Telemark

For many years following the arrival of fixed-heel bindings, the Telemark turn fell into disuse. It was rediscovered in the States in the late '70s and early '80s by skiers who were looking for new challenges. Now it is quite the in thing for good skiers looking to be part of, well, the in thing.

The attraction of Telemark skiing lies in the smooth sensations and the exclusivity of the sport. It's not easy and you need to be fit, so it's not for everyone. In addition, the equipment is light, and you can walk uphill for short distances more easily than with conventional equipment, so it's attractive for off-piste afficionados. On gentle slopes or in shallow powder telemarking is graceful and attractive. Expert telemark skiers, however, are continually pushing the limits of performance of their equipment.

The telemark turn is a graceful, swooping curve, low on the inside knee, characteristic of this style of skiing.

Plant your downhill pole.	Slide your uphill ski forwards, transferring your weight to it and start your turn
Steer your uphill ski through the fall line balancing against the inner edge.	The inside ski trails and follows the outside ski.
Finish your turn.

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Touring

 

Touring, also known as ski mountaineering, combines the technical pleasures of alpine skiing with the freedom of cross-country. By using special bindings and skins the ski tourer is independent of the lift system and free to roam the mountains at will.

Safety
Part of the thrill of touring is the feeling of self-reliance and solitude offered by penetrating deep into the mountains. The negative side of this is that you are far from help in case of injury or accident. Planning safety into your tours is of paramount importance to the tourer.

Estimate the length of your route and leave a safety margin, so you are not caught out as night falls. Leave early, before the snow has thawed. Keep the group together. Don't be afraid to turn back or abandon your goal if conditions deteriorate. Respect the mountains.

Descending For skiing downhill, attach the heels of the bindings and adjust your boots if appropriate. Technique is identical to alpine skiing, except that a more conservative style should be adopted. Carrying a heavy pack, perhaps tired from walking uphill, and far from emergency services, this is not a good time to take chances. Emergency Stop A dangerous slide can be arrested by using ski poles. Hold the two poles together, one hand by the handles, one hand down by the baskets, and dig the points into the snow or ice.

Practicing an emergency stop could save your life.

Routes
Detailed walking maps have ski tours marked, but it is advisable to take a qualified guide. Some routes have become classics, such as the Haute Route between Chamonix and Zermatt or Saas Fee, first done in 1903, which takes around a week.

Tours for tourists
If you feel you would like to try touring, contact the guides' office in your resort. They should be able to put you into a group, select an appropriate route and provide guidance in hiring the necessary equipment.

Climbing

For climbing uphill, the heel of the binding is free. Climb with regular, rhythmic steps, and do not lift your skis off the snow. One skier leads, the others follow in the same track. The route should not be too steep uphill, but should follow a series of zigzags. At the end of each traverse, an uphill kick-turn brings the skier round.

Make sure your downhill ski is firmly placed.	Plant your poles behind you. Swing your uphill ski up and round, until it faces in the opposite direction. Place it on the snow and immediately transfer your weight to it.
Bring the other foot round to join the ski already turned	Set off in the new direction.

Keeping to the outside edge of a path can often help you to avoid ice

Even if you can't avoid an icy run altogether, there are usually ways of skirting the worst. The edges of a slope tend to have better snow than the middle. Similarly the outside edge of a path is frequently free from ice even when the uphill edge is bullet-proof. You may even be able to drop over the edge and traverse in a deep layer of snow which has been pushed off the path.

If you do find yourself on a patch of ice, you will begin to accelerate. Most peoples' reaction is to try to brake. However, almost all patches of ice end in a pile of snow, pushed up by other skiers. Let your skis run straight across the ice and put in your next turn only when you reach the sanctuary of this pile of snow.

Occasionally, conditions may be so bad that you really are skiing on ice, and there will be no way to avoid turning. It is still possible to retain control of your skis: when you next switch on the television and see the racers performing their precise, flowing turns, bear in mind that the surface they are on has probably been watered until it resembles boiler-plate.

If you find yourself skiing on this type of surface, try the following

• Modify your stance: keeping your skis further apart not only enhances your balance, but also allows your inside ski to act as insurance in case your outside ski slips out from under you.
• Use the whole edge of your ski: keep your weight balanced in the middle of your skis and keep the pressure on your edges right under your feet.
• Be very subtle in your skiing: any sharp movements will result in your edges breaking their tenuous grip on the ice.
• Don't over-steer your skis: they steer very easily, and can rapidly end up across your direction of travel; once this happens, you will have little option but to slip sideways until your edges grip.
• Make sure that your edges are super-sharp.