But doesn't having a stiff set up make it easier to learn or is it the otherway round! Educate me as to what you think would be a good set of "training wheels" to learn on.
it's the other way around. You need a softer ski for learning. In tele it's hard to get weight on that rear ski to make it flex and I think those verdicts are a bit stiff. Also, getting the skis on edge is tougher in tele and a narrower ski would help. I had a lot of trouble when I demoed NTN bindings last year. The boots were just way to stiff for me to flex the bellows. This year's boots are supposed to be much softer in the bellows.
You might want to take a trip across the freeway and get some practice at the "golf course". If you're on steeper terrain you'll always want to fall back on your parallel turns and you won't be practicing tele. With your downhill skiing background I'm pretty sure you'll figure it out quick.
