Freeheeler Mag 2010 English by Richard Schürf

Telemark SKi test 2010/11

all the new products

Haute route // gulmarg// scufoneda news // products // calendar

c ontents 3-9

| news

Events, comps, calendar, products, and other noteworthies.

10-12 | report

Do we need a safety binding? A report by Arno Klien.

13 In the mid-nineteenth century, skis were used in Norway to travel through the deep snow-covered landscapes. Back then, it was often the only choice when trying to get from A to B. Sondre Norheim, a farmer from Morgedal in the Telemark region, contributed to the conversion of the pure means of travel to a piece of sports equipment by developing parabolic skis with a binding made of woven willow branches to be tied around the heel. In 1868, at age 41, he won the most important ski competition of the times in Christiania with his own gear ahead of many younger competitors. Telemark skiing is the origin of many winter sports disciplines such as ski jumping, cross-country, or alpine skiing. All these disciplines became very popular because at the Olympics or World Championships, their protagonists became winners, victors, heroes and idols. Nothing like telemarking – in spite of progressing constantly over the years, it still has been preserved in its original form. Telemarking is not an Olympic discipline nor part of the Alpine Ski World Championships, but it has created its very own world outside these commercial mega events with events and race series all over the planet. And there, telemarking is lived and celebrated with growing popularity, always in keeping with the motto: “free your heel and your mind will follow.” And it will always remain a sophisticated winter sports discipline. Which is good, because even those who have tried everything on skis before, will find that telemark skiing is at last an ultimate challenge. It has gone through all ups and downs, but telemark skiing has always managed to not vanish into thin air. Freeheeler Telemark Magazine will continue to accompany telemark skiing and enjoys being the international voice of it, to show the diversity and fascination of this wonderful sport.

| review

The 9th edition of the Telemarkfestival in Stubaital was just great ...

14-20 | Telemark test

Telemarkfriends have tested all the new telemark skis for you.

| boots

| bindings

Overview of all manufacturers' tele boots. See what's available this year.

26-30 | haute route

Telemark trip with Christian Haeffner and his friends: 180 km from Chamonix to Zermatt.

| freeheel spring break Freeheel World Masters Finals.

34-38 | carezza

What's "Freeriding" after all?

40-42 | gulmarg

Freeheeling in India's wildflower meadows.

44-45 | Interview

Interview with Paul Packer.

| scufoneda

| knitfell

| desert a la freeheller

The famous European Telemark meeting in the Italian Dolomites.

Desert Telemarking – something we'll definitely do again...

52-53 | morgedal

Once in a lifetime... every telemarker should have been here!

| tele kiting

Imprint PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Richard Schürf (responsible for editorial) +++ Cover photo: Ricardo Montoro +++ contributing writers: Patrick Droste, (telemarkfriends.com) Andreas Schäfer, Peter Schilcher, Hamish Moore, Arno Klien, Heino Jahn, Christian Haeffner, Franz Faltermaier, Hans-Martin Kroll, Oddo Broglia (telemarktribe. com), Henrik May +++ photographers: Patrick Droste, Lars Jonetat, Mirko Peters, Hamish Moore, Robert Szkudlarek, Michael Wolf, Christian Haeffner, Franz Faltermaier, Oddo Broglia, Henrik May +++ Gestaltung & Layout & Production: Sandra C. Mayer (die denkbar) printing: pva Druck und Medien Dienstleistungen GmbH, www.pva.de +++ MANAGEMENT, PUBLISHING OFFICE, ADVERTISING: Richard Schürf GmbH, Solothurner Str. 49, D-81475 München, ph. +49 (0)8975079401, E-mail: info@telemarkworks.com +++ translations: English: Wolfgang Greiner, French: couapel@online.de, Italian: carolina@communication-center.net +++ distribution: freeheeler telemark magazine is published in German, English, French, and Italian. It is distributed free of charge at events, in shops and as an insert of: skiing – the next level, berglust www. berglust.info, Fri Flyt www.friflyt.no, Fluid www.freepresse.com, Sportler Versand www.sportler.it. +++ The editor and the publisher are not responsible for texts and pictures sent in without request. The magazine and all its contents are protected by copyright. Reproduction and re-publishing of any contents or excerpts of the contents requires written consent of the publisher. Editorial contributions marked with the author‘s name are not necessarily displying the publisher‘s opinion.

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Freeheeler.eu PRESENTS THE international Telemark festivals 2010/11 Nov 19-21, 2010 Stubaier Telemark Festival

Stubai/Austria www.stubaier-telemark-festival.com

NOV 26-28, 2010 Telemark Opening 2010

Schnalstal/Italy  www.telemarksnowevents.it

DEC 19, 2010

Sport Schindele Allgäu Masters

JAN 8-9, 2011

Telemark Opening Asitz/Leogang

Grünten/Germany  www.sport-schindele.de

Leogang/Austria  www.klikosport.at

JAN 15-16, 2011 Sportler Telemark Festival

Carezza/Italy  www.freeheel.it

JAN 29, 2011 U.S. Tele-X

BERGANS Filefjell Jacket The Filefjell Jacket is a classic hardshell. Typically for Bergans, it is equipped with the highly stretchable and non-porous Dermizax™ Membrane. If you are into high-performing sports and want to make use of many combination options, you should choose this 3-way hardshell. As for technical features, it offers the entire Bergans-like equipment – from the extra long ventilation zippers via the detachable snow skirt all the way to the anatomical motion cut with extended back. The large and fully adjustable hood has a lacing that is led all around the face to guarantee the utmost fitting possible and a dry interior even in the worst of conditions. The high breathability of the Dermizax™ Membrane is supported by the extremely so-called Slim Tapes: this results in the smallest possible interior area being sealed, allowing the membrane to breath more.

Steamboat Springs Colorado/USA www.sswsc.org

FEB 5, 2011

Freeheel German Masters

GaPa/Germany  www.freeheeler.eu

FEB 18-20, 2011 Bregenzer TeleWald

Bregenzer Wald/Austria www.bregenzertelewald.de

FEB 18-20, 2011 V TelemarkCamp Erzgebirge

Oberwiesenthal/Germany www.telemarkcamp.de

FEB 19-20, 2011 Otavalo Freeheel French Masters

Chamonix Les Houches/France www.freeheeler.eu

FEB 25-27, 2011 Telemarkfestival Bayerischzell

Sudelfeld/Germany  www.bergzeit.de www.schneestolz.de

MAR 4-6, 2011

Morgedal Games

Morgedal/Norway  www.morgedal.com

MAR 13-20, 2011 Scufoneda

Marmot Alpinist Jacket The Alpinist Jacket is the ”flagship“ of the Marmot collection of shells. The completely re-designed 3-layer GORE-TEX® Pro Shell Stretch jacket is perfect for all alpine challenges under extreme conditions. For long powder runs, the Alpinist Pant can be tightly zipped into the jacket, the zipper itself is detachable. Materials: GORE-TEX® Pro 3L, 94% Nylon, 6% Elastane Stretch 2.8 oy/yd. Price around 500.- Euro.

Moena/Italy  www.scufons.com

MAR 23-27, 2011 Telemarkfest 2011

Kleinwalsertal/Austria  www.telemarkfest.de

APR 8-10, 2011 Freeheel Spring Break

Galtür/Austria  www.galtuer.com

Freeheel World Masters Finale

APR 9-16, 2011 Livigno Freeheelfest

Livigno/Italy  www.livignofreeheel.it

2nd Trophee Pyreneen TELEMARK

France/Spain, tropheepyreneentelemark.com

FIS WORLD cup Telemark 2010/11

www.fis-ski.com, www.telemark-weltcup.de JAN 12-13, 2011 Hindelang, Oberjoch/Germany JAN 15-16, 2011 Kobla/Slovenia JAN 18-19, 2011 Kreischberg/Austria JAN 21-22, 2011 Rauris/Austria FEB 3-4, 2011

Thyon/Switzerland

FEB 7-8, 2011

Meribel/France

FEB 11-12, 2011 Gran Pallars/Spain MAR 15-19, 2011 World Championships Rjukan/Norway

15th – 19th of March 2011 in Rjukan, Telemark World Championships close to Sondre’s home What’s more proper than a Telemark World Championships in Telemark? March 15th -19th 2011 the free heelers most important competition will take place in Rjukan, just over the mountain from the home of Telemark and ski legend Sondre Nordheim. Rjukan has hosted World Cups in Telemark yearly since 2004. Their races are known as the Telemark skiers “Holmenkollen days”, in the very best meaning. They have a tradition for perfect conditions, a lot of spectators, great cultural programs and a lot of fun. - Our goal from the start of the World Cups was to organise a World Championships in Telemark skiing. Now we have almost reached it, even though it’s a lot of work to be done in the comings months and weeks, says Chariman of the Organising Committee for Åsnes FIS Telemark World Championships 2011, Mr. Kjell-Gunnar Dahle. He’s in charge of a staff of about 100 volunteers, with around 20 of them working with the preparations and the rest coming in for the week in March. Rjukan is the seventh biggest ski resort in Norway, now with 12 lifts and about 30 km alpine slopes. Just beside is Mount Gausta, with tremendous possibilities for off pist skiing. One of the goals for the Organisers is to reach 5000 spectators during the three race days (Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday). - As a resort we use events like this World Championships to promote ourselves. Getting a lot of spectators is the most important issue for making excellent TV pictures. And excellent TV pictures is excellent promotion, says Dahle, who can promise TV production from all the tree race days. - There will be produced an international TV-signal too. Do you know any TV company that might be interested, give us a call, and we will see what can be offered.The total budget for the World Championships is about € 650 000, mostly payed by sponsors and local and regional governments. The Norwegian Ski Federation gives also great support to the Organisers. - We will try to make this World Championships to a great Telemark Party Week, with world class ski performances, excellent cultural programs and great fun for everyone: Skiers, leaders, sponsors, spectators, guests and organisers. Welcome to Rjukan, Telemark in March 2011. Do you need accommodation, visit www.visitrjukan.com. For other World Championships information, visit www.vm2011.rjukan.no, says Chairman of the Organising Committee, KjellGunnar Dahle.

The original Sondre Norheim T-Shirt BY Knicken Telemarkwear Sondre Norheim T-Shirt // sizes S-XL // colors: white and peppermint // 100% cotton, Single Jersey, 150g, Info: www.telemarkwear.com

MIDLAND: UNLIMITED COMMUNICATION FOR WINTER SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS

Just in time for the new season, Alan Electronics introduced the first multi-functional high-tech intercom for winter sports enthusiasts. Two people can stay connected on- and off-piste constantly up to a distance of 200 meters without using their hands or taking off the gloves in freezing cold weather before operating their phone or audio player. The ”MIDLAND BT Ski“ can be attached to most ski and snowboard helmets with a Velcro® fastener. The product is guaranteed to be water resistant and there‘s an automatic volume adjustment in case the surroundings are getting a little louder. The cool look is accompanied by an innovative ”inside“: The device connects cordless via Bluetooth with the second MIDLAND BT Ski. The same is the case with other Bluetooth cell phones, MP3 players, or GPS navigation systems. An optional cable connects iPods and other MP3 players of all kinds. More info and a dealer index are available at www.alan-electronics.de

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TELEVISION

Powderwhore Productions just announced the release of their 6th telemark ski movie “TeleVision”, which they call their finest backcountry ski flick yet. A strange El Nino year forced the makers of the movie to climb further, dig deeper and flat out try harder in order to create a film worthy of a “Powderwhore Production”. Mission accomplished. TeleVision is the continuing tradition of filming top telemarkers playing in untracked powder mixed with big lines, humor, air time, spills, and all the required deep face shots of a good ski porn. TeleVision‘s highlight reel delivers the finest backcountry powder skiing from classic big-mountain arenas around the world. This year’s feature includes huge Alaskan lines in the Chugach ripped to shreds by the lovely and talented Megan Michelson, Telemark World Champion Paul Kimbrough, and young phenom Jake Sakson. Resident Powderwhores Noah Howell and Jason West take care of business as usual on their home slopes of the Wasatch Mountains. Another successful trip to the remote peaks of Haines, Alaska, puts Nick Devore, Andy Jacobsen, Will Cardamone, and Chris Erickson on top of the steepest lines ever touched by telemark skis. Andrew McLean, Noah Howell, Jim Harris, and Courtney Phillips venture deep into Alaska‘s Revelation Mountains to explore and ski first descents. Ty Dayberry flips and spins his way back onto the screen and of course, Powderwhore delivers their deepest powder feast ever, starring Paige Brady, Will Cardamone, Chris Erickson, and Jake Sakson, all smothered by the greatest snow on earth. www.powderwhore.com

The Freeheel Life 2: Hippies, Punx & Misfits ”The Freeheel Life 2“ describes the history of telemarking, from its roots in Norway and its rediscovery in the USA in the 70ies to its modern appearance as a trendy winter sport. Part of the movie are legendary veterans like Tom Carter and Doug Robinson, as well as some of the new visionary and wild freeheelers such as Candy Froerer, Weston Deutschländer, or Ty Dayberry. The film was shot at locations in Norway, Utah, Alaska, and California. With this variety, Hippies, Punx & Misfits approaches telemarking in a wider way than its antecessor ”The Freeheel Life“. ”The story features more levels, more documentary elements and follows a more consistent plot“, says Josh Madsen. Get ready, lean back and enjoy telemark footage that is currently probably the most extraordinary available – on and off-piste. It‘s a journey through some of telemark‘s hippies, punks and misfits, which you don‘t want to miss. The official The Freeheel Life 2: Hippies, Punx & Misfits trailer is available at: www.telemarkskier.com

The Stubai Telemark Festival turns 10... …and that’s a good reason to celebrate with all friends of telemarking! For an entire weekend, everything is all about free heel skiing – from complimentary tests of the latest trends to cool workshop and the Freeheel Austrian Masters. Not to forget this year’s grand anniversary party. We are planning to party all night long and hit the slopes again right after! We prepared two great event packages for everyone interested. Detailed information, registration facts and everything else can be found at www.stubaier-telemarkfestival.com.

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By Arno Klien

ACCIDENT RESEARCH, RISKS OF GETTING INJURED, PREVENTION: DO WE NEED A SAFETY BINDING? FOR YEARS, THIS QUESTION WAS NOT POSED. There was just no need for it. Although skis were roughly two meters long, lightweight, narrow and with radii of more than 100 meters, critical situations almost never occurred in combination with leather boots. In case of a crash, everything was just flying around everywhere around the skier, but nothing really ever happened. Very early, the German Technical Control Board (TÜV) commented that the single pivot binding would not cause large leverage to bear on the legs. Early research conducted since 1996 by Dr. Michael Tuggy (Seattle) -- a.k.a. “Dr. Telemark” – showed that telemarkers only had half as many accidents as Alpine skiers or snowboarders. He also compared different equipment pieces, skill levels and terrains. Between 1996 and 2006, research was done in Norway (Ekeland/Sulheik/Rödven) with the result that the accident ratio upon telemarkers was only 0.7 per 1,000 skiers/day. Compared to Alpine skiers (1.1) and snowboarders (2.3), this was considerably better. Similar results were found during research conducted in Scotland between 1999 and 2005. Merging significant injuries into groups, head-neck-shoulder account for 37%, knee-lower leg-ankle for 31% and arm-wrist-hand for 16% (fig. 1). Injuries on the thumb (“skier’s thumb”) were most likely skipped, and mostly underestimated, but they actually involve a longer rehab time, and Tuggy/Ong (2000) classified this injury as the second most frequent (18%) after the knee (27%) and before the shoulder (12%). Women’s knees are in greater danger than men’s. Similar results were found in an Oregon-based research (Federiuk/Mann, 1999), even though a third of the persons observed already used safety bindings, which -- at the time -- failed to release reliably in 80% of the cases.

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Carving skis and synthetic ski boots of the early 90s started not only an increase in the number of binding systems, but also allowed for higher speeds on the slopes, in powder, or in racing. Voilé was the first company to offer a piston-like release binding, but it did not match the standards of Alpine ski bindings, although it did release the ski. The Rottefella TRP 100 plate binding was a forerunner in terms of safety – the first binding with the TÜV seal of approval. It was also mandatory in the FIS races between 1999 and 2002, which was later replaced by a pure recommendation. It was heavy, expensive and did not sell well. The 7tm plate binding by Rainer Zoor with DIN test seal (ISO-9462 certified) stirred up the safety market in 2003, complemented by ski stoppers, touring function (2004) and finally, today, by step-in (STI) systems. Ever since, additional features are in the center of attention, like comfortable entry and combinable touring mechanisms, possibly with crampon attachments. An accumulation of functionalities at the weight’s expense! Not until the Rottefella-NTN, the 75 Norm came to an end, which reigned Telemark skiing with and later without pins or cables from the very beginning, even long after the crosscountry skiers had switched to other systems. The problem of simply transferring the Alpine ISO safety standards (11088) to telemarking was based on the fact – amongst others – that the vertically freed heel did not offer the same numerical release values but fluctuating ones depending on the knee/sole-angle.

Thus, false releases were hard to get a grip on. Lucia Steinhauser displayed the pure forces on the knee alone in her thesis in 2009. They highly depend on the respective angles, contact areas as well as the constantly changing contact pressure on the patella (kneecap) and the multi-level cartilage structure. (fig. 2) If the knee is at a 90-degree angle, the contact area under pressure was determined to be 744 sqmm. At the same time there is pressure as high as 14,900 N, which is assumed to be the exact pressure also effective during a telemark turn in low stance. A joint-protecting technique should certainly be tried or learned with optimal phases of strain relief and the right balance of the weight onto both skis (centralized, ready-tomove body posture), whereas (with certain qualification) extreme movements respectively final positions in the joints are to be avoided. The telemarker’s knee, after all, is moved in exactly the axis, which it is meant to move in the first place. Strong muscles stabilize the joints, especially the multi-directional knee, and cause joint stiffness / stability. Training and technique have a preventative effect. The injury patterns have moved upward, which can also be clearly seen in the following: Very early, the helmet has become a natural accessory for telemarkers. Regarding racing, FIS embraced all snow sport disciplines in the 2006-07 season, with telemarking being included only in 2008-09, which enables us to compare all disciplines directly. Urban Simic is considering that telemarking, compared to the other FIS disciplines, is one of the safest sports (fig. 3, FIS 2009). Surveying 131 telemark racers, 94 of them men, the research showed: Head-shoulder-arm-hand-thumb (48.9%), knee-lower leg-ankle (37.1%)! The knees’ share only sums up to 10.6% according to the 2009 FIS report’s table (Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center), compared to 37.1% in the Alpine skiing discipline (fig. 4). This means that telemarking has less impact on the knees.

K 1 Force vector Quadriceps K 2 Force vector Lig. patellae R resulting compression force

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Since the beginning of the year 2009, students of the TU Munich (chair of product development) are researching the methodical development of innovative telemark binding concepts. Skiing on-slope is clearly different from all the other varieties. Josh Madsen (USA) is convinced that there is no need to include all possible functionalities into a binding – ski touring is a different sport! Oddo Broglia (Telemarktribes) has an even stronger opinion and suggests three categories of bindings – all of which with ISO release mechanism: one inexpensive beginners’ binding with no special features, one touring binding with a lightweight pivot in the front and the option to attach a crampon, and one binding for speed/ racing/off-piste that could be more solid and heavier. The first Seven-Summiter, Pat Morrow, thinks that a release function is important to get out of the bindings quickly in case of an avalanche in the backcountry. Geri Tumbasz (HUN) shares this opinion and suggests ski stoppers on top. But: the sole lip of an NTN shoe can break when using crampons or climbing rock, but Garmont managed to solve that problem by designing an exchangeable lip. Scarpa’s and Crispi’s NTN boots also offer the possibility to use the Dynafit TLT system and lock the heel. This could be useful to attract lateral entrants to the Telemark sport. For Intersport retailer, World Championship contestant and cross specialist Thomas Wielandner (AUT) there are more important features and qualities before he would vote for a release function for average telemark skiers: these are namely durability, touring function, good fit, low weight, nice design and a fair price – all of the above found in the G3 Ascent. Swiss racer Amélie Reymond regards safety bindings as safety insurance for injuries of the ligaments due to edge slips. But she also thinks that there are certain trade-offs possible, for example by using springs and cables of different strengths. Chris Lau (FRA) says that safety bindings eliminate his fear of injuries; but the binding needs to be adjusted carefully. Different usages call for different typical criteria: Average skier/safety, price; on-slope skier/ usefulness; racer/hard and strong binding; tourer/weight, reliability; powder freaks/softer, more elastic binding; freestyler/. . . To two thirds, my current personal preference focuses on the usage of a 75-norm binding because the soft and harmonious flex with its compression springs counts stronger than the disadvantage of the limited lateral tolerance. Nevertheless, the safety leashes – certainly a legitimate feature in certain areas of application – should be substituted for ski stoppers to avoid an anchor effect. In spite of the limitations of the market, there are currently 22 different bindings, respectively product variations, which is a never before seen variety. The existing conflict between sales, development, and production could reduce the result to a general mediocrity, either in favor of the multi-functionality or to its expense. It definitely does not relieve the user of his or her personal risk management. Safety bindings are in any case simplifying the decision, especially for beginners. The spectrum of demands is difficile and manifold. To combine everything – as our evaluation showed – is a very complex challenge for the industry. The students Hans-Martin Kroll and Bernd Hassmann wrote their entire thesis at the Technical University of Munich in 2010 on very similar topics . . . Sources available from the author, freeheeler 2010 Hollabrunn, August 1, 2010

report

Motivated by the – in his own opinion – non-appropriate extent of comfort and safety functionalities regarding the existing binding systems, scientific associate Bernd Schröer initiated the project. A team of students of sports science, engineering, and industrial design are discussing new ways for telemark bindings and, in the course of it, learn how to deal with product development methods in a realistic environment. The activities range from comprehensive analysis in lab and field tests via conversations with experts and consumers to the investigation of several biomechanical aspects; the goal is to develop innovative concepts and their prototypical implementation to show all of today‘s possibilities. Especially the comprehensive surveys helped to find many important demands of providing an innovative binding system, first of all crucial features such as the step-in/step-out comfort or safety functions. The entire team would like to thank the European telemark scene for its help and involvement. Obviously, the small but very (re-)active telemark family has expressed very heterogeneous demands and thus resembles a very special aspect for the development task, which is supposed to be considered more strongly in all further activities. Special thanks also to all supporters from within the industry. In addition to 7tm and Hammerhead, Rottefella, Black Diamond, and Blizzard have supported the product benchmarking with equipment; boots by Garmont are currently the basis of the on-going conceptual development, which also includes the observation of the telemark sport and its interactions with other snow sports. First prototype tests are expected for next season, all following activities can be started in coordination with selected industry partners afterwards.

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The 9th edition estival F k r a m e l e T e h t f o . .. t a e r g y l p im s s a in Stubaital w nts more! and everybody wa

was weather the great e success of , ly in a t r Ce th sible for d a rco-respon riday was at first F r . Satu day the event d s, b u t o n o n e a n d u lo c y b g kened were en in a y, t h e y and Sund s the only thing se a w n u the s the skies.

here that characd stress-free atmosp relaxed, friendly an the s wa it d, en s were busy from the oth But in t. The company bo en ev c ssi cla s thi of ition wanted to test the terized the ninth ed n. The telemarkers late in the afternoo till ng rni mo the ch in ex ange their know early they just wanted to er oth the on , nd e ha latest gear on the on for the new season. ns pla ke ma d an ledge s tent either. Many of the telemarkfriend nt fro in nt me mo ll air a du a little bit. Others reg And there was neve rest their tired legs to ge un Lo TF Or the of for the workshops. telemarkers made use . Or they signed up nk dri or ck sna le th a litt ned their powers wi municate. com to d nte wa t they jus of the fun event. In spite er easy-going and oth an re we rs an, ste ian Ma mingling. Thomas Sp The Freeheel Austr ing out together and ng ha all re we ers rac nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s race on the short athletic ambitions, the prisingly won the me sur , ele nk KĂź rc Ma d jer an followed by Michi Tro course. very clearly visible n rte ga ms Ga but from ee in first in front of thr esa Brenner came Ter se. pri sur a r, for rge o up Katharina Palmbe The women were als ly Susann Scheller, me na m, Tea l na tio an Na ladies from the Germ

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ift were very cool. village pub in Neust right in front of the t ten i tip the in er, and plan the s be The evening e Hacker-Pschorr ce to meet, drink a nic pla st be the is on This locati the mountains. upcoming months in the Stubai ski arkers (according to ongst the 700 telem am re he 10th anniosp atm the to the After all, is looking forward t every single one tha d sse pre ex ) ny lift compa mber 19-21, 2010. versary event Nove

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Telemark ski test May. the Telemark Ski Test last markfriends organized ibly red For the eighth time, tele inc nd tt, where we fou the location was Zerma the h For the second time, wit n and in combinatio snowed a few times t righ good conditions. It had the In nice spring snow. re treated with some ed ect warm weather, we we exp the t s definitely me some nice firn snow. Thi moments, we even had t. re qualifications for our tes ner Steg on a little mo located near the Trocke in aga s wa on The test center ttel gsa Fur k us up to the m there, the chairlift too e than 2,900 meters. Fro was a beauty: first a littl re the slope starting from re 3,349 meters. The test we we ce off-piste. Hen e on-piste, and some steeper, then flatter, som . ons diti spectrum of con able to test the entire re than was supported by mo from telemarkfriends rs skie The team of six anc expert to adv ed bent telemark abilities from 20 testers with differe e for which ski was suitabl t to quickly find out ginner. This was perfec which skier. ugh a ski. If this wasn‘t eno s given one run to test Usually each tester wa go to e abl the testers were s were not sufficient, or the first impression le sing ry eve posed to ski l: Every tester was sup for a second run. The goa g. ire undertakin s available for the ent test ski in the three day

Droste Text// Patrick

äfer, Peter Schilcher with Andreas Sch

ly that there are basical , we were convinced As early as on day one s litie qua n del has its ow more. Every single mo no bad skis around any ain terr cific snow and t ski on a day with spe and could be the righ g of mega fat skis like dlin han of e: The ease conditions. Also a surpris se skis have measuor the Hart Python. The the Duret Monstre Pow ible to ski only two e been regarded imposs rements that would hav l˝ skis, at least they y feel almost like ˝norma years ago. But now, the display any distinct here and they do not are controllable everyw they also work on feel best off-piste, but downsides. They surely those fatties diresting perception is how the slopes. Another inte

Telemark ski test page 15 ing, and the tip, 177 mm unter the bind category. The specs: 203 mm on ted crea ly t. new don‘ rs this othe e, shap out! This ps: Some feature a rocker cannot possibly be skied. Far vide themselves into sub-grou tail. You may think that this baby the on e mm shap 193 ered rock – a little feel like on a beach in Cali on the groomed, given that it‘s With rocker shape, you almost s! Certainly off-piste, but even orm perf in ster rise mon early an of Guaranteed. feeling. Skis with this kind With this ski all eyes are on you. definitely provides a great surf softer. And one thing is clear: JJ, Moment Belafonte, ada Arm tt, awa Meg ond their tip are the Black Diam out rocker shathere all of the Voilé models. With large as it was for the men. Still, Mountain Wave Diplomat, and ction for the ladies was not as sele The you IES: – LAD skis nt eme a great ski stre Pow, Artisan, or the Mov ement Black Rose is definitely pe – such as the Duret Mon g for every girl‘s taste. The Mov ethin feel som still was they But gh. et-tempered, t if the skis are wide enou e unhurried style. The ski is swe definitely also get a great uplif or telemarkers favoring a mor s nner itely begi for defin you but – esty Lipis possible, both is fun conclusion applies to the Maj like normal skis. The result: both espondingly agile. The same corr and n iving know forg only far so really nice panies in this year‘s test were are true all-rounders. Another feel the difference. Many com Zag Lady Gold; both of them the and This re. stick befo els mod modest team had ever skied their best on the groomed, but with from hearsay and nobody in the Völkl Kenja. It certainly feels the is der skis oun The all-r ada. Arm t Mounent, Hart, Majestic, or even t off-piste. In contrast, the Dure included brands like Duret, Mom radii, it‘s also performing grea ll sma all and d but s, spee risitc acte mainly feature their own, special char ski for good skiers, who are of all these manufacturers all backcountry. A great, versatile the ers can pref We tain test. our to problems definitely an enrichment the slopes, this ski causes no of them were high-quality and off-piste terrain. But even on the by s, cted eles attra erth Nev ce. need chan these brands if you get a performs a little different – you only recommend that you try t edge grip. The Moment Pika grea its to skis, ks s than -clas first have com Völkl, or Kästle continue to el that expects the skier to show traditional brands like Atomic, gth for this demanding lady mod stren of they – bit a Zag or e, ly Wav n ted with an extreme regarding Artisan, Mountai good skiing abilities will be trea too. And this is also the case mitment and skills. Those with with refined and improrned retu now e. and Joul past ond the about the Black Diam had been part of the test in solid ski. The same can be said e moderate and as an example, were clearly mor ved ski models. The Artisan skis, on. In contrast, the on the h easier to ski than last seas skis were somehow lost by DHL harmonious and thus so muc ted in the test were G3 – the esen repr good y Not reall for easy the test date and were so much sportier and only and Faction Skis, who missed Mountain Wave Easy Day is now way from Zurich to Zermatt – it was interesting to ski nce, abse of s skis received only year esty few Maj a r the afte of e skiers. Returning to the test their shipment. In addition som with . late past the too from ered misnothing like what we rememb ing problems. The results of the Voilé skis again. Those skis are bers of test results due to bind num nt at fficie grip insu no ured feat and www. itable for on-slope skiing ut the season on the website Back then, they were totally unsu be filed subsequently througho will skis sing . atile vers r h different and definitely supe all. The new models are so muc telemarkfriends.com. es went through rally agreed on that all compani gene At the end of the test, it was great performers. that all of the skis tested were a very positive development and can be used any, all-mountain defines skis that All-mountain: As in the past to expect on the t wha in the morning, not knowing where. You take them along Hula. The ski is Hart rely on in any conditions is the mountain. A ski that you can slopes and it the for it also features great edge grip wide enough for off-piste, but ent Tahoe. Mom the is ski , it looks very good. A similar is extremely lively. In addition it really es, slop the on ride in the backcountry and You get a stable and smooth either nted ppoi disa be t overall set-up. You won‘t performs well thanks to its grea Völkl or 94, FX le Käst , , Atomic Aspect, Armada ARV if you choose the Zag Heli Gold of fun in any condition. Mantra. They all ensure a lot h skis belong in this the width alone, it‘s clear whic Freeride: On the basis of Diamond Megawatt, k , Hart Python, Voilé Drifter, Blac category: Duret Monstre Pow rd boa for mega fat powle MX 128. Undisputed surf Moment Belafonte, and Käst it simply plows through ski is a pleasure to turn and der days: the Megawatt. This are strong enough, you a little more strength. If you anything. The MX 128 requires fonte. With according The same applies to the Bela can have a party on this ski. ‘t have to accept any don going off. With this ski, you skills and at higher speeds, it‘s The Monstre Pow is rs. : The Hart and Duret freeride compromises. Entirely different choice for first-time t grea h and thus easy to ski. It‘s a really nimble inspite of its widt is tion the Python. The ski the ˝must-buy˝ recommenda fattie skiers. Also eligible for tool. The biggest surprise in is versatile and a stress-free has a great overall set-up, it tt, it proved to be a great Drifter. Similar to the Megawa this category was the Voilé ormer on the groomed. d, it‘s also a really good perf surfboard. With the right spee in our test. No kidding: the widest ski that we ever had Mega Freeride: It was the the only candidate for the world‘s widest ski and thus Duret Monstre Fat is actually

6 16Telemarktest Telemark ski test seite

page

Armada

Artisan

ARV

typ A

Atomic

Aspect

LENGTHS 165, 175, 185

LENGTHS 168, 176, 184, 192

LENGTHS 162, 171, 180

SIDECUT 130-95-119

SIDECUT 126-88-114

SIDECUT 123-87-110.5

radius 21.5 /185

radius 21 /184

radius 18 /171

WEIGHT N/A

WEIGHT 3,17 kg

Even though Armada may be known as a slopestyle specialist, the ARV is not a soft jibbing tool. The sporty and lively ski is asking for a good skier, then it reveals its entire potential. • The demanding and stable ski likes mid-size radii on the groomed and carves like on rails. In very hard conditions, it misses some grip, but stays very agile. • Large radii are ideal off-piste, but even with smaller ones the ski stays agile. Great flotation in spite of the narrow width, robust as a snowplow. • A great all-rounder for good skiers.

In the past, the Typ A was a pretty one-sided raceboard, but today it features more harmony and easier handling. • On slope. the ski has great directional stability, likes pretty much all radii – with a tendency to the wider ones – and more speed. The edge grip is good, but the ski could feature better radial acceleration. A fine carving ski. • Off-piste you need to apply more force, the ski bucks a little in tracked powder and lacks directional stability. It is pretty agile in short turns, but one should limit the ride to a medium speed. • All-rounder for individualists with a big budget.

In its category, this all-rounder with a focus on on-piste skiing is very typical for Atomic: It masters almost everything and you can not go wrong with buying it. On the other hand, the ski is a little unspectacular. • The Aspect is directionally stable and robust on the groomed. It likes medium-sized radii, offers good grip and proves to be an agile and enjoyable carving ski. • In the backcountry, the Aspect is easy to handle as long as you ski short to medium radii at a comfortable speed. Its agility is also very striking off-piste, even at higher speed it features a lot of stability. • All-rounder with on-slope preferences. With its 3,170 g, it is also very suitable for touring.

Atomic

Hagan

Hart

Drifter

Daemon

Hula

LENGTHS 166, 174, 182

LENGTHS 170, 177, 184

LENGTHS 177, 187, 197

SIDECUT 128.5-93-117

SIDECUT 126-93-114

SIDECUT 134-100-124

radius 20 / 174

radius 22.6/177

radius 18.5/177

WEIGHT 3.32 kg

WEIGHT 3.0 kg

WEIGHT 4 kg

The test ski was unfortunately a little short with its 174 cm. • Great ski for the slopes. The Drifter ist very stable, likes medium-sized radii, offers great grip and is very agile – in short: a very enjoyable carving ski. • When you ski it off-piste, it is very forgiving and directionally stable. In addition, the Drifter is agile, asks for only little strength and stays uncomplicated in all situations. The flotation is good, but the ski seems to be less robust than other models in this category. • Another carefree all-rounder by Atomic, probably also very good for touring.

The tested model was a little short, which positively influenced the on-slope results. • For many, the Deamon is a very good on-slope ski, a number of testers even said it was better on the groomed than off-piste. It‘s agile, easy to turn and offers sufficient edge grip. Not a real carving ski, but with top reuslts on the groomed. • As for powder performance, the Daemon offers satisfactory flotation and stability, but many other skis left a better mark. The ski is not very heavy and thus easily manageable. • Reliable and well-tempered all-rounder. A little unspectacular, but not showing any real weaknesses either. For freeriders and tourers looking for a lightweight ski. Suitable for beginners. A very comfy ski.

A ski that does not want to rule the skier, but supports all individual characteristics and preferences. • The Hula is an inspiring ski – even though the tested model was a little too short. On the groomed, it offers good edge grip, agility, pop and stability at high speeds. It‘s an easy to dose ski giving great feeback without ever feeling jumpy. Inspite of its width, it‘s extremely agile. • It offers tons of flotation off-piste and even the short test ski stayed stable at all times. The already mentioned agility is also appreciated in the backcountry. • One of the clear winners in the all-round category. Featuring an ideal combination of width (flotation off-piste) and sidecut (grip on-piste). Very suitable for both ranges of use!

Kästle

LX 82

FX 84

FX 94

LENGTHS 156, 164, 172, 180

LENGTHS 168, 176, 184

LENGTHS 166, 176, 186

SIDECUT 127-82-109

SIDECUT 122-84-110

SIDECUT 128-94-117

radius 16.5/172

radius 18/176

radius 20/176

WEIGHT N/A

˝LX˝ indicates the less expensive series by Kästle with CAP construction. • The LX 82 is a very good on-slope ski. Very stable, capable of all radii and speeds without any problems. The edge grip is excellent. This ski is a very nice and agile carving ski. • Freeride action off-piste is a little limited due to the narrow size of the LX 82, but at moderate speed and small and medium turns it rides well. • Great on-slope all-rounder for everybody. Also suitable for touring.

The black FX-series is a sandwich construction with a slightly softer set-up and relatively easy to handle. • The FX 84 is a great performer on the slopes, which likes pretty much all radii with a preference for short turns. High speed is what it likes and it features great edge grip, agility and a stability. • Inspite of its narrow shape, the FX 84 is also very directionally stable in the backcountry. It is agile and easily controllable. The flotation is limited and the ski is best at medium speed. • A nice all-rounder for tele-cruisers and tourers, also suitable for women.

Chris Davenport‘s pro model. • On the slopes, the FX 94 is very forgiving and easy to ski. You won‘t need long to get along with it. Within the test team, the ladies also had a lot of fun with the FX 94. You will get the best performance at medium radii and speed. It‘s very agile, at higher speeds it becomes a little nervous and loses grip. • The FX 94 is also very forgiving off-piste. As on the slopes, it prefers moderate turns and medium speed. If you adjust your speed, it remains very stable. • Easy-to-ski all-round model for comfortable cruisers, also very suitable for touring and women.

allmountain

Telemarktest

seite

Telemark ski test page 17 Mountain Wave

Movement

Scott

Easy Day

Couloir

LENGTHS 166, 176, 186

LENGTHS 163, 173, 183

SIDECUT 130-96-120

SIDECUT 122-89-111

SIDECUT 129-98-120

radius 21/176

radius 20/176

radius 18.5

WEIGHT 3.6 kg

WEIGHT 3.2 kg

WEIGHT N/A

On the groomed, this ski wants speed and good technique, because there‘s not a lot you can do except for those big turns. Once you follow this advice, you get a very reliable ski with great acceleration and grip and a ton of rebound. Overall, it‘s a tight set-up, which is also harmonious and very stable. It definitely commemorates a race ski. • Off-piste, there‘s enough – even though not excessive – flotation. The ski stays very solid and imparts security thanks to its stability. The Easy Day likes large radii and a direct line in the backcountry. • The new Easy Day is nothing like the old version! Meant for good skiers, who can push hard – they will be rewarded with an “easy” ski that stays absolutely stable and solid at high speed.

A great all-rounder on the slopes, almost like a ˝Black Rose˝ for men. Directionally stable, with a preference for mid-sized radii. You can ski it faster if you like, but then you have to be prepared for some wobbling. Controllable by anybody, even advanced telemarkers will have a lot of fun with this ski. • At higher speed off-piste, the Couloir gets a little nervous and offers little flotation only, but it remains agile and you won‘t need a lot of strength to control it. • All-rounder with good touring performance for rather comfortable cruisers.

Unfortunately, the test ski was very short (173). • On the slopes, the relatively hard set-up was liked by the testers. The ski is pretty stiff, which results in great edge grip and quite a bit of edge acceleration. But the ski is not all that easy to control. • In ungroomed terrain, the 173 did not float well. Due to the missing length and the hard set-up as well as the large sidecut, the Powd'Air was not as stable and reliable as other off-piste skis. • The Scott Powd'Air received better on-slope ratings due to the test ski‘s length. Without a doubt, a longer model would have received much better off-piste results.

Majesty

Moment

Völkl

Powd’Air

Tahoe

Kendo

LENGTHS 180

LENGTHS 170, 180, 188

LENGTHS 163, 170, 177, 184, 191

SIDECUT 130-92-130

SIDECUT 127-96-118

SIDECUT 127-88-109

radius 20 / 180

radius 23.2 / 188

radius 21.9 / 177

WEIGHT 3.59 kg

WEIGHT N/A

The Vandal was only tested by a few skiers and thus did not qualify for a final rating. Nevertheless, we would like to publish a provisional result to give you an impression: The Vandal is actually a good ski, but it appeared unspectacular. It is definitely suitable for all conditions, but the testers were missing a more effective edge. • No final rating due to insufficient test runs. Throughout the season, we will catch up on this and you can read more about the Vandal on www.telemarkfriends.com!

On the slopes, the Tahoe is a great ski thanks to its very comfortable set-up. The edge grip is good and the radii can be varied very well – a ski that is always reliable. The grip is not too aggressive, instead it seems very well balanced and rather forgiving. Even at higher speeds, the ski remains stable and solid. • Off-piste, the Tahoe received consistent positive ratings: Enough flotation, stability and great running smoothness. The ski is very easily controllable. It turns well and the skier can enjoy a great surf feeling. But there's also enough potential to rip. • Very reliable and forgiving all-rounder. Very versatile in any terrain, overall very well-balanced without any weaknesses. The Tahoe is great anywhere!

Unfortunately, the only available length for the test was 177 cm. This is primarily reflected in the on-piste ratings. • The Kendo is a great ski for the groomed: In spite of its tight set-up, it offers a lot of grip and stability, resulting in a rather easy-to-control ride. It is a very agile ski, offering great carving abilities. • In open terrain, the 177 was unfortunately a little too nervous. Its qualities are definitely seen in untracked powder, even though the ski does not float that well. • A great on-slope all-rounder. For more backcountry fun, one should consider choosing the Völkl Mantra.

ZAG

Heli Gold

Purist RX

LENGTHS 198, 200

LENGTHS 161, 171, 181, 191

SIDECUT 141-95-119

SIDECUT 118-82-107

radius 15.2 / 198

radius 17 / 171

WEIGHT 3.9 kg

WEIGHT 3.3 kg

It takes a little time to get used to the Heli Gold on the slope, because the front edge reacts rather late. As soon as it grips, the ski is a great ride and reliable. Then, it's stable, easy to carve and prefers large radii. • In the backcountry, the Heli Gold reveals its qualities when skied at higher speed and large turns. A solid and stable ski with great flotation. • A very good all-round ski with many test ratings pointing out its all-round, carefree package qualities. Very enjoyable, easy-to-ski model that is also very versatile. One ski for all conditions. Suitable for experts as well as beginners and tourers.

The Purist is a very enjoyable ski on the slopes that is really uncomplicated and controllable without a lot of strength. It offers sufficient grip and can be steered easily. It is also very suitable for beginners. • In the backcountry, it allows for easy and relaxed cruising. At higher speed, the X (with Rocker) is floating extremely well, which is the most noticeable difference when comparing it to its close relative, the Light (without Rocker). • A very nice all-rounder, very uncomplicated, reliable and versatile – thus also suitable for ski touring. Even beginners will notice quick progress with this ski. The Purist is available with or without Rocker – the Rocker version clearly offers better flotation for more off-piste fun.

Vandal

page

Telemark ski test

Armada

Black Diamond

Duret

Megawatt

Monstre Fat

LENGTHS 175, 185

LENGTHS 178, 188

LENGTHS 186

SIDECUT 126136--115-133-121

SIDECUT 153-125-130

SIDECUT 203-177-193

Radius 14 / 185

Radius 42 / 188

Radius 30 / 186

WEIGHT N/A

WEIGHT 4.7 kg

WEIGHT 5.2 kg

Surprisingly, the JJ with its tip and tail Rockers is a great ride even on groomed hardpack, but it definitely must not be icy and you really need to be in charge of this ski to control it. The Rocker is barely or never nervous and the ski prefers medium to high speed. Then, the JJ is carving like on rail tracks. • The JJ unveils its qualities off-piste: very easy turn initiation due to double Rocker, very agile and skiable without a lot of strength, which results in a very smooth surf feeling. The JJ is – except for icy conditions – very solid and stable. • Great freeride tool with Rocker, without any mentionable on-slope limitations.

Still a reference amongst the ˝surfboards˝. • For good skiers, the Megawatt is an unproblematic ski on the groomed as long as there's no ice. It requires speed and wide radii – with this in mind, you will ski this fattie easily on its edge. After a while, this can become physically tiring though. The Rocker is a little nervous, but after all, this ski was not really developed for on-slope action. • This ski is as versatile as can be off-piste. Thanks to the long Rocker, the Megawatt is very agile and plows through anything. It skis like on rail tracks and does not cause any insecurity. The flotation is gigantic. • Great surfboard.

It's a true surprise how ridable this mega-fat monster turns out to be. No question, its true qualities are nevertheless revealed in deep pow. • On the slopes, most skiers will probably not be able to ski the Monstre Fat – but not all of them! If the snow is soft and the technique is flawless, this board can even be skied on its edge. • Aside the groomed, this ski offers never-ending flotation. It plows through everything and never really sinks in. In addition, it always stays solid and stable. • A true tank… but forgiving and enjoyable at all times, no matter what surface.

Hart

Kästle

Voilé

MX 128

Drifter

LENGTHS 178, 185, 194

LENGTHS 190

LENGTHS 154, 162, 172, 182, 192

SIDECUT 155-120-145

SIDECUT 146-128-134

SIDECUT 151-125-138

Radius 20/178

radius 40/190

Radius 23/182

WEIGHT 5.36 kg

WEIGHT N/A

WEIGHT 3.79 kg

The Python is great on-slope and very similar to the Hula. Featuring more width, it's a little slower, but also a tiny bit more stable at higher speed. In spite of the width, the Python stays agile and proves to be a good carving ski. • Once off-piste, this ski offers more flotation and stability than the Hula. A true powder tool and member of the mega-fat category, but without being onesided. This ski is still versatile and a good all-rounder. • The Python also receives the "must-buy" recommendation. It is basically very much like the Hula, but the focus is a little more on off-piste skiing. Perfect set-up and despite its width still very versatile. Satisfaction guaranteed in any condition.

The MX 128 offers surprisingly well on-piste qualities for a wide ski like this one. At high speed, it stays extremely solid and undoubtedly prefers big turns. The Rocker is never wobbly and you get great edge grip. But you need a lot of power for smaller turns. • The MX 128 was the most stable ski at high speed off-piste, with no insecurities even in harder conditions. Thanks to the Rocker, it turns easily even at low speed. This ski fears no obstacles and the rocker is always solid. • Very sporty powder and freeride tool with good on-piste abilities, but not suitable for beginners or cruisers.

Like all the other tested Voilé models, the Drifter is a lightweight ski that is also appropriate for ski touring. • On the slope, it is a great ride even though it is pretty wide. To get the most out of it, it asks for high speed and large radii. • In the backcountry, the Drifter turns into a great surfboard that reminds us of the Megawatt. It's a lot of fun, remains agile and solid at the same time. The Rocker is hardly ever shaky at all. • A true surfer, also suitable for ski touring.

Phython

Telemark ski test page 19 Artisan

Atomic

typ B

Charter

Duret

Monstre Pow

LENGTHS 183, 193

LENGTHS 166, 176, 186

LENGTHS 181, 191

SIDECUT 134-105-125

SIDECUT 129.5-100-119.5

SIDECUT 149-115-132

Radius 30 / 193

Radius 20 / 176

Radius 28 / 181

WEIGHT N/A

WEIGHT 3.43 kg

WEIGHT 3.9 kg

The Typ B is a ski with a lot of momentum, which became a lot more harmonious compared to last year (just like the Typ A). • On the slope, the ski is still a sure bet when skied at high speed and large radius, but the new model now also allows for a more relaxed style. As long as the speed is right, the Typ B stays on track, if you decide to ski shorter turns, you'll need some additional force and strength. • Off-piste, the Typ B is very solid and directionally stable at high speed and there's more agility than on the groomed with less strength required. This ski doesn't surf, it plows! • Still not the ideal ski for beginners; freeride-oriented cruisers will love it.

The Charter is a freeride tourer with Rocker. Unfortunately the test ski (176 cm) was a little too short. • On the groomed, the ski likes basically all radii and it's easy and agile to ski. It accelerates like on rail tracks. At high speed and in hardpack, the rockered nose gets a little wobbly. • When skiing it off-piste, the Charter likes a lot of speed and even though the test ski was not very long, it stayed very stable. Even short turns were unproblematic and the testers were surprised by its great flotation qualities. • A carefree touring package for everybody.

Only a few testers could not handle the width of the Duret on the groomed. For the rest, the Monstre Pow appeared very agile even on-slope – cosidering the width, a very positively surprising result. One can almost not imagine that this kind of ski is so easily controllable. The edge grip is definitely sufficient. • Its width is providing incredible flotation off-piste; and the Pow still remains extremely agile! This ski entices you to do short turns, although it never really gets nervous in big turns either. • A true fun tool. Considering its width, its very nimble and easy to ski. Suitable for fattie greenhorns.

Kästle

Moment

Mountain Wave

MX 108

Belafonte

Diplomat

LENGTHS 177, 187,195

LENGTHS 174, 182, 192

LENGTHS 172, 182, 192

SIDECUT 132-108-122

SIDECUT 135-106-124

SIDECUT 140-104-128

radius 31/187

Radius 25.7 / 182

Radius 22.5/192

WEIGHT N/A

This ski requires a good skier, who can tap its full potential! • On the slopes, the MX 108 features incredible edge grip and acceleration. It stays very stable, loves high speed and big turns. With enough speed, it's also very agile. All MX models are characterized by their very noticeable rebound. • Off-piste, the ski is very solid in big turns, but you need enough speed to get its entire agility. The new early rise supports the agility compared to last year's model. Other positive aspects are the massive flotation and the high stability. • A freeride weapon with good onpiste capabilities. For good and powerful skiers.

In spite of its width, the Belafonte is a very agile ski. The width is not noticeable, short radii are easy and the edge offers good grip. It doesn't happen often that such a wide ski can deal with short turns that well. On top of that, the Belafonte stays solid and well-balanced. • In open terrain, the Rocker is responsible for a true surf feeling. The testers noticed that the Rocker has no negative influence on the tip – the ski remains quiet and stable, even at higher speed. • This ski requires a little more skill and higher speed – if this is taken care of, it's one of the best all-rounders. Great flotation due to width and Rocker, still great on the edge on-slope. Wellbalanced set-up for a wide variety of conditions.

The Diplomat is a solid and stable ski for speedy runs on the groomed. It feels best when used for large radii, but it could use a little more sidecut. The edge grip is sufficient, although the tip is, blame it on the Rocker, a little nervous. • In the backcountry, you are treated with great flotation and an absolutely solid ski. It offers stability at any time. As on the slopes, it prefers large radii and a direct line. The Rocker is responsible for great plowing over any kind of obstacles, but it also gets a little unstable in tracked slush. • Like the Easy Day the Diplomat is suitable for very good skiers, who prefer high speed and big turns. Its clear focus is on off-piste skiing.

Movement

Voilé

Völkl

Jackal

Charger

Mantra

LENGTHS 170, 177, 185, 192

LENGTHS 171, 181, 191

LENGTHS 170, 177, 184, 191

SIDECUT 136-105-124

SIDECUT 137-112-126

SIDECUT 133-96-116

Radius 22/177

Radius 22/181

Radius 20.3 / 177

WEIGHT 3.4 kg

WEIGHT 3.67 kg

WEIGHT N/A

On-slope, the Jackal is a little slow and offers not enough grip, the tip gets nervous at higher speed and there is not enough momentum. Nevertheless, it's a good ride (all radii, medium speed), but a little unspectacular. Hardpack and icy conditions are to be avoided. • As for off-piste performance, the Jackal is a little wobbly at higher speed. But it really convinces regarding its agility, the easy control and sufficient flotation. • A freeride tourer for relaxed cruisers.

On groomed runs, the Charger is a great all-rounder with good carving qualities. It's easy to control and prefers large turns, but doesn't cause problems in shorter ones either. With this ski, there are no real limitations on the slopes! • In the backcountry, the ski is very directionally stable and – thanks to the Rocker – very agile. It offers effortless skiing and a great surf feeling, a very pleasant experience. • A true all-round surfer.

The Mantra returns this season with a slight facelift, meaning a different topsheet design. • On the slope, the Mantra is a match for the Kendo, but it can take more speed. • Off-piste, its all-round abilities are very good, but due to the relatively hard set-up, it is not very forgiving. The Mantra is agile, solid and offers by comparison only little flotation. • A tight and sporty all-rounder with a set-up that requires advanced skills.

page

Telemark ski test

Black Diamond

Moment

Duret

Pika

Mountain 167

LENGTHS 155, 165, 175

LENGTHS 150, 160, 170

LENGTHS 167, 177, 187, 197

SIDECUT 125-95-113

SIDECUT 141-111-129

SIDECUT 137-105-127

Radius 22.5/175

Radius 19.5 / 170

Radius 22.0/167

WEIGHT 3.4 kg

WEIGHT N/A

WEIGHT 3.2 kg

The tested model was unfortunately a little too long for the testers. As provided, the ski requires expert skills. • On the slopes, the Joule is very solid, likes medium to large radii and requires additional strength and some force. • In the backcountry, it also requires a very dynamic skier who knows how to handle her ski. The flotation could be better.

The Pika requires strength and commitment to be skied on its edge on the groomed. It prefers large radii and high speed. This said, it stays solid and directionally stable at all times. • The flotation offered is truly "fat". When off-piste, this ski wants to be taken to high speeds! In return, you get a very solid and reliable ride, even at higher speed and big turns. • Very demanding ladies' ski requiring commitment and skills. The focus is on freeride/off-piste. Generally only recommended for ambitious telemarkers, who will then be rewarded with a very solid ski.

Most testers enjoyed the Mountain's on-slope performance. Great edge grip, medium-sized turns – in spite of its width a ski with good on-slope abilities for advanced and expert telemarkers. • The flotation off-piste is very good, which turns the Mountain into a very easily controllable ski, but we recommend a little experience and expertise. • A solid and reliable ski for good telemarkers searching for versatility.

Majesty

Moment

Movement

Joule

Lipstick

Sierra

Black Rose

LENGTHS 169, 175

LENGTHS 150, 160, 170

LENGTHS 155, 165, 175

SIDECUT 117-87-117

SIDECUT 127-96-118

SIDECUT 122-89-111

Radius 18.0/169

Radius 15.2/160

Radius 19/165

WEIGHT 3.24 kg

WEIGHT N/A

WEIGHT 3.0 kg

The Lipstick is a very good ski for the slopes: it's agile, permits quick edge-to-edge movements and offers good grip at the same time. On the slopes, it's always very reliable and easy to control. • Since the ski is not very wide, it lacks flotation offpiste to compete with the best skis in this test. But nevertheless, the Lipstick is a very good all-rounder. • Versatile ski with on-slope focus. Also suitable for beginners, because it proves to be a good partner in any situation.

The Sierra requires quite some strength to make it turn on the slope. Once taken to higher speed, it becomes a good carving ski. Generally, the ski tends to prefer bigger turns. • Higher speed is also a requirement off-piste. Once implemented, it is a solid and reliable big-turn ride. • A very demanding ladies' ski that requires commitment and expertise. For those qualifying, the Sierra becomes a very reliable partner. Not really suitable for beginners.

The Black Rose is easy to ski on the slopes. Since it's a very forgiving ski, it is perfectly suitable for beginners and more advanced skiers. It prefers small to medium radii, when taken to higher speeds it lacks rigidity and directional stability. • Off-piste the Black Rose convinces with agility. It stays solid at moderate speeds and doesn't require to much strength. • A great all-rounder for beginners.

Voilé

Völkl

ZAG

Kenja

Lady Gold

LENGTHS 160, 170, 180

LENGTHS 149, 156, 163, 170

LENGTHS 157, 165, 175

SIDECUT 118-94-107

SIDECUT 129-87-105

SIDECUT 132-83-113

Radius 19/170

Radius 17.7/163

Radius 11.6/165

WEIGHT 2.72 kg

WEIGHT N/A

WEIGHT 2.98 kg

In contrast to its Voilé relatives, the Vector is a little wobbly on the groomed. It definitely prefers medium speed and large radii. Overall, it's not the best carving ski. • In the backcountry, the ski cannot send a clear signal and unfortunately behaved very inconspicuously. • An average ski without striking features.

The Kenja offers very good on-slope performance, likes all radii and speeds and remains very agile and forgiving. At too much speed, the ride gets a little unstable. • When skied off-piste, it does not offer a lot of flotation, but it's a great companion at moderate speed and radii. • A nice lady all-rounder with on-slope focus.

The Lady Gold received only good remarks for its on-slope performance. It has a nice sidecut, turns easily, stays solid at all times and offers good edge grip. A fun ski on the groomed – agile and nimble, at the same time forgiving. • The off-piste impressions were a little less positive, but the Lady Gold still offers sufficient all-round capabilities. There's a lack of flotation and stability at higher speed. • A very good all-rounder for telemarkers, who prefer to ski the groomed. Being an all-rounder, the Lady Gold is a great carving ski with some weaknesses when taken off-piste at higher speed. Also very appropriate for beginners.

Vector

THE ENTIRE Test and more detailed Information on all tested skis is available at www.telemarkfriends.com.

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boots

Black Diamond Custom

Black Diamond Push

Black Diamond Stileto

Race/Freeride

Freeride/All-round

Boot liner | Thermo-Fit Sizes | 24.0 - 30.5 Weight | 4.1 kg

Boot liner | Thermo-Fit Sizes | 24.0 - 30.5 Weight | 4.0 kg

Boot liner | Thermo-Fit Sizes | 23.0 - 26.5 Weight | 3.5 kg

Crispi Shiver

Crispi XR

Crispi XP

NTN

Race/Freeride

All-round

Boot liner | Thermo-Fit Sizes | 24.5 - 30.5 Weight | 3.6 kg

Boot liner | Thermo-Fit Sizes | 23.5 - 31.5 Weight | 4.0 kg

Boot liner | Standard Sizes | 23.5 - 31.5 Weight | 3.6 kg

SCARPA T2 Eco

SCARPA T1

SCARPA TX Pro

Race/Freeride

NTN/TLT

Boot liner | Thermo-Fit Performance Flex G Sizes | 24.5 - 32 Weight | 3.4 kg

Boot liner | Thermo-Fit Sizes | 22.5 - 31 Weight | 4.0 kg

Boot liner | Thermo-Fit Sizes | 22.5 - 30 Weight | 3.5 KG

Garmont Voodoo

Garmont Priestess g-fit

Garmont Prophet

Freeride

NTN

Boot liner | G-Fit Rapid Sizes | 25.0 - 30.5 Weight | 3.6 kg

Boot liner | g-fit Rapid Sizes | 23-27.5 Weight | 1.6 kg

Boot liner | G-Fit Rapid Sizes | 25.0 - 30.5 Weight | 3.7

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bindings

7tm Power

22 Designs Hammerhead

G3 Targa X-Mountain

Freeride/All-round

Freeride/ All-round

TypE | Cable binding Functions | RELEASE, Step-in Standing height | 23 mm Weight | 1.4 kg

TypE | Cable binding Functions | --Standing height | 23 mm Weight | 1.4 kg

TypE | Cable binding Functions | - - Standing height | 21 mm Weight | 1.213 kg

7tm Power Tour

22 Designs hammerhead Axl

G3 Targa Ascent

Freeride/All-round

All-round/Tour

Freeride/Tour

TypE | Cable binding Functions | Release, Step-in Standing height | 23 mm Weight | 1.6 kg

TypE | 3-Pin Functions | Standing height | 28 mm Weight | 1.8 kg

TypE | Cable binding Functions | - - Standing height | 40 mm Weight | 1.418 kg

Black Diamond O1

Black Diamond O2

Black Diamond O3

Freeride/Tour

Freeride/All-round

TypE | Cable binding Functions | Tour Standing height | 28 mm Weight | 1.7 kg

TypE | Cable binding Functions | Standing height | 25 mm Weight | 1.4 kg

TypE | Cable binding Functions | Standing height | 25 mm Weight | 1.3 kg

Rottefella NTN

Rottefella Cobra R8

Rottefella Cobra R4

RELEASE/Tour

Race/Freeride

Freeride/All-round

TypE | NTN Functions | Step-in Standing height | 30 mm Weight | 2.0 kg

TypE | Cable binding Functions | --Standing height | 30 mm Weight | 1.7 kg

TypE | Cable binding Functions | --Standing height | 30 mm Weight | 1.6 kg

Voile Switchback

Voile SX

Voile Hardwire 3-Pin

Freeride/Tour

Freeride/All-round

TypE | Cable binding Functions | Tour Standing height | 25 mm Weight | 1.2 kg

TypE | Cable binding Functions | Standing height | 20 mm Weight | 1.2 kg

TypE | Cable binding Functions | Standing height | 20 mm Weight | 1.3 kg

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haute route

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„Haute Route on Teles“ – that was Richard Schürf’s motto. His tempting idea of connecting the French Freeheel Masters in Argentière with the Swiss Freeheel Masters in Zermatt. With five days in between. We weren’t the only ones to see this as a great opportunity. The German TV show “Bergauf-Bergab” (“uphill-downhill”) also liked our plan and sent four people to accompany us and shoot a documentary on the world’s most famous tour in the Alps from the telemarker's point of view. It’s mid-March and bluebird. Four days before the start of the tour, we reach Argentière with the Mont Blanc Express from Martigny. Although it didn’t snow in two weeks, the conditions still seem perfect – but not for long. One and a half days of rain take care of the last snow in the valley, and the avalanche danger on top of the mountains immediately reaches level four. Even if we could avoid the dangerous slopes and canyons, we’d still face foul snow. Our guide, Florian Hellberg, suggests that we consider the alternative route starting from Verbier. There, we begin on 2,500 meters, safely above the rainy lower areas. So we get back on the Mont Blanc Express to Martigny and continue to Le Chable, just below the famous ski village. The weather is perfect when we hike up to the CAS Mont Fort house. During the remaining hours of the day, we once again practice our avalanche safety skills to make sure that everything and everybody is working as they should. It’s truly amazing to see the differences between the receivers available on the market. Modern devices with three antennas basically lead you directly to the victim, respectively the buried training receiver.

We start the next morning at 6.30 am. While hiking up the slope to the Col de la Chaux, an amazing sunrise keeps us company. Today’s leg takes us to the Prafleuri house with a stopover on the summit of Rosablanche. Then, at 7.30, a surprise: Almost at the same time as us, a large group of colorful freeskiers and snowboarders in baggy pants reaches the pass from the other side of the mountain. The surprise is theirs too. It’s a group of participants of the Verbier Extreme, which was postponed due to bad weather. Later, we observe their almost vertical drop down the rocky North face of Bec des Rosses, constantly followed by a helicopter. Our tour takes us across the Col de Momin through wonderful mountain scenery to the Rosablanche. Well above 3,000 meters, I can feel the altitude for the first time with light pressure under my forehead and short breath. The ascent to the summit leads us along a steep and short ridge. We have to use our crampons and axes. I am happy to have them, because the flexible soles of the telemark boots would not give me any security climbing. I smile, even though I have to stay focused. Sepp, our cameraman from the Bavarian TV station BR, is shooting us. A salute to the mountains, shake hands, and the first summit is ours! Not quite yet – something wasn’t right, so we have to go back down – Sepp needs another take of the ascent. To reward us, Patrick is mixing a summit cocktail made of “Richard” and water. We brought the Anis schnapps from La Provence in a plastic bottle. The Haute Route is not supposed to be a sad event after all. From up here, we have an exceptional view: In the Southwest, the Mont Blanc range; toward the East, we can see the Matterhorn for the first time. To reach it, it seems like an impossible distance ahead of us. Mountains and gla-

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ciers everywhere. Behind us, on the huge glacier plateau, a small plane with skids keeps practicing take-offs and landings. By the way, the Swiss government officially allows heliskiing in this area…

The run down to the Prafleuri house takes us across the glacier of the same name. The snow is incredible! Powder, fluffy powder! Halfway down, we decide to go back up 300 meters. It can’t be any better. And it’s great for the camera team. The forecast predicted bad weather for the next couple of days. Sepp is skiing right next to us, camera rolling. The Prafleuri is a nice house with modern interior. To have light in the sleeping dorms, you need to buy a chip that has to be inserted in a machine; otherwise there are only the headlamps. We learn that there are three other groups traveling the Haute Route at the same time. We are mingling and exchanging thoughts with them on the sunny terrace. A young American couple is traveling all by themselves. They are happy to get some advice for the next day’s leg from Flo. Their Haute Route guidebook is exactly the same that we have, but they hardly know any German. I am not having a really good feeling. Prafleuri House

We have to get going very early the next morning. Our desired destination is the Vignette House behind the Pigne d’Arolla. It’s not necessarily involving too many vertical meters, but it’s rather far. As soon as for our second breakfast, we reach the Caban Dix. The sun is out and we made it halfway already. The hostess of the Cabana is busy cleaning her kitchen. However, we receive a tasty meal and liters of tea.

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From the cabin, we can see the upcoming characteristics of our tour. Far away, we spot the two Americans. They left the Prafleuri before us and do without a break to save time. Up there, on the steep edges of the Mont Blanc de Cheilon, the glacial ice is hanging over the edge. The bare, ragged ice has a bluish fluorescent color in the burning sunlight. Will it still be there next winter? Branded by the altitude and the summer-like heat, we are tracking slowly but steadily up to the Col de la Semperine. Olaf is gasping. We can see the enormous winds around the surrounding peaks and ridges showing like vanes. And then, everything is happening fast. The wind is picking up, it’s getting foggy. We are approaching the highest point of the leg, 3,700-meter high Pigne d’Arolle. The wind turns into a storm, the fog turns into snow, which is blown horizontally across the glacier and straight in our faces. We cannot see the tracks anymore. A steep step that we need to overcome is so windblown that the bare ice looks like a mirror. We have to use the crampons. With every step, the wind is pushing my poles to the side. It’s scary how the weather can change within a few minutes. I can’t see our camera team anymore. Probably they were far ahead of us to find a good spot for filming. And on top of all troubles, we are now facing technical difficulties. Patrick’s crampons keep falling off. Florian, our guide, decides that the situation is getting too dangerous. He takes the lead and ropes us up. In these conditions, there’s no chance for normal communication. But we are lucky. And at some point, we even find our camera team. It’s time to get down to the hut. We ski down the glaciated Eastern face of the Pigne d’Arolla on the rope. The distance between Flo and myself is about 60 meters. Suddenly, Patrick, who is right in front of me, dives into a crevasse. Luckily he doesn’t sink deeper than to his knees.

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INFO We are exhausted, but happy and relieved when we reach the hut. But where is the young American couple, which we had seen ahead of us? The Vignette House is overcrowded. We can barely find a spot for our skis, poles and skins. It’s exactly here where the classic Haute Route meets two other variations. Due to the last days’ bad weather, there’s no water. Those who want to brush their teeth either have to skip it or buy bottled water. Huts in this altitude usually have an installation that melts snow with solar energy… At some point, we catch sight of the American couple in the crowd. So what will we do now? The forecasted weather change was a day and a half early. We were in the middle of a Chinook wind. For the next days, the forecast predicts more winds with 70 to 80 kilometers an hour. It’s pretty obvious – we need to cancel the tour. We don’t have enough time to wait two or three days for the weather to clear up. The next morning, the conditions haven’t changed. We can barely hold our skis in the cruel storm. We ski down towards the North into the Arolla ski resort. Only 500 meters lower, the sun is greeting us. And it’s getting warmer. But we can still see the wind playing furiously around the summits and ridges. Micha is taking the last turn towards Arolla. We comfortably arrive at our destination Zermatt and the Matterhorn by train. I would have preferred it the less comfortable way…

- Travel// The best way to get to Argentière or Verbier and to go back home from Zermatt is by train. It’s ecological, you see a lot more and – most important – you do not need to go back to the start of your tour. Info at: sbb.ch, bahn.de - Mountain/ski guides// The Haute Route is offered by many mountain guides everywhere and also right on location. We chose vivalpin-allgaeu.de for our trip. Our report shows that only truly experienced high alpine climbers should go on the Route without a guide. - Literature// Michael Waeber: Haute Route, ISBN: 9783-7633-5919-6 (German) - Timing// The Haute Route is a high alpine crossing that should be done in spring. We recommend starting before or after a weekend to avoid crowds. It’s best to plan ten days for the trip. That way, you can even wait for better weather in case you are stuck in a storm. In case of a time surplus, take some detours or continue on to Saas Fee. - Equipment// Less is more. The mountain guides provide equipment lists. They also offer missing equipment for rent. Advice: one extra t-shirt is enough. - Haute Route for athletic ski mountaineers: Annually in April, the "Patrouille des Glaciers“ from Zermatt to Verbier takes place. The record for the entire distance is an unbelievable 5 hours, 52 minutes and 20 seconds (April 2010). Info: pdg.ch

Rafael Prohaska Rider: Fritz Trojer

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APR 8-10, 2011 FinalS in

Galt端r

Dates of the Tour: NOV 19-21, 10 Stubai Telemark Festival

Stubai/Austria // www.stubaier-telemark-festival.com

DEC 19, 10 Sport Schindele Allg辰u Masters

Gr端nten/Germany // www.sport-schindele.de

JAN 15-16, 11 Sportler Telemark Festival

Carezza/Italy // www.freeheel.it

Jan 29, 11 US Tele X

Steamboat Springs/Colorado/USA // www.sswsc.org

FEB 5, 11

Freeheel German Masters Gapa/Germany // www.freeheeler.eu

FEB 19-20, 11 Otavalo Freeheel French Masters

Chamonix/Les Houches/France // www.freeheeler.eu

FEB 25-27, 11 Bayrischzell Telemarkfestival & Bergzeit Telemark X Bayerischzell/Sudelfeld/Germany // www.schneestolz.de www.bergzeit.de MAR 6, 11 Morgedal Games

Morgedal/Norway // www.morgedal.com

APR 8-10, 11 Freeheel World Masters Finale

Galt端r/Austria // www.galtuer.com

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Freeheel Spring Break Freeheel World Masters Finals Galtur 2010 Telemarkers’ winter was challenged by the Freeheel Spring Break in Galtür, but the snowmaking Gods had an understanding. The snow conditions were ideal and the sun was shining when the telemark community met for their season final in Galtür and turned the parking area at the Birkhahn lift into a party arena all complete with whirlpools and slacklines. With BBQ and a raging party under the “Bavarian sky” in the Hacker-Pschorr beer tent, people burned candles on both ends until five in the morning. The two-man band “Work Out” was creating such a good atmosphere that a lot of people had sore legs from dancing the next morning.

The new Freeheel World Masters Andreas Kathrein and Charlotte Limargures also partied until the next morning, although they had to earn their titles with burning thighs and tough fights in the finals of the Tour. A “freefall” start catapulted four racers into the first two bumps of the Tele-X, which was once again “decorated” with steep turns and jumps. Walter, the master of the slope, and his team once again pulled a slope out of the hat together with the ski club chairman Christoph, his team, and race director Patrick, which did not need to fear international comparison.

After four long and strength-sapping legs, the sensation was perfect in the men’s contest. Local hero Andreas Kathrein from Galtür, who entered the race through the “last minute qualification”, finished first at the Freeheel World Masters 2010, followed by Marc Künkele and Benedikt Holzmann, both from Germany. Austria Thomas Spann finished as lucky loser.

In the ladies’ competition, the final results also looked different than many insiders had expected. Charlotte Limagures from France had an incredible final run and won the event, followed by Monika Rieder and Auri Bittner from Germany. Aljona Timakova from the Ukraine finished fourth. The Freeheel Spring Break Weekend in Galtür was so well received by everybody that there’s no doubt they will all return next year on April 8-10, 2011. See you at Freeheel Spring Break and Polartec®Marmot® Freeheel World Masters Finals 2011 in Galtür!

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Story: Heino Jahn; Photography by Michael Wolf (www.sportfotografie-michaelwolf.de)

Carezza 2 Freeride

What’s a "farmer liverwurst" made of and what is taught at a "commercial girls’ school"? What’s a "freerider"? A “free rider” may be a copycat or someone facing charges for dodging the fare. Does that mean that off-piste skiing and ski touring will soon be a felony? Those freeriding will face charges of powder not less than half a meter! We plead guilty and we deserve the punishment.

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Crime scene and court of jurisdiction: Carezza. The area between the Karerpass and Rosegarden is home to one of the most beautiful ski resorts in Italy with many possibilities on-slope as well as in the untracked terrain. Surrounded by the UNESCO world heritage site of the Dolomites, we tested a few variations of "freeriding", including the one that could be called skiing mankind’s oldest crime. When there was no difference between telemarkers and parallel skiers, between Nordic and alpine skiers, between hikers and riders, or jumpers and runners, that’s when skis were basically one thing: means of transport and travel. They were meant to offer easy ascents and comfortable descents, and the skier was supposed to travel as far as possible in relatively little time. Skis had a gliding and a sticky zone to enable the skier to do it all, and – of course – the heel was free. In Scandinavia, this way of skiing was conserved on the Fjells until today's time. It's the common way. In Central Europe, this species of skiers is seen less often, except maybe in low mountain ranges. This is, on the one hand, definitely caused by the different regional traditions and the respective topographies. On the other hand, industry and marketing are drawing a clear line between cross-country skiers and alpine skiers. Telemarkers are neither of the two. And that's why we wanted to bridge traditions and popular culture, Nordic and Telemark, Scandinavia and Central Europe. Freeriding, in a different way! The region around the Karerpass can be divided easily into three topographical sectors: While the reefs made of Dolomite limestone are reserved for the climbers in the summer and a few extreme winter adventurers, the foothills of Rosegarden and Latemar are home to the Carezza ski resort with its lifts. Towards the West and Bozen, there is a timbered hilly landscape with many mountain pastures that finally drops down steeply into the Eisack Valley. This part of the area appeared ideal to wander around the landscape on our narrow skis. Very traditionally that is, partially with leather boots and 3-pin bindings, with or without skins; if with the latter than with a scaled zone. It's a constant up and down, sometimes on forest roads, sometimes through open range. No summits, no tracks, no slopes, no conventions – free-riding, a little different! The advantages of "Spaghettis" (our narrow toothpick skis) over "Tagliatelle" (off-piste or all-mountain skis) can clearly be seen in rolling hills: ski, boot and binding are extraordinarily lightweight. Once you get used to the inexistent weight on your feet, which is no problem hiking up or in the flat, you soon understand this convenience. If the self-chosen track is not too steep, it's easy to get on top of any hill. Once you reach the top, there's no need for the usual procedure: taking the skins off, readjusting the binding, tightening the boots. You just ski down with elegant telemark turns or pole-break technique. Once you reached the bottom, you continue straight to the next hill. Free-riding! These ski sets are ideal for all those converting from cross-country to telemarking. Whether and how much you enjoy the downhill skiing depends on your own expectations and your give-and-take abilities. If you prefer the telemark technique, you definitely need higher leather boots or lower plastic boots with three buckles. The choice will influence the comfort and coziness of hiking in the flat or uphill. As for the skis, you can either choose a wider cross-country model with steel edges or the so-called "Fjell skis" with up to 90 mm width in the tip. We found out that the perfect connection between boot and ski is the Voilé 3-pin

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cable binding, which is momentarily the only one of its kind with a detachable heel cable. When choosing the equipment, there's one rule: The closer you stick to historic examples (just watch some old movies by Arnold Franck from the 1930s or the corresponding photographies) the more versatile the equipment will be. Just consider the stunts that people did with that kind of material back then – there seem to be no limits! And after all: Before mankind built the first lifts in the Alps, skiing was more about traveling from A to B than about it being a downhill sport. Groomed slopes? Forget it, they did not exist – exactly: it was all freeriding and nothing else. Stimulated by these thoughts, we changed location and went from the rolling hills to the more alpine regions to test the other possibilities offered by our historically inspired equipment. Besides some Hollywoodlike stunts, we first and foremost found out that there are really no limits to having fun. After some first careful turns with our toothpicks, we became bolder and really ripped the slopes of Carezza. The other skiers around us were partly shocked, partly amused. And if the line at the ski lift was too long – which was not the case thanks to the capacities of the facilities – we could easily hike up the next slope with the built-in climbing ability of our gear. Freeriding, a little different! The clouds rolling in were the only reason keeping us from skiing the wide slopes by ourselves once the ski lifts had shut down for the day. Just before the rain set in, we made it to the cozy Moser Hut. Was that the adequate punishment for freeriding? The next day smelled like trouble. Instead of being locked inside the hotel until the end of the season due to our cockiness the prior day, our plea for extenuating circumstances was successful. Half a meter of new snow the next day, even if a little too wet, sent a signal that the weather tempered justice with mercy. Final redemption came at high noon, when the sun came out again. Together with the Karersee ski school, we went on a discovery tour into the backcountry of the resort. Needless to say that we chose fatties for this adventure. Freeriding in unique surroundigs. Whether you use fat skis or narrow toothpicks is your very individual decision. The narrow choice is great for hilly low mountain ranges or the foothills of the Alps. Even the first summits of the Bavarian Alps should be no problem with these skis. And if you don't consider secluded forest roads in the mountains too boring or you want to avoid uncertain avalanche conditions, this variation of freeriding is definitely something to recommend.

SkiS: Atomic Rainier Posigrip BINDING: Voilé 3-pin Cable BOOTS: Crispi Sypolen (leather), Crispi CXX2 (plastic)

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Info Carezza:

by car: Brenner Highway, exit Bozen North towards Eggental, Karersee â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Carezza. From the exit Bozen North, it's a 20-minute drive to the Carezza ski area. BY Train and bus: Train station Bozen, from here multiple bus connections daily to the ski area of Carezza. Depending on the service of your hotel, you can also order a shuttle. BY Plane: The closest airport is in Bozen (30 km), then Innsbruck (120 km), or Verona (150 km) Distances: Munich 265 km, Vienna 590 km, Milan 280 km, Venice 215 km Ski area: 16 lifts; day pass: EUR 32.Lodging: Hotel Central, Schwarz-Tschager family, Karerseestr. 7, I-39056 Welschnofen, Southern Tyrol/Dolomites, ph.: +39 0471 613164, www.hotelcentral.it Tourism Office Welschnofen-Karersee, I-39056 Welschnofen, Karerseestr. 21, ph. +39 0471 613126, www.carezza.it

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Story and Photography: franzfaltermaier.com

TELEMARKING the WILDFLOWER MEADOWS of INDIA “Take your poles upside down; grips down!”, says Mahmood, our guide. I’m not getting it. I want to force my skis into the rack, but they don’t fit. Too wide. Again: “Poles upside down in the rack first. Then you take your skis inside the gondola.” I obey, but I answer insecurely: “But they’re too long!” “Let them stick out through the door crack!” The shaky door is only slowly opening. I painfully squeeze into the tiny 6-person cabin. My fat avalanche backpack gets stuck in the small opening, prefers to stay outside. And how do I get the skis inside? I curse while I fall into the seat. Other skiers hectically push inside after me. I try to observe whether anyone is already rolling their eyes, thinking that I’m too stupid to ride on a lift. How about my skiing abilities then? Even Thomas is having a hard time and says: “This feels like on a helicopter.” “That’s actually a good sign”, says Andi. For a handful of ski areas in India, the government did not purchase new cable cars. Instead, they ordered Puma gondolas from France. For now, there’s ski tips sticking out of every single one of those porta-potties. It reminds me of my first winter vacations with my old VW Beetle. The skis were attached to the hatch door, the tips sticking out way over the roof. The ride is pretty quick. We are passing strange conifers, a mix of spruce and cypress. At the mid-station on roughly 3,000 meters, there’s a large yellow sign: Alpine Dangers! Rocks! Weather Changes! Avalanches! Experts Only! We are excited and rush out of the building. That this is the only action we’d get today isn’t clear to anyone yet. Mount Apharwat. Finally, we get to see it. Info and pictures on the web regarding the Kashmir ski resort were rather sparse. At least we found out that the mountain measures 4,300 meters and the cable car goes up to 4,000 meters. In addition, it was pointed out that it’s the world’s highest cable car. In the center of the three-kilometer wide and box-shaped range steel cables swing upwards. The gondolas are glistening in the backlight like pearls, but they aren’t moving an inch. Mahmood explains: “To the right of the cable car, there are two chutes called Gondola Bowl. They are controlled by ski patrol. The rest is just backcountry.” Ungroomed as it is, nature presents its treasures. No snowcats. No snowmaking. No signposts. The landscape reminds me of the Kitzbühel Alps. Except for the pepper trees. Like lost fruit orchards, some groups of those broadleaf trees dare venturing into the alpine region. Some impatient skiers zigzag up the mountain with their skins. Right now, we feel sorry for them. As soon as the cable car starts running, we will pass them and steal the virgin powder from them. But that’s actually not really a problem. In fact, the area´s entire population of skiers and snowboarders is waiting with us for the final okay, but how many people are we talking about after all? A tiny group of maybe 60. There’s enough fresh up there for everyone, and more. I examine the others. A good mix from all over the world. At home, I decided to leave my fattest skis behind. Now I have the

ones with a good 100 mm. That should be enough. I thought. And now, I feel underequipped. Almost everyone has 120 and more. Even our guide, he who is wearing old, faded rags, owns the baddest powder gun made by an American ski manufacturer named after one of the highest mountains in the world. The atmosphere is extremely good. Local vendors offer chocolate bars out of their trays. Our guide brings some tea, and here and there, there’s the smell of marihuana in the air. You won’t find any skiers in red ski instructor suits or with slalom race carvers around here. The contrast: Indian tourists, daring their very first turns on ancient skis and on a barely inclining slope. Once in a while, we hear the avalanche patrol blasting the snow. Immediate excited comments from within the group: “In a minute, in a minute!! Let’s go!!” But: “The cable car is closed for the day due to storm and avalanche danger on the top.” A guy from Oberaudorf is freaking: “At home, this wouldn’t be possible! So you’re waiting all day and… for nothing!” We sympathize with him. But this is Kashmir. Look at it this way: Sure, at home we´d still be skiing now. But only on groomed runs. Off-piste is a gray area or simply off-limits. And in Gulmarg? Follow the rules of ski touring and patience pays off: The snow can settle, then it’s even better to ski on it. In our home resorts, not one snowflake gets the chance to rest. Once on the ground, masses of skiers or – even worse – snowcats run right over it. We feel better with this little philosophy and ski down to Gulmarg. Once there, we hang out on the terrace of our hotel and watch monkeys climbing through the trees. Sometimes, they get into a fight and make a lot of noise. Believe it or not – not only mankind is getting into fights. But those primates are definitely not discussing skiing. With nightfall the forecasted bad weather system hits the area. The snow is thrown onto the ground with unreal force. We can´t see the school building across the street anymore and the snow crystals are more like hailstones. The snow level grows at an accelerated pace. The locals can’t cope with the amounts. Snow 1 : Snow Shovelers 0. But people continue shoveling snow from the roofs to avoid incidents. What had been an exception in our 0506 season and triggered a true tragedy in Bad Reichenhall is just a normal routine out here. Meanwhile, it’s pitch dark. We stalk and slide through white trenches. We can feel the snowflakes and pull the hoods of our jackets far down into our faces. Dimly, we see our destination: Rajai’s house. At home, this wouldn’t be more than a hut. His name is painted in large, wild letters onto the dark green wooden wall. Inside, the bearded man is expecting us with a smile on his face. He is taking off his woolen hat while his kids are shyly waiting behind him. That’s five. Kids. For Kashmir, it’s average. As soon as we sit at the unstable table, the kids are passing out plates for our spicy local meal. In the corner, a TV is running at full volume. We see a very mean, bearded guy with potbelly beating up tons of other guys. The alternative would be romantic sob stuff made like musicals. The women usually sing with whining kids’ voices. Even Kate Bush wouldn’t like it. We are lucky. The winter storm

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has mercy and cuts the electricity off. Our host is prepared. In no time, a maliciously steaming gas lantern is hanging from the ceiling. I take a look around the room, the size of a garage. Between red oriental carpets, there’s a small clipping from Powder magazine stuck on the wall. I read: “We are from Kashmir. The most peaceful people in the world. We want skiers, not soldiers.” With his calm voice, Rajai tells us about the situation in the small ski village of Gulmarg: “Because of the terror attacks and the ongoing conflict in Pakistan, the presence of the military in Kashmir is very high.” A situation we did notice, especially at the airport. Our bags were checked multiple times. Especially the cartridges of our avalanche backpacks were in the focus of the customs authorities. And on the trip from Srinagar to Gulmarg, we saw tons of military convoys. It seems like they mean to build a front. Here, in the ski resort and in Gulmarg, we didn’t notice it though. Probably they don’t want to scare off the tourists. Well, at some places there’s a soldier watching over something. At the mid-station, we took a picture of a posh mountain infantry soldier. Bonnet, white camouflage jacket, touring skis… and, casually dangling from his shoulder, Russia’s best selling export merchandise: a handy Kalashnikov. As we leave, Andy asks our host: “How much do we owe?” The answer: “Just give me what you think is right.” Mother Holle (the snowmaker from the Grimm tales) has already been busy for two days now. At the “Monkey Hill” close by, we hike up a little and ski down through a high forest, safe from avalanches. From time to time, we can jump some pillows – they look like huge snowballs thrown into the forest by some giant. Our guide suggests a run from Gulmarg to Babareshi, the next town down the hill. Similar to the Monkey Hill, the slope is steep. We actually don’t make it to Babareshi, but to a mountain pass. A Jeep is already waiting for us. In no time, our skis are on the roof and the driver speeds up the narrow road. A couple times, cars pass us from the opposite direction, honking frantically. We are glad nothing happens. Just when we agree that driving is way more dangerous in India than skiing, we are stuck in traffic. Two cars crashed head-on. The driver of a compact did not understand that bigger cars categorically have the right of way. “No cutting lines here!”, an American skier makes a fuss. All excited, I forgot my poles in the gondola. All I can do is wait for them to take another roundtrip down and up the mountain. I am happy to have them back a while later and I rush to meet my friends, who are already waiting outside. Everybody’s impatient. Today, after three days of massive snowfall, it’s the first clear day and we are finally on our way to the top. On the summit of Apharwat, we are greeted by an incredible view. Nanga Parbat, twice as high, is covered by a big cloud – not unusual for eight-thousanders. It’s the result of the so-called jet streams. White mountains as far as you can see. Not a single man-made site is interfering with nature.

After a couple more runs, our guide comes up with yet another surprise: A run with 2,500 vertical. He’s proud. From the top, we traverse farther than before, towards the East. Then we ski down. It seems like forever. We reach a perfect forest and it’s not over yet. We fear to hit slush, but the shadows of the trees conserved finest powder, allowing us to ski in short, quick turns through the trees. In no time, we reach the first houses of Drang, a village below Gulmarg. Just behind a bridge, our Jeep is already expecting us. Our guide must have ordered the driver there by cell phone while we skied down. And another surprise follows. Since he knows that Stefan and myself crave coffee, something hard to get in India, the guide is taking us to a comfy bar in Tangmarg. It’s not Italian Cappuccino, but hey! Through the windows, we see more ski freaks arriving. There’s going to be some more nice powder days in March, says Mahmood. But slush will prevail at some point and then spring will arrive here in Kashmir. Which is supposed to be a beautiful time. “Gulmarg” means wildflower meadow. Should we extend our trip? All the way until summer? No doubt, this would be a nice place to stay.

Info:

SEASon: January/ February. Plan for at least two weeks. Travel: Turkish Airlines, EUR 600 - 800 from Germany via Istanbul and New Delhi. On to Srinagar, then the remaining distance by taxi (EUR 15; mini van or small bus) to Gulmarg. Travel takes about 2 days, depending on the connections. Visa: Application takes max. 2 weeks, cost is EUR 50. Vaccinations: not necessary in winter. LODGING ETC.: Hotel, equipment, rental (fatties), transfers, and everything else: Yassin from Kashmir Alpine, www.kashmiralpine.com. Most expensive hotel: Highland Park, EUR 100 Guide: Mahmood Ahmoa Lone , www.gulmargpowderguides.com Ski lifts: Day pass EUR 16. Highest point of the gondola: Mt. Apharwat, 3,950 meters. There are plans for a heliskiing base. Food: A full meal costs around EUR 5; you don’t need a grocery store – there are vendors with fruit and bread and many cheap restaurants. Chocolate bars sold by street vendors. Potable water: we weren’t sure about this and preferred boiled water or tea. The beer (Kingfisher) is not bad, but expensive (EUR 4 at the bar). No wine available. The Highland Park Hotel offers Brandy (expensive) and Vodka. Currency: Indian Rupee. Dollars are easy to exchange, sometimes also Euro. Credit cards are not widely accepted, no ATM in Gulmarg. Cell phone: only local phones (pre-paid cards); Internet at the Highland Park or Pine Hotel. Language: English ok.

We are the first ones to drop into the virgin mountainside. From now on, I only subconsciously take notice my environment. I ski full-speed turns, sucking up the compression, then leaning into the other direction; compensating small bumps while my poles are winging the snow. The shallow sun is behind my back, shadows of snow spray pass me briefly, my thighs are burning and my lungs are longing for air. The mid-station is looming somewhere in the corner of my goggles. No time to rest. An orchard passes by. One last cat track, I swish to a halt. I am gasping for air. Thomas sums it up: “Just like heliskiing, but with a lift.”

gulmarg

Text: Petra Thaller, ideenschmiedeberg.de

freeheeler: Paul, you are one of the early American tele skiers, you have seen a lot of evolution in this fascinating sport – how has it changed over the years? Paul Parker: We are talking about 40-odd years of changes since the modern rebirth of telemark, more than many skiers’ lifetimes, so the changes have been huge. You can’t discuss the evolution of the sport without discussing the changes in equipment at the same time, because it’s the gear that allowed the sport to evolve. New gear has made new things possible, things that we only dreamed about in the early days. Back then an important goal was to survive the terrain that one skied on alpine gear. Today the goal is to rip the terrain that one would ski on alpine gear. Looking back, very early on we were skiing wood skis with lignonstone or marius edges—few skiers had full metal edges. We skied powder. We were using low leather touring boots with gaiters that, today, would be considered light touring gear. The possibilities with that historic equipment versus today’s alpine-like gear are incomparable, and as a result the expectations for the sport were very different. Ski mountaineering gear has had the same revolution as the early equipment had similar challenges. Ski mountaineering gear was heavy, using leather lace-up mountaineering boots and bear-trap bindings. The heavy, clumsy nature of ski mountaineering gear of that day is one reason why telemarking initially out-grew ski mountaineering in North America. Nordic-style equipment worked much better for covering the long distances that we find in North America, particularly in the West, to get to the turns. Once you were there, you needed a turning technique with fore-to-aft stability to maneuver those skinny skis, and telemark was the practical choice. The biggest difference today, for me, with this evolution (and revolution) of equipment, is the mentality of high-level skiers. There is no longer a distinction between the better telemark and alpine skiers—they ski the same terrain and conditions equally well.

fh: What about the change of equipment during the last years? PP: The change in equipment, as I said, is what has allowed the sport to evolve. There have been various milestones – hugely-important milestones – that allowed a big jump in the sport. Early on, an important milestone that most skiers didn’t experience, or laugh at its antiquity, was the advent of lightweight metal-edged skis that allowed us to better negotiate firm and variable snow conditions. The edged skis were, in those days, telemarkspecific, using similar technologies as alpine skis but in lighter-weight constructions and much narrower widths. Metal edges introduced us to power and control. Leather boots had incremental improvements with various reinforcements and plastic pieces, but the big milestone was the first plastic boot, the Terminator. The Terminator changed everything. There were holdouts for a few years, but it was more than obvious that there was no turning back. There was no question that plastic boots brought us what we had been looking for. They were much more supportive and torsionally rigid, allowing the telemarker to control much wider, higher-performance skis and, eventually, blurring or even eliminating the differences between telemark and an alpine ski. In the last ten years or so boots have evolved significantly from the original Terminators, with multiple injections, new bellows designs and reinforcements that have gotten closer to bringing the best of both worlds: the flexibility of a leather telemark boot and control of an alpine boot. Skis, of course, have had big changes in recent years. First it was more shape, or sidecut, then more width. Skis’ development now reflects alpine as well as telemark skiers’ needs resulting in, as I mentioned, a blurring and even elimination of the difference in a telemark and alpine ski. There are “adventure”-oriented skis that are lighter and more maneuverable, focused on off-piste skiers, ski mountaineers, and telemarkers who go into the backcountry, whatever boot/binding system they prefer. For piste, telemarkers have benefitted from all of the alpine innovations, tending towards lighter alpine models but, again, gravitating toward those alpine choices for their preferred conditions and terrain just as a fixed-heel skier would. Bindings are what have lagged behind, until recently not much different in concept from the original 75-mm norm bindings. The most significant binding milestone has been a moving away from the 75-mm norm, something that Rottefella has accomplished with the NTN system. It has taken time, was not easy, and has required some evolution since it’s initial launch, but the most recent NTN system has proven quite successful. Finally, NTN has allowed telemark skiers the features that Alpine skiers enjoy: ski brakes, easy step-in, some release capability, and incredible lateral control. It feels like telemark is growing up – in the most positive sense. fh: Lightweight is the tag in freeski mountaineering and alpinism, what do you think about the importance of this progress for the telemark community? PP: In the telemark realm super-light is much less of a trend than in ski mountainereing. The light weight emphasis has manifested itself more in skis than in boots and bindings. Generally speaking, telemarkers

have tended toward burlier boots for freeride skiing, not towards lighter gear. Other than the new adventure-oriented skis, backcountry telemark equipment tends to be significantly heavier than ski mountaineering gear. In recent years the major telemark binding manufacturers have developed a free-hinge model for telemark touring and alpinism that greatly improves mobility when touring, but they aren’t particularly light. A telemark performance-touring setup is still significantly heavier than a comparable alpine touring setup. In North America we see a lot of telemark skiers who use telemark gear predominately at the resort or for shorter hikes, and a tech-binding AT setup for the longer tours and ski mountaineering. fh: Paul, your book „Freeheel Skiing – Telemark and Parallel Techniques for all Conditions“ is the bible for beginners and pros – you reached to condense all the theories, techniques and observations of the skiing community into a simple, progressive instructional guide. What is your special tip for teleski-beginners who are already good backcountry skiers? PP: Big toe little toe is always the tip that comes to mind. As you move into the telemark position, tip your skis in the direction of your turn and pressure the big toe of your front foot and little toe of your back foot. You can check out my book for a more in-depth description of this and many other tips. fh: Ski, boot & binding is a unit for skiers – which are your favorite products for the coming season? PP: I ski on equipment that I’ve developed, since I believe that it’s the best available. That is my goal in product development. My #1 setup is Garmont Prophet NTN boots, NTN bindings, and the Movement Jackal. The Jackal is a fat, lightweight ADV ski – 105mm underfoot. I also ski quite a bit on Garmont Voodoos, our burliest 75-mm boot. For a more touring-oriented telemark boot I love the 75-mm Kenai – lightweight and solid. fh: Tele skiing with children, starting early – in which age are children able to learn tele skiing, and why? PP: 3 years old is a common age for skier parents to start their kids. At that age it’s all about fun – as it should be at any age – about playing on skis. Keep the kids warm and keep it fun and playful. Other than boot and ski size, there is no reason why kids can’t ski very early on telemark gear. Given the playful focus at a young age, telemark gear is easier to walk around, more maneuverable, more flexible, allowing warmer feet and more play time. I live in the mountains of Colorado in a ski community and know many parents who have started their kids on telemark gear from their beginning, or as soon as they can get boots that fit. fh: What about the equipment for our tele skiing youngsters? PP: Garmont makes the only kid’s-specific telemark boot, the G-Rex, sized down to 19 MPS. The boot uses a standard small-sized 75-mm binding and is warm, dry, and comfortable. There are many junior skis on the market that are well-suited to the young telemark skier.

fh: The final countdown, Paul, what about your projects for this winter season? PP: With Garmont in 2009-2010 we launched the Prophet NTN and new quad-injected 75-mm telemark boots, the Voodoo and Kenai. This fall our focus has been on women’s-specific telemark boots. We have the new burly women’s NTN boot, the Priestess NTN, and new quad-injected 75-mm boots, the Minerva and Athena. The Priestess NTN boot is available down to size 23.0, the smallest that works with the NTN binding. The 75-mm Minerva and Athena are sized down to 22.0, a first for Garmont. We feel that the women’s free-heel market is very important and are focused on satisfying women’s specific boot needs. With Movement I am working on our ADV line which consists of wide, lightweight, responsive, wood-core skis for the “adventure” skier. These are skis designed for the off-piste skier, free-tourer, ski mountaineer, and backcountry skier who need light weight mobility for the approach and demand top performance when they get there and find the goods. With full wood cores and carbon-fiber and fiberglass construction, these skis are superb in their round flex, lightweight and stable construction, and very lively responsiveness. Our first model is the Jackal, which I use for both telemark and alpine skiing. We have many other new models in development. fh: Paul, thanks for your time, a great deal of snow and good rides.

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MASTERS

Inaugural Event January 29th 2011 Steamboat Springs Colorado USA Steamboat is the national qualifying event for the freeheel world master finale in Galtur Austria Male and female winners receive free airline tickets to the Austrian Finale More information at: www.sswsc.org www.telemarkskier.com

Polartec Scufoneda: The Soul of European Telemarking Every year, the famous European telemark meeting takes place in the wonderful surroundings of the Italian Dolomites. A great event on a cosmopolitan stage with tons of fun. The Origins It was in the early 70s, when American skiers rediscovered telemarking. Europe was still focused on alpine skiing, even though Sondre Norheim developed the free-heel technique in the mid-nineteenth century in Norway. The free-heel skiers, who relived the original look of the Norwegian skiers and their skiing technique, populated the mountains in the most important European countries. Apparently, this phenomenon interested mostly top-notch skiers, but there was no doubt that something new was born. An important part of the protagonists were the people of the Italian Alps, especially the Dolomites, whose most beautiful summits are turning red at sunset. “Heroes of Telemark” was the name of the most active group of Italian telemarkers. But the initial enthusiasm weakened after a few great years. It was necessary to wait for the establishment of the “Scufons del Cogo” to mark the beginning of a new golden age of telemarking. Scufons and Scufoneda The “Scufons” appeared for the first time in 1997 in Moena (Val di Fassa, Dolomites). The group consisted of skiing enthusiasts and ski instructors, who got inspired by the Golardian soul and the new image of the Tyrolean traditional clothing, with its characteristic large hats as well as jackets and pants made of Loden fabric. Besides their look, their intention was also to promote telemarking as an expression of the authentic culture of the Ladin communities. Their cultural roots, the mountains, friendship and extraversion were part of their most important values. Only one year after the initiation of the Scufoneda in 1998 the event was a great success and marked the start of a new tradition. The Scufoneda ruled ski life in Moena. The event drew more and more ski enthusiasts from all over Europe and gained an excellent image and thus also in importance. In 2001, the Scufoneda had gotten so popular that the event had to be extended to an entire week. Meanwhile, the event schedule was enriched with cultural activities and entertainment features, and – of course – large skiing contests. The New Era of the Polartec®Scufoneda 2009 marked the year of big change. The “Scufon” decided on a three-year partnership with Polartec LCC, the world’s leading manufacturer of the Polartec® range of high-performance materials. As one of the most important international outdoor brands, Polartec® realized the high quality of the Scufoneda as well as its authenticity and mission and chose to support it. Spring in the Dolomites is ever since celebrated with the “Polartec®Scufoneda”, a large telemark festival, combining the legacy of the past with new energy, resources, and ideas.

Great Contests, Great Winners Those competitions have not only captured the European qualified skiers, but also the Americans. The 2010 Freeride Cup, which took place on March 8th near the beautiful San Pellegrino pass, was won by the Italian Armin Senoner, followed by American telemark guru Nick DeVore, who was the “special guest” of the Polartec®Scufoneda 2010. Julian Giacomelli has won the Italian Telemark Championships, with his time of 1:31:45 minutes, and the overal winner was Benedikt Holzmann from Germany. More than 600 telemark enthusiasts attended Moena and its events and the forecasts for 2011 are even more optimistic. News for March 2011 The organizational work on the 14th Polartec®Scufoneda has already begun. The collaboration between Polartec® and the Scufoneda was so successful that the organizers are now intending to raise the bar. The Freeride Cup, the flagship event, will receive most of the attention. For the next event in 2011, Polartec® has decided to support the athletes with a jackpot purse of 6,500 Euro, which will be distributed amongst the winners of the Polartec®Scufoneda. 2,500 Euro for the overall winner, 1,000 Euro for each category such as telemark, snowboard and alpine skiing, as well as for one women’s category. Considering that the prize money normally never exceeds 1,000 Euro, it is easy to understand that Polartec is taking another step to set new standards for ski competitions. In addition to the ski events, there is a strong focus on the social elements, hospitality, and an ample entertainment program. The goal is to offer an opportunity to celebrate all aspects of mountain life, and everybody is welcome – professional skiers, ski enthusiasts, children, and adults. The next edition of the Polartec®Scufoneda is scheduled for March 13-20, 2011 in Moena in Val di Fassa. We are sure that the adrenaline is already noticeable in the Italian Dolomites.

The pistes are perfectly groomed, but who cares when there's 40 centimeters of perfect powder to be skied! Kvitfjell delivers again, and I’m getting spoilt. It’s January 2010 and by now, I’ve come to expect great conditions. I’ve spent winters in Canadian powder, I’ve tasted American whiteout snowfall where your tracks disappear by the time the lift has taken you back up again, but nevertheless – I love Kvitfjell. It may not have the yearly snowfall of the Rockies or the vertical of Chamonix, but the quality of the snow is fantastic and the groomers back to the lift are enjoyable even for a dedicated powderhound such as myself. So when time came to pack the car for the second Kvitfjell Telemark Festival, hesitation was not an option. I picked up the rest of my crew – one photographer ond one undercover spy – and off we went… Last year’s festival was a great success, and apparently, word had spread. Some 900 telemarkers are said to have shown up. Friday was quiet at the hill at first, and we concentrated on skiing as much as possible of the newly fallen snow. 40 cms of the lightest pow I’ve skied in a long time! As usual, the locals were friendly enough to show us a few secret stashes of pow. Not that we really needed them. As the day passed, the number of spandex-clad freeheelers in the lift line grew at a worrying pace, the reason being the Norwegian Cup telemark giant slalom. I humbly watched the racers from the terrace at Koia, while enjoying beer and gourmet sausage. Those guys are fast! As the race ended, the party began. More sausage and a well-functioning beer delivery system kept the party going. The retro film that Richard brought was the coolest teleflick for quite some time. Jibbing may be hot, but it’s nothing compared to freestyling on skinnies and leathers!

Growing pains

Saturday began as Friday ended, with a bit of fresh snow. Most of us were tired from the day before, but no time to waste. As we headed for the backcountry, a lot of other freeheelers followed in our tracks, eager to taste the pow before the Freeheel Scandinavian Masters Telecross started. As it turned out, the race was delayed, due to an unforeseen large number of participants registering just before the race. This slowed the start, but not the racers. Compared to last year, the elbows were a good bit sharper on the course and we got to see some good racing, but due to the cold, some of the spectators, including myself, gave up and went skiing before the final heat. For next year, the organizers need to face the fact that this festival is growing bigger. A pleasant problem, indeed. Our spy – Alexandra, a dedicated alpine skier – had booked a telemark instructor. After humbly declining padded pants, off she went for her first lesson. By lunchtime, the thighs needed calories and the mind was already set on more. Her tired smile said it all… a new telemark skier was born and the instructor got the stamp of approval!

Saturday night ended in traditional manner – party and snowfall. We pretty much all agreed that one could get used to this! When Koia closed for the night (much too soon if you ask me) we took the party to nearby Gudbrandsgard Hotel. The crowd there looked more like something from a fancy bar in Courchevel (some even sporting dead poodles on their feet) but there was nothing but smiles all around as the telemarkers joined them at the bar. Sunday was spent testing skis, boots and cameras in the woods of Kvitfjell West. Apparently, the racers were at it again, classical style, but by now the skier convinced the journalist in me that it was time to take to the woods! The one thing I learned was that stiff, fat, long carbon skis just do not work in tight trees. At all. I’m blaming them, not the beer, for my crappy skiing. For 2011, I’ll bring my Drifters. Fat rockered skis are just the ticket to the Kvitfjell backcountry and I’ve already ordered a good snowfall to match. See you all there? (Text & photos by Mattias Unander and Frederick Grönvall)

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Continent: Southwest Africa // Country: Namibia // Desert: Namib // Location: Dune belt near Swakopmund, Atlantic Ocean // People: Magnus Løvlie, Norway As I put on my telemark skis, I started wondering whether I really fit in the desert like this. Not really. But I could not know yet how much fun I would have in a few moments. Henrik, the founder of Ski Namibia and a telemark enthusiast, gave us a ride to the dune ski area with its view from the sandy giants across the South Atlantic. It seemed like being on a mountain range made of sand. Ideal for a telemark touring intermezzo. Checking Henrik’s gear, we found some pieces of Knicken Telemark Wear; they are supporting this unusual desert telemark project. We had always wanted to free-heel in shorts, very cool… After two short practice runs, we went up on a roughly 80 meter high sand dune – and what an exceptional view we got! You can’t really capture the silence and the views in a picture. Henrik skied first to give us an idea of this very different element called sand. Still cautious, we dropped into the 30 degree sand face. Once you have enough speed, it feels easy to turn, almost like in powder. Evenly and without a chance to hit ice anywhere, we tried the first telly turns in one of the world’s oldest deserts. Afterwards, you just want more, so back uphill with the touring skis, then skiing the Eastern face, then the Southern face, always setting first tracks. Henrik told us during a short rest how he started skiing and telemarking so far away from his home, and what it took to get there… …which was never-ending enthusiasm, courage and many contacts that needed to be made and maintained, especially in his old home of Thuringia. In addition, he competed in one of the traditional race events in Switzerland for more than five years in a row, the Inferno in Mürren-Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Alps, one of the longest races on the planet. This was necessary to expand his entourage of skiers from around the world. Piece by piece, he moved his equipment to Namibia by plane, sometimes scavenging an empty spot in a container on a cargo ship. Thanks to his early sports career in Nordic combination, it did not feel all that awkward to him to bank on telemarking. He knew the technique from his many ski jumps where he

practiced the eponymous landing over and over again. It was the foundation for a new era: desert telemarking. The key master in this very case was Michael from the company Knicken, who met Henrik several years ago and learned about his plan. They quickly developed a very good contact that became an intercontinental friendship. It motivated Henrik to intensively upgrade his own telemark technique – meanwhile, he masters almost every sand dune in the flexed, low stance. According to his opinion, this is the future of all the skiing techniques on sand. Effortless hiking, conquering large distances in rough sand dunes, absolutely controlled and easy descents on slopes with 30 degrees incline and more. In addition, you never get too fast and ice or dangerous bumps are not a problem, they just do not exist. He is still hoping for the support to continue his desert experiences with a brand new desert equipment series, and maybe a ski manufacturer will join his undertaking. There’s not only a lot of potential in the improvement of skis, but also when it comes to boots, apparel and binding systems – his goal is to fine-tune everything to meet the desert’s conditions. Maybe his recently established speed record in speed sand skiing will help him, but he did not achieve that one on telemark skis… Back to the action – we were on top of the South face now with ocean view. On the bottom, we saw our ride and looked forward to the ice chest with some refreshments. No wasting time though, we would still be treated with two more runs that day. As a sideline, we learned something about the dunes and the Namib desert. We encountered a sand viper just before crossing the last dune ridge – according to Henrik, no apparent danger as long as the animal isn’t bothered. We enjoyed one last telemark run, in the end we had eleven of them with almost 1,000 vertical. And then we were off to some après action. The desert is simply incredible.

Desert telemarking... this was not our last time.

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Sitting around the breakfast table at the Morgedal Hotel at the end of a great weekend, the mood was relaxed, the feedback was good and then the comment was made: “Every telemark skier needs to experience this place at least once in a lifetime.” Our group, which included telemark skiers and media representatives from Germany, Austria, Norway, USA, Italy and the Czech Republic quickly jumped on this thread and were unanimous in their agreement. Animated discussion followed as the ideas flowed and the energy was high – everyone keen to have a say and play a role in developing our fledging international telemark festival here in Morgedal.

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From March 11 – 14, 2010 Morgedal held its first international telemark festival: “The Morgedal Games” - a telemark gathering hosting guests from Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Denmark and the USA. This year the key focus was bringing the international media to the birthplace of the ski sport and the home of telemark skiing. The festival was held in cooperation with Richard Schürf from Telemark Works in Germany as part of the freeheel tour. Every international sporting game needs an opening ceremony and the Morgedal games were no different with the opening being held at Skare Farm. The home of ski jumping legend Svein Sollid, this is a beautiful traditional telemark farmstead with a very historic ski hill sloping away from the cluster of houses and red barns. A torch lighting and flag bearing ceremony was held with local children skiing down the fields in traditional clothing to welcome our guests and then an informal evening kicked off with old school jumping on wooden skis, a big air comp and the traditional Ølbolleren – a telemark styling competition involving large moguls and bowls of beer. Other race events on the weekend included a telemark sprint, the Norheim telecross and a telemark classic race set on the world’s first slalom slopes. 192 competitors took part in the weekends racing with the telecross proving to be the most popular event. Back to our group around the breakfast table – when asked about the highlights it wasn’t really the racing that was important for our guests, it was the “Morgedal stuff”. The chance to take part in a “hands on” ski making session and then take those same skis up onto the historic hills and test them, the evening torch lit walk to Øverbø – the birthplace of Sondre Norheim, or watching the local kids skiing telemark style with natural grace and ease. These were the

things that were highlighted and that remind us exactly what it is that is so special about Morgedal. It is fair to say that when it comes to destinations and particularly ski festival destinations, Morgedal is unique. You do not get more “grass roots” or natural than this little valley hidden in the heart of Telemark. No big ski areas or after ski scene in overpriced ski suits, the magic of this valley is that it is pretty much unchanged since the days of Sondre Norheim with farm houses dotted randomly on the steep hills, which surround the small lake like a type of historical ski amphitheatre. Brimming with ski history the valley is more than a museum. Echoes of the remarkable ski culture which developed here in the 1850s and eventually changed the way the world would ski are still audible today. You can hear them in the laughter of the children as they race and jump on their skis on the snow-covered fields. You can hear them in the whisper of your skis as you glide down from Sondre’s cabin high on the hill above the lake. This telemark gathering in Morgedal is all about offering skiers something very different… more than the chance to discover the roots of the sport they love, it is a feeling or an awareness that here you have come home, home to the birthplace of the ski sport.

Morgedal - once in a lifetime. "What a great time!!! I can’t thank you enough for the experience of a lifetime and I’m already looking forward to coming back." Josh Madsen, Telemark Skier Magazine, USA "A trip to Morgedal, to learn about deep emotions. Come and experience it with us." Oddo Broglia, Telemark Tribe Magazine, Italy

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Story: Patrick Droste

TELE Kiting

SONDRE NORHEIM WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD FOR SURE. BECAUSE JUST BELOW HIS BIRTHPLACE ØVERBØ IN MORGEDAL, NORWAY, THREE MEMBERS OF THE TELEMARKFRIENDS TEAM MADE THEIR FIRST ATTEMPTS at KITE TELEMARKING ON THE MORGEDALSTJØRN LAKE. The company jn Kites supplied us with two kites before we left for Norway. Although we only had limited experiences with kiting, our desire to try the large sails with telemark skis under our boots wasn’t diminished. On the contrary – we were highly motivated to be towed across the Norwegian lakes. For this plan, we brought forward our trip by one day and left from Morgedal toward Ofte and lake Oftevatnet. This water definitely did not lack the necessary size. We were barely able to see the other shore. But there was way too much snow on the frozen lake, a fact that we only realized after we had already carried kites and skis from the parking lot down the steep embankment onto the lake, then to only stand knee-high in slush. Finally, our adventure could begin! But we needed some patience, because setting up the entire kite construction with all the ropes turned out to be a little complicated for telekite beginners like us. After finally having figured it out and completing some dry runs, Christian tried to kite the first few meters. Unfortunately, this was very hard in the soft snow. Fast maneuvers and turns were difficult to handle. In addition, we had already noticed the sound of gunshots in the beginning, but didn’t really pay attention to them. But when a Norwegian quickly approached us across the lake on his skidoo, telling us that firing practice was held on the lake and our actions were a little too dangerous, because we could be blown into the off-limits section by a sudden gust of wind, we began to carry our gear back to the car. Somehow, things didn’t really work out the way we imagined.

But the next day was supposed to be more successful. Directly outside our front door in Morgedal, we unpacked our kites on the Morgedalstjørn. And this time, everything seemed to be perfect. No gunshots, a smooth surface, a smaller lake and blue skies. From the lake, we had a great view of Øverbø, Sondre Norheim’s birthplace. We could not have chosen a better place for our second take at kiting. We unloaded the gear from the car, set up the kites and started following the motto “trial and error”. But again it wasn’t as easy as we thought. It’s hard to constantly face the direction of movement and simultaneously check the position of the kite in the air. Since the lake was a little bit smaller and surrounded by mountains, the wind was very gusty. Sometimes, there was total calm, then a strong breeze. We definitely experienced that kiting is not all that harmless. Especially Mirko, who was suddenly and entirely unexpectedly pulled up into the air by the kite and then rather vigorously thrown down back on the ground. Luckily, he did not get hurt. Yet with a little more practice and the necessary respect, we had our successes and enjoyed the feeling of being towed across the lake. We made merciless use of the entire day, speeding across the ice with grins on our faces, the kite in our hands and the telemark skis on our feet. And we enjoyed the airstream, and of course this very special spot just underneath Sondre Norheim’s birthplace. All those who want to try tele kiting themselves shall be advised: we recommend you learn it from somebody, who already knows how to do it.