For over 30 years, free-heel has been a part of my life.  Introduced to the sport by my husband, Mark Kinoshita, I began with low-cut leather boots (almost like winter boots!) and skinny skis. It was quite the adventure to keep upright on the slopes. It was a great revelation when I received my first pair of plastic boots and shaped skis!  With each new boot and ski upgrade, I discovered free-heel got easier – and much more enjoyable! The latest development of the NTN binding system is the most secure yet. When I perform alpine turns, it almost feels like I’m actually in an alpine boot binding system. Notably, the connection to the snow is much more direct than with my cable binding system.

With my recent retirement as a full-time teacher in Toronto, I became a Level 1 Tele Instructor. I spent the majority of my career as a high school music teacher with a sideline in junior level English. I have discovered that my numerous years as an instrumental music teacher have given me a very good eye for seeing what students need to do to improve their level of performance. That has become invaluable for my Telemark instruction as I’m able to “detect and correct” quite easily during lessons. I have always enjoyed the “light bulb” moments when a student gains new understanding and confidence. I look forward to enjoying many more enlightening moments with my students on the slopes!

CANSI Telemark Level 1