Telemark Skiing
Telemark Skiing is one of the Hoofer Outing Club's newest activity groups. Started in the fall of 1996, telemark skiing quickly became one of the most popular Hoofer wintertime activities. The Outing Club can provide you with all the equipment necessary for telemark and backcountry skiing, and it is free for use on any club trip. If you are new to tele skiing, experienced club members are always happy to help you select equipment and provide instruction.
What the heck is telemark skiing?
Telemark skiing is fun, exciting, and rapidly growing sport. Telemark is a type of skiing that originates from the technique first developed by Sondre Norheim. Unlike Alpine skiing equipment, the Telemark ski has a binding that connects the boot to the ski only at the toes, similar to cross-country skiing. Telemark turns are led with the heel flat on the outside ski, while the inside ski is pulled beneath the skier's body with a flexed knee and raised heel (you may hear telemark skiers refer to the sport as "free-heel"). The skis are staggered but parallel, with weight balanced between the two to give fore-aft stability.
The telemark turn came to the attention of the Norwegian public in 1868, when Sondre Norheim took part in a ski competition, impressing crowds with his ability to turn so easily and fluidly. The technique soon dominated skiing - and in Norway it continued to do so well into the next century.
The technique is named after the Telemark region of Norway.
For more information on telemark skiing, tips, and instruction visit these links:
- http://www.telemarktips.com/
- http://www.telemarknato.com/
- http://www.telemarkski.com/html/how_tele_beginner.html
Trips
The vast majority of Telemark skiing trips take place as day trips to the local ski hills, Tyrol Basin, Cascade Mountain, Blackhawk Ski Club, Devil's Head to name but a few. Anyone in the club is qualified to lead a trip to these facilities.
Blackhawk Ski Club is a private facility on the west side of Madison. The club opens its doors to the tele-community every 
Wednesday evening during the season, usually starting in early January. For a flat fee anyone can become a "special member" of the Blackhawk Ski Club and ski there on "tele-night" until the season closes. Blackhawk provides at least one on-duty ski patroller. It's at Blackhawk where we like to instruct new skiers and refine our tele-turns. A night of free-heeling always ends with an hour or so of socializing in the clubhouse. Bring your own snacks and beverages.
The other weekly mainstay is the lift service area near Mount Horeb called Tyrol Basin. For many years the club has gone to Friday night skis at Tyrol. It is here that club members met and ski and socialize.
From here trips are up to your imagination and skill level.
The club has a history of trips to the U.P of Michigan, east to skiing in New Hampshire's White Mountains, and west to the Rockies. Historically trips to the Tenth Mountain Hut system seem to go out about every other year.
For more information, contact our Telemark Skiing Chair, Will Marquardt.
