How to CARVE Telemark Turns On ICY Conditions TIP #1

How to carve telemark turns takes a lot of practice but with these tips in part 1/4 you will improve especially on hard packed snow or icy conditions.
Telemark technic starts with a good lead change and this is the case with my telemark tip #1.
In this series of telemark videos, I’m going to give you my best tips to improve your carving.
So that you can go from a intermidiate parrallel telemark turnj to an advanced carved turn
First tip, loading the front font.
By loading most of your weight on the front foot, we are making sure that we have the most pressure on this outside ski.
In the 7 flaws of telemark, I talk about edge pressure in flaw #6.
Find out more on the 7 flaws here:
absolutetelema...
The way to load the front ski into the turn is the number one problem I see people make. You need to put more than 70% of your weight on that front leg right from the start of the turn.
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On alpine skis, they will sometimes put 100% of the weight on their outside ski. On telemark, because of the telemark squat, we can't do that. But overloading the front ski will really make the ski edge bite into hard packed snow.
HOW
To do this, practise your lead change bringing the front leg forward on a low incline slope, such as a cat track or a VERY easy green run. As soon as the lead change happens, load the front ski and edge. You will feel how strongly the ski wants to bite into the snow and how strongly it wants to carve.
COMMON ERROR -»
Not loading the shin into the telemark boot tongue. You need to feel that you are pushing your tibia into the tongue of the boot.
This is the key to load the ski edge into the hard packed snow
My best way to improve your body weight distribition is to practice the lead change. You can practice on an almost flat surface. make quick succession of lead changes and focus on driving that chin into the boot togue.
Telemark skiing is a downhill skiing technique with a binding that allows for the heel to lift of the ski.
There's many king of equipmenent.
I use NTN equipment.
In this clip, Crispi Evo WC Boot
Meidjo bindings
22design AXL
Rottofella Freeride bindings
Black Diamond skis
If you want to learn how to telemark I have a full tutorial series available here:
shop.absolutet...
To support my dedication to telemark, you can become a patreon here:
/ absolutetelemark

[@kordark]

70% on the front foot ! Oh gosh life changing advice, all my télémark life I have been putting way to much on my back leg while carving, efficiently killing my muscles in a few extremely powerful turns. I tried this advice yesterday and I can follow my ski friends carving forever ! Awesome ! Thank youuuu

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@PCPAyLOAD]

All really good pointers. Switched over to Tele in 2007-08 and it took a couple of seasons to understand and be comfortable with so much emphasis on the forward/outside foot for carving. Once you get it, its just a matter of repetition and focus on keeping your core parallel and quite. Absolutely life-changing style of skiing for keeping those knees and lower body young as I get older.

[@grizzkid795]

While I have more weight on the outside, I focus on the inside, particularly at the start of the turn. Many skiers seem to have their rear ski just kind of dangling around back there. They might as well parallel. There isn't much info on Tele technique out there- good to see someone prividing that!

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thanks a lot. Look a tip #3 for inside leg tip

[@mantiskf]

thanks for that advice, especially the summation about it being only a guide relative to conditions. I have found it useful to think of the rear leg ((with emphasis on pulling the 2nd smallest toe under) as the braking leg. After all, skiing is essentially determining the fastest speed one can slide down a very slippery surface, thus slowing/braking from simply straight lining it. So if nervous (like me on any decent gradient at my age) I'm braking more with more weight onto the rear; if carving so enviously like you a lot less is needed.

[@pierrelucbouchard]

Good job man, keep spreading Telemark skiing !

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thanks dude.

[@marie-pieremond2088]

Very interesting ! You give a lot to the ski community !!

[@trudelrene-martin8176]

Thanks Marie

[@Eagle_1985]

Merci Rene 👍🏼

[@cordellschachter8592]

These videos are great and helped me start well on my first day this season. Pushing on the front ski boot tongue and angulating really help in icy conditions. I have a hard time over-loading the front ski, I wind up catching the inside edge of my back ski.

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thanks!!! Next tip will talk about the back leg.

[@randyroman826]

Well done..Fabulous teaching points.
Merci

[@Absolutetelemark]

Thanks

[@feedfacedeadbeef]

This was taught to me on Telemark lesson #1 as Tony Knows (Toe Knee Nose - in alignment).

[@Absolutetelemark]

hahaha

[@lukehanley4272]

That was so flippin helpful. Love your videos!!!

[@trudelrene-martin8176]

Thanks Luke

[@fabiengrand-perret3079]

Thanks for your tips
I love telemark carving, but i think i do not load my front leg enough. I think that i am trying to edge with the internal edge of the internal (rear) ski, trying to put my knee on the snow, like a grandprix moto pilote. I have a better feeling of edging with the rear ski.
This is how i feel it . what do you think about that ?

[@Absolutetelemark]

I think this is another great tip. It’s actually flaw #6. And you actually need both edges impacting balance and control.

[@jguide468]

Thank you 😉👍

[@Absolutetelemark]

No problem 👍

[@michaels541]

❤Super gut erklärt.
Für carving, was für ski Länge zu Körpergröße kannst du bitte empfehlen?
Gruß
Michael

[@Absolutetelemark]

depends on your weight. I'm 85kg and have 165cm. Normally about 10 to 15cm shorter than your all mouintain skis

[@juliancousins]

I'm just starting out in telemarking. To be clear, is the front foot firmly flat on the ski? No flex in the foot part of the boot? Thanks for your help

[@Matt-vo1ge]

Do you have a carving tutorial course coming out?

[@redjetsen1002]

Tip#1...Sharpen your edges

[@Absolutetelemark]

so true. haha

[@craigme2583]

I've teli skiid for 40 years and 70% of the weight is on the rear ski. He said front ski? What?

[@Absolutetelemark]

I did. You can telemark many different ways and if you are having fun, I'm all for it. Have a great winter.

[@craigme2583]

@@Absolutetelemark it does kill my thighs, but can't see how it can be done any other way? Most of my mistakes come from overweighting the front ski...wish there was another way

[@MisterTMH]

@@craigme2583 If you weight the back ski a tiny bit more you can cook off speed and anticipate the lead change . If you don't have enough weight on the back ski then the ski won't want to naturally come around with the fall line as you do the lead change.Plus if all your weight seems to be on the lead/ outside ski you will become unstable in slightly steeper terrain. You should be able to hold the telemark posture straight down the falll line on either lead leg and then be equally capable of turning either way. Anyway I know nothing ;-P and need more time on the lifts and with Telemark lessons next ski season.

[@craigme2583]

@@MisterTMH sounds like good advice...

[@tomat4135]

I have the same experience. I think this applies to carving/racing style telemark on hard surfaces or to get edge retention on icy conditions.
This technique will only work with stiff boots (plastic) and bindings (NTN preferably).
For us old schoolers coming from Rottefella 75s with leather boots this will not compute. Even weight balance with a dominant rear foot will get you down most mountains. Maybe not as fast as this technique, though.