I have been Telemarking as long as I have been driving. I grew up skiing and racing in Collingwood at Alpine Ski Club. In 1987 I met Holly and Steve. One day they parked their VW van full of skinny skis and leather boots at the base of the chair lift. Having recently been certified as an Alpine Race Coach I was eager to learn all I could about ski technique, so I thought I would give it a try. I fell in love immediately! For a $20 equipment rental I stole away during my 1 hour lunch break following Steve and Holly down the runs and pumping them for information on the chairlift as I ate lunch. I even encouraged my Nancy Greene race team of 10 year olds to try it one afternoon. When the time came, as it does for any 20 something I migrated West to be a ski bum, I bought my 1st pair of skis and boots from Ski Telemark and moved to Apex Mountain in Penticton B.C., and then my Telemark education began. Take a lesson with me and I will tell you about my 1st Tele powder experience. Be prepared to laugh!

I love to Telemark! I love to teach Telemark! The greatest satisfaction I get from teaching is the look on people’s faces when they realize they can do it and how jealous there friends are going to be when they see how cool they look telemarking. The energy and passion Steve and Holly have put into promoting the sport of Telemark is infectious, having carried the bug for over 30 years and has lead me to positions on the boards of Telemark Ski Canada Télémark and Telemark Ski Ontario where we foster and host social, training and race events, and the opportunity to compete in various levels of racing including world cup events in Europe and North America.

• CANSI Telemark Level I

Todd Joel in moguls March 2015.