Telemark Drills

For Skiing the Steeps

Heels Up For The Steeps

» Telemark Technique Tips » Drills - Improve Your Telemark Skiing in the Steeps » As Featured in Fall Line Magazine.

The Heels Up Drill

Steep skiing takes practice, unfortunately throwing yourself down the steepest slope you can find isn’t necessarily the best practice. Like skiing moguls, it’s important to set an achievable task. In an ideal world you should challenge yourself safely and progressively by incrementally increasing difficulty, however, finding steep terrain to achieve this is tricky, to say the least.

This is where drills come in. Drills are an excellent way to isolate and challenge specific skills or attributes in a safe environment, in preparation for the real thing. To telemark steeps you need to be brave mentally, you need a good range of tactics to deal with the terrain, you need timing and coordination, and you definitely need strength and balance, without strength and balance you’re in real trouble.

Here’s a drill that will develop strength and balance, fine tuning them for the steeps - ‘The Heels Up’ drill.

Here’s How...

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You need to be brave, you need a good range of tactics, you need timing and coordination, and you definitely need strength and balance...

Looking for the key to telemarking the steeps? This drill will help you get there...

Step 1

Start With the Basics

Start on easy terrain, in a straight run, lift both heels so that you’re balanced on your tip toes, actually you’ll be balancing on the balls of your feet but depending on your binding, it’ll feel like your tip toes. Both shins should be parallel to the snow, and knee to shoulder a straight line (no breaking at the waist).

Once you feel comfortable in a straight run, it’s time to try some turns. Once again, choose easy terrain.

Step 2

Control Your Rotation

Turning while in the ‘Heels Up’ position is great for reducing excessive rotary movements. The moment you turn something sharply, you’ll undoubtedly lose balance. Rotation should come from the upper and lower body simultaneously, in a slow controlled manner.

Step 3

Solid Core for Balance

It’s essential to have a solid core to stay balanced in this position, pull your belly button to your spine while remaining extended at the hip, in other words - not flexed. Having your hands in front but relaxed (goalkeepeer ready to save a penalty) will help your upper body management and therefore your balance. Feet should be hip-width apart giving a stable platform.

Step 4

Work Those Glutes and Hamstrings

A strong posterior chain is essential for this drill, especially glutes, hamstrings and lower back. If you use a Swiss Ball at the gym, then kneeling on the ball feels very similar to the ‘Heels Up’ drill. Engage the glutes, drive the hips forward and you’ll find your balance point.

Step 5

Lateral Balance for Edge Control

It’s essential to have accurate lateral balance to control the edge change. Remain stacked over the skis at all times, take your time to feel the skis go flat before inclining the body slowly to engage the new edges.

Step 6

Lateral Balance for Pressure Control

Lateral balance is also essential to maintain pressure control over the outside ski. Even if you incline slowly but excessively, you’ll feel the outside ski slowly drift away and you’ll lose balance on your tip toes. Focus on keeping the shoulders as level as possible to reduce excessive lateral inclination.

The Next Steps

When you feel comfortable doing it in a straight run, then try doing it in a turn....

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More Tele Technique Tips

Check out our other technique articles featured in Fall Line Magazine...

We have the Telemark 'How to' Series and the 'Drills for Specific Skills' Series.

The Telemark 'How to' Series

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Learn how to carve or improve your telemark carving with our article on Carving Telemark Turns

How to Telemark Couloirs

Learn how to ski couloirs or improve your couloir skiing with our article on Telemarking Couloirs

How to Telemark the Bumps

Learn how to ski bumps or improve your bumps skiing with our article on Telemark Skiing the Bumps

How to Telemark Switch

Learn to telemark switch or improve your free-heel switch skiing with our article on Telemarking Switch

How to Tele Powder in the Trees

Learn how to tele powder in the trees with our article on Telemark Skiing Powder in the Trees

How to Make a Telemark Slash Turn

Learn how to smash a telemark slash turn with our article on the Telemark Slash Turn

How to Telemark the Steeps

Learn how to ski the steeps otr improve your steep skiing with our article on Telemarking the Steeps - Coming Soon...

How to Escape the Intermediate Rut!

Learn how to escape avoid the biggest mistakes intermediate telemark skiers make Coming Soon...

'Telemark Drills for Specific Skills' Series

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Improve your telemark carving with the Edge Change Before Lead Change Drill...

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Learn how to do rails on telemark skis with the Telemarking the Rails Drill...

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Improve your powder skiing with the Pink Panther for the Powder Drill...

Telemark The Steeps Drill

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Improve your telemark skiing in the bumps with the MonTele Drill Coming soon...

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Smooth out your lead change with the Rate and Range Lead Change Drill Coming soon...

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