Like many alpine skiers in Southern Ontario I became bored. It was Holly who introduced me to Telemark skiing in the 1980’s and encouraged me to race, then to teach.
Initially, I enjoyed the freedom and the challenge of the telemark turn – and my leather telemark boots were so comfortable. But, I soon realized that my alpine skiing was improving; then I realized that anything I could do on alpine skis, I could do on telemark skis — so I switched.
25 years later, I now enjoy carving fast short radius turns instead of the speed of the race course. If I can find some moguls or some other interesting terrain, you will find me there. I wish I could go tour in the powder out west – but that’s for my retirement…
Telemark is such a graceful way of skiing; it is much more dynamic than alpine skiing. I am continually striving for the rhythm of the telemark turn: the ebb and flow, pressing and releasing (inhale and exhale? – remember to breathe!) – it is this continual motion which makes it graceful.
Like my learning and skiing style, I try to challenge skiers to evolve and adapt while developing a grace and rhythm to their skiing.
- CANSI Telemark Instructor Level III
- CANSI Course Conductor Level I
- CANSI Telemark Coach
- CSCF Coach Entry Level
- former member National Telemark Ski Team (1995-1996)
- Past President Telemark Canada (Telemark Ski Canada Telemark) ’95-’96
- Coach (former)- Telemark Ski Ontario
Telemark Skiing at Earl Bales – video by Tomoki Onishi
Tele Moguls