Tele Lessons

[SKIQUATTRO]

So after almost 30 years of downhill, i'm itching to tele....Skied MRG Friday and was blown away and that really got my fire burning to free the heel....where would you suggest taking tele lessons? MRG i know has the best terrrain, but how's the instruction? I'm thinking its great as its the tele mecca, but wanted some inside info.
thx

 

[Shorty]

You can always plan a trip to Telefest, they offer instruction with a paid lift ticket, plus plenty of smelly tele skiers that are normally willing to offer advice.
The party upstairs in the basebox should not be missed

 

[SIKSKIER]

What shorty said.NE Telemark puts these on and travels to different mts.Free lessons and equipment.Only 3 left this season,SundayRiver,Gunstock and Bretton Woods.Here's the link.
http://www.netelemark.com/

 

[St. Bear]

What shorty said.NE Telemark puts these on and travels to different mts.Free lessons and equipment.Only 3 left this season,SundayRiver,Gunstock and Bretton Woods.Here's the link.
http://www.netelemark.com/

It's too short notice for this year, but I'm definitely going to hit at least one of these up next season. I've been wondering how one gets into Tele, thanks.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Apparently I cant read a calender.SR was this past weekend.

 

[momentum]

Free your heel and the mind will follow brother! Picked up tele last year after 38 years of alpine,20 of racing etc. It was tough at first, but I can now ski just about any terrain out here in Colorado and Utah...albeit a little slower than on my alpine skis

 

[ts01]

MRG probably has the best and the most but there are many other spots, some more convenient to L.I.

Others that I know of:

Belleayre -- I think they do rentals, and there's a good free-heel instructor at the ski school there named Ferd. (Not Fred. Ferd.)

Bromley -- rentals and lessons; ski school director can set you up.

NATO telemark clinics: http://www.telemarknato.com/schedule.html . This is Dickie Hall's organization that runs the Tele Fest at MRG but also does weekend workshops all over the NE. Upcoming clinics at Belleayre, Bromley, MRG, Black, Bolton, etc. Two-day workshop is superb, likely will get you to the same level of tele skiing as you do on alpine.

 

[Smellytele]

I did a tele clinic at Wildcat a while back. I downhilled for 20 years. for last 10 of those I also tele'd. Now only tele for the last 6. As the story goes it takes about 1000 falls to get any good at it. I did those in my first 5 years with long thin skis (205's) with leather boots and never got better. Then switched to plastic boots and 170's and within a year was doing it so much better. Anyway get out there and have fun.

 

[rocojerry]

I've been wondering how one gets into Tele, thanks.

I'm not sure if they will do it this year, but recently every spring Pico mountain and Mountain Travelers of Rutland, VT have been doing an excellent free demo day. I got started trying a bunch of boots and tele-specific ski's here... I did it two years, once before I owned any gear, and once after I had just boots.... and there are plenty of people on the mtn that are happy to offer tips on the chair-lifts or you can go to one of the clinics (not sure if they were free or cheap)....

They will probably post it here:
http://www.mtntravelers.com/events.cfm

 

[St. Bear]

What shorty said.NE Telemark puts these on and travels to different mts.Free lessons and equipment.Only 3 left this season,SundayRiver,Gunstock and Bretton Woods.Here's the link.
http://www.netelemark.com/

Question. I'm interested in trying telemark, and would like to attend one of these festivals. Would I have to rent telemark equipment from the mountain for the entire day? It says that there are free demos, but I'm sure they wouldn't let you use the demo for an hour and a half lesson, right? I'm just trying to get an idea of pricing, and whether or not it's worth it for my wife and I attend. Are there any other ways to give tele a try and see if I like it?

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

thanks all!! might do up Bromley when i'm up there with the fam...

 

[dmc]

Are there any other ways to give tele a try and see if I like it?

Become friends with a telemarker they are always lending stuff out... hippies...

You can demo at Telefest.. But I'd rent.. cause you can hit a clinic in the morning and one in the afternoon.. You could be teleing by the end of the weekend...

 

[TeleMac]

free (heel) advice

I will be at Elk Mountain (in northern Pa) on the weekend of 2/28- 3/1. If anyone is interested, I will be happy to give some time to get you off on the right foot. By way of background, I am NOT an instructor. That said, I have been skiing alpine for 39 years and tele for the past 23. I also have an extra set of size 11 boots w/ teleskis that I will be happy to make available. Just PM me.

BTW, Dick Hall's programs are excellent and the NATO Fest at MRG is usually a blast. Due to crowds, however, it may be a poor place to get your first taste.

 

[djspookman]

If Oliver B. is still at Smuggs, ask for him if you go there. Excellent instructor, and a great tele instructor!

dave

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

Was just at Smuggs for a week in Jan and thought about doing lessons, but never got around to it...next year!!!

what about Ski Sundown or Stratton, i have free lift tix for both..

 

[marcski]

Not sure if you'll be out in Utah this winter...but from what I understand, these kick A:

http://www.alta.com/pages/telemark.php

 

[MrMagic]

Was just at Smuggs for a week in Jan and thought about doing lessons, but never got around to it...next year!!!

what about Ski Sundown or Stratton, i have free lift tix for both..

sundown does offer telemark lessons call ahead tho' i learned to telemark there if you come up ill be happy to help you out

 

[mattchuck2]

Tele lessons at Gore if you're interested . . .

Unfortunately, they don't rent Tele gear, though, so you'd have to pick some up on the way up.