deanmacg
New member
Tele is way more addictive.
David Metsky said:Interesting theory, but it doesn't follow my observations. I know plenty of expert tele skiers who have full time jobs, it's not rocket science.
David Metsky said:I'm not sure about the learning curve being longer. If you take two people who've never skied before I suspect they'd take about the same time to become an intermediate skier in either discipline. I suspect that they'd be even quicker to come up to speed on a snowboard, but where's the fun in that.
-dave-
davidm said:I agree that heavy tele has become resort oriented. In fact, I predict that it is a fad that will slide into obscurity in much the same way that ballet skiing has. IMO, the only reason to use heavy tele is for style -- the telemark turn.
dave.m said:But do note, this has little to do with which is best for hacking around in the pucker bush. Arguably, the only turns you need for skiing int eh woods is the snow plow and the step turn. After that, it's all gravy. And speaking of gravy....
Nothing compares to low angle tele turns in the woods!!
Just another datapoint:dave.m said:I'm a wretched tele skier compared to my old alpine skills. Locking the heel does make things easier by leaps and bounds, imo. I'm sure somebody could learn tele and p-turns on modern plastic tele boots fast enough these days but compared to how fast they would learn p-turns on modern alpine gear? No question, imo.
I think across the board new skiers will hit development milestones on alpine gear faster.
Hear! Hear!Nothing compares to low angle tele turns in the woods!!
Seeker said:LOL!!! Too funny! I couldn't disagree more. I see more and more people on tele at the resort. And the interest in tele has skyrocketed in our AMC workshops. The heavier gear makes it much easier to learn.
Seeker said:And let's face it, the turn is SWEET!
dave.m said:But the makers of nordic backcountry gear, imo, are still tied to the striding efficiency of nordic gear. I see that market persisting. Thankfully.
Only four pairs?sardog1 said:Hi, my name is Charlie and I'm a skiaholic.
Looked around the basement last night and counted four pair -- skate, cross country, nordic BC, and sorta-heavy tele.
My 200 cm Bonna 2000s (my first skis) are sitting in the cellar. Some snow and a little wax is all they need...Then my gaze was drawn uncontrollably to the Web, where I chanced upon a pair of 215 cm Bonna 2000s for sale
I still miss the adhesion and stickiness of wax on wood. And burn-in grundvalla (pine tar).How long before we retro types are back on solid hickory boards again???
I agree. Have you met Dana?DougPaul said:Only four pairs?
Not me, I was very glad the day I could put the pine tar away forever.I still miss the adhesion and stickiness of wax on wood. And burn-in grundvalla (pine tar).
All true.Seeker said:Um, no? If you may recall, when I was learning to tele, I handled alpine boards much easier then tele. For someone coming from a non skiing background, I can say that tele is much harder, hands down, to get up to intermediate speed on.
Remember Gunstock, for example?
xtraterrestrial said:I do have to fend off odd looks from folks on tele or bc gear, probably the same kinds of looks Hummer drivers get.
David Metsky said:All true.
But imagine if you had started tele on Syner-Gs, Hammerheads, and She's Pistes instead of the crap I found for you? You're probaby right that alpine is a bit easier to start with since there's more movement to coordinate with tele, but I think the gap has narrowed.
Think snow,
-dave-
1) I am only talking about heavy tele. Think T2s, T1s and Cable and plate bindings. I think nordic backcountry gear will continue on, as will the tele turn. But telemark, the sport, will fade away and once again become nordic skiing (as it was before).
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