Learning to telemark

Jesse,

Contrary to popular (and purist) ideas, learning telemark skiing from downhill skiing is better learned by skiing paralell first, then learn the telemark turn. The skis have evolved quite a bit and so has the modern perspective of how to learn it most effectively. Ask anyone who can really ski telemark under circumstances where the telemark turn is less reliable (mainly icy conditions). It is very important to fall back on your best skill, which is the paralell turn. If you spend the next season just getting used to a free heel ski and ski like you always have, the telemark turn will come naturally and skiing will be more enjoyable. If you focus on learning the telemark turn, you may lose the desire to continue long before mastering it. You need to really answer the question, "Why do I want to learn how to Telemark?". Also, you really do not need an instructor. Put your time in on the slopes, get over the need to learn the turn right away and it will come with time. Telemark skiing isn't just about drop knee turning.

Just to add to the mix, there are a couple weekend workshops. Good for hanging out with likeminded folk at a lodge as well as for the classes. You get to focus on one problem for two days--kind of ups the chance for a breakthrough. They do video critique in the evenings.
The Mountaineers have done one at Baker in March and WyEast Nordic does one or two at Timberline in the June/July window. Sometimes with a trip to Snowdome or Illumination Saddle/Zigzag Gl. on the Friday befoer. Skiing the Palmer Glacier with the ski teams from around the country and the world is a trip. They always have had great instructors and they switch off so you get a little different approach from day to day.

I haven't done the WAC class for a few years. Think it might be time again to push off the most recent plateau. I dont work Wednesday, so early carpooling would be cool if it turns out others are going.

Wow, I guess I'm a "Purist"!  Cool.  The Telemark turn has served me well.  I've heard my tele skis will parallel turn, but I wouldn't know.   ??? 

je-c...Get down!

Of course we are warm and inviting, you've joined a cult, you know that, right?
As for Kneel, I wouldn't say "hi" he's a bad influence, unless you needed more fuel for an obsession.
And while lunge stepping may turn heads at work, you may have to tone back the daydream part  or they might just be shaking their heads--thankfully I'm unproductively self-employed. :

As for see you soon--you have NO idea how much I hope that is a good omen for recovery!  Let it snow!!!

Cult!? No one said anything about joining a cult!  Sometimes I wish I too was unproductively self-employed; I'm stuck working for the man, and let me tell you - sometimes I wonder what my life would be like had I not signed that contract!

Jesse,

Contrary to popular (and purist) ideas, learning telemark skiing from downhill skiing is better learned by skiing paralell first, then learn the telemark turn. The skis have evolved quite a bit and so has the modern perspective of how to learn it most effectively. Ask anyone who can really ski telemark under circumstances where the telemark turn is less reliable (mainly icy conditions). It is very important to fall back on your best skill, which is the paralell turn. If you spend the next season just getting used to a free heel ski and ski like you always have, the telemark turn will come naturally and skiing will be more enjoyable. If you focus on learning the telemark turn, you may lose the desire to continue long before mastering it. You need to really answer the question, "Why do I want to learn how to Telemark?". Also, you really do not need an instructor. Put your time in on the slopes, get over the need to learn the turn right away and it will come with time. Telemark skiing isn't just about  drop knee turning.

Thanks for the advice Tony_Bentley. I was pretty solid with the parallel turn at the end of last season on the ski boards, so I'll work and see how that translates with the free-heeled approached. I predict I'll be stuck wedging around the bunny slopes my first day out, but hopefully once I get comfortable with that, I'll move back to the parallel, get comfy with that, then move onto the tele-turn. As far as why I want to learn how to telemark, I think I could best sum up my answer by saying: I want to be able to break free from the confines of lift-served skiing, get out in the vast expanse of natural beauty that is the Pacific Northwest, and bound gracefully through a field of fresh powder. I hope that's not too ambitious 

The Mountaineers have done one at Baker in March and WyEast Nordic does one or two at Timberline in the June/July window.  Sometimes with a trip to Snowdome or Illumination Saddle/Zigzag Gl. on the Friday befoer.  Skiing the Palmer Glacier with the ski teams from around the country and the world is a trip.  They always have had great instructors and they switch off so you get a little different approach from day to day.

I haven't done the WAC class for a few years.  Think it might be time again to push off the most recent plateau.  I dont work Wednesday, so early carpooling would be cool if it turns out others are going.

I'll have to check into the Mountaineers program as well when the time comes around. I think between now and March I could get some decent "mileage" in and hopefully get some skill set developed to take into a class. Thanks for the information!

ADVICE for learning how to telemark: Don't ski with dudes that say they'll teach you how to telemark.

...and NEVER ski sober!!!!

-Burns

ADVICE for learning how to telemark:  Don't ski with dudes that say they'll teach you how to telemark.

...and NEVER ski sober!!!!

-Burns

What's your suggested BAC?