Instructions: Telemark Turn

The telemark can prove useful as a stop turn, especially if you are traveling in deep and heavy snow.

The telemark turn is sometimes compared to curtsies, only you do it in skis while you are going down a slope.  It is shifting from one ski to the other, advancing each even as both of your legs are bent and then straightened as you prepare for the next turn.

The telemark turn provides improved stability in the fore-and-aft sections, as well as increased adjustability of the longer stance.  Thus, it is particularly useful when you are skiing off-piste or in difficult conditions.

To do a telemark turn, be sure that you start with the following stance: an upright torso (do no hunch ove), your hips should be back vis-à-vis the rear ski, the front knee bent and the back knee tucked in and your hands are in view before you.  Equally distribute you weight to the front and the back of the ski.  You can do this by making sure your ankles are relaxed so that it can get the ball of your foot on the ski.

To initiate the turn, you first edge the outside ski using a flat hill.  This is done together with your lifting your inside ski’s heel so that the inside ski is shifted to the back.  The outside ski then becomes your downhill ski as you complete the turn.  As you do the turn, you will need to shift your weight from the outside ski to the inside ski.  The ratio of weight distribution really depends on the quality of snow you are skiing on.  The ratio of distribution can be from 50/50 up to 80/20.

Admittedly, the telemark turn is not as commonly used in the world of skiing.  However, the ability to do a telemark turn is one proof that a skier is an expert, especially when one is able to
do this while speeding down a particularly steep slope.

To use the telemark turn as a stop turn, first you ski down the slope in an oblique position, with your weight equally distributed on your two skis.  Then, flex one knee forward and transfer you weight to the ski of the knee being flexed.  Then the other ski is moved across the snow, shifting your weight to this ski and making it come ahead.  At this point, your body should be straightened, although its angle is leaning a bit inwards. The last step would be to put the two skis in parallel.