Telemark Technique

Step 1

Use a Short Telemark Stance

A short stance is great for tight situations, not only can you squeeze through narrow gaps but the short platform allows you to pressure the back foot effectively, helping your speed control and allowing you to make quick snappy turns. Stay balanced laterally, i.e. don't lean up the hill, and try to keep the ball of the back foot in line with your bum. You'll be amazed at how dynamic your telemark turns feel.

Step 3

Separation

Upper and lower body separation is essential for telemarking couloirs, if you let your upper body swing around to face the skis, you’ll more than likely lose lateral balance which will result in a sharp acceleration across the fall-line, in a couloir, this could cause you serious problems.

Separation is key to flowing down the fall line. If your upper body is already focussed down the hill, anticipating where you're going, only the lower body has to turn, therefore you'll use less energy and your turns will link much more effectively. Separation will help you initiate each turn with ease and maintain pressure and edge control on both skis.

Step 5

Steer the Skis Without Edging too Much

As you land keep steering the skis across the fall line but release your edges, any excessive edge tilt will take you out of your narrow corridor towards the rock, normally at speed! Let the skis drift down the couloir controlling your speed while losing altitude.