Telemark Question

[St. Bear]

Is there a difference between traditional alpine and telemark skis? Or is the difference just in the bindings and boots?

I currently have a pair of 168cm Elan Flow XT skis. I bought them last year when I decided to start skiing again after a 14 year break. I wasn't sure how much use I'd get out of them or my ability level after such a long break. Thankfully, I'm able to get onto the mountain more than I expected, and even ski more proficiently than when I was younger.

As a result, I would like a more advanced ski that holds up better on varied terrain. However, I am also looking to learn to tele, and if that goes well I would like to have a pair of skis in both styles. Since my Elans are a beginner/intermediate ski, could I just slap a pair of tele bindings on them and have at it?

 

[cbcbd]

There are plenty of backcountry ski manufacturers who make skis that "work" for both locked heel AT and free heel tele bindings. Used to be that you'd get a tele specific ski that happened to be softer... not so much anymore. You will still find some skis that are softer and more for tele, but you can basically use any ski, especially if you already have a pair laying around.

Tele is basically a turn. You can make that turn on many different types of free heel equipment, including what you know as "tele" bindings.
The stiffness of the boots is up to what terrain you'd like to ski with them. I'd say a plastic 3-buckle boot would be standard for inbounds liftserve.

 

[St. Bear]

Thanks for the help. I'd like to use my current skis to learn how to tele, because they carve easily on groomed terrain. That would allow me to buy another pair of skis for when I want to ski bumps or trees.

 

[riverc0il]

Teleskiers use alpine skis, Alpine skiers use Tele skis. AT skiers use Alpine and Tele. It really does not matter except that a ski's dimensions and flex profile work for your style and technique.

 

[TheBEast]

Teleskiers use alpine skis, Alpine skiers use Tele skis. AT skiers use Alpine and Tele. It really does not matter except that a ski's dimensions and flex profile work for your style and technique.

ditto. All about what works for you. I know this guy who has a pair of Fischer race stock mounted with tele gear.....just sick.