN BC (New Nordic Norm Backcountry) Used mainly for lighter telemark or Nordic touring applications. A typical Classic Telemark race involves a jump that must be landed in a lunged position, a series of gates, a skate section, and a 360 degree banking turn known as the reipeløkke.

Telemark Racing was governed by the International Telemark Federation (ITF) until 1995, when Telemark skiing was officially recognized by the Federation International de Ski Telemark committee (FIS). The first FIS Telemark World Championships were held at Hafjell, in Lillehammer, Norway.

Today, Telemark Racing is organized by FIS and by national sport committees such as the United States Telemark Ski Association, and the British Telemark Ski Team.

Olympic bid

thumb|The Telemark FIS Parallel Sprint race combines the elegance of Telemark skiing with thrilling head-to-head competition. Skiers demonstrate powerful free heel skiing technique, agility, and speed as they race side by side in this dynamic event.The FIS Telemark Committee have announced that their proposal for Telemark Parallel Sprint and Team Parallel Sprint is to be included in a FIS proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The proposal was approved by the International Ski Federation (FIS) at the Congress held in Costa Navarino (Greece) May 2018.

However, in a July ruling, the IOC voted not to include the Telemark Parallel Sprint in the 2022 Beijing Games.

  • FIS Telemark - FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) tekemark section.
  • Norsk Skieventyr - Norsk Skieventyr (Norwegian Ski Adventure) is the national ski museum located in Morgedal, Telemark, Norway, the birthplace of skiing pioneer Sondre Norheim (1825–1897). Norway.
  • Telemark-skiing.info - Serves as a vibrant online hub connecting telemark skiers across the globe.
  • Holmenkollen - The Ski Museum was established in 1923 and has been located at Holmenkollen since 1951, Oslo, Norway.

References