Comments on: The Telemark Dance http://berthoudpass.org/2009/12/03/the-telemark-dance/ Safety, Access and Education Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:55:05 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Summit County Citizens Voice http://berthoudpass.org/2009/12/03/the-telemark-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-223 Summit County Citizens Voice Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:57:13 +0000 http://berthoudpass.org/?p=501#comment-223 <a href="http://summitcountyvoice.com/2010/02/19/world-cup-tele-racing-coming-to-summit/" rel="nofollow">World Cup Telemark Racing Coming to Summit County</a> Classic, GS races set for Feb. 25 -28 at Keystone; a few volunteers still needed for top-level free-heel comp. World Cup Telemark Racing Coming to Summit County

Classic, GS races set for Feb. 25 -28 at Keystone; a few volunteers still needed for top-level free-heel comp.

]]> By: Mark http://berthoudpass.org/2009/12/03/the-telemark-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Mark Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:53:25 +0000 http://berthoudpass.org/?p=501#comment-196 I agree with Dave. In 1980 I bought my first metal-edged "telemark" skis in Leadville, CO. I was telemark skiing at Ski Cooper, Vail, Beaver Creek and Copper Mountain in addition to my backcountry adventures. I had buddies ski in the Summit Series races and a co-worker was the first person to try out for the ski patrol on telemark gear at Vail in 1983. Sure, we had smaller numbers, but we were there a little earlier than 1987. I agree with Dave. In 1980 I bought my first metal-edged “telemark” skis in Leadville, CO. I was telemark skiing at Ski Cooper, Vail, Beaver Creek and Copper Mountain in addition to my backcountry adventures. I had buddies ski in the Summit Series races and a co-worker was the first person to try out for the ski patrol on telemark gear at Vail in 1983. Sure, we had smaller numbers, but we were there a little earlier than 1987.

]]> By: Dave http://berthoudpass.org/2009/12/03/the-telemark-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Dave Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:54:26 +0000 http://berthoudpass.org/?p=501#comment-144 Reading this article, I am a bit shocked at the lack of information about the history of modern telemark skiing in Colorado! While I understand that the article shows the opinions and observations of just one or two telemark skiiers, I'm surprised the author accepted this information without cross checking facts... In fact, by the early 1980's, nordic ski shops all over the Colorado mountains, and in the front range, were selling thousands of pairs of telemark-specific skis and boots yearly. The sport was very actively promoted by not only those shops, but by a complete racing circuit that involved slalom and giant slalom race events at ski areas all over the state--at ABasin, Aspen, Crested Butte, Copper, Vail, Breck, Eldora, etc. In Summit County, by 1982 there was a local Summit Series telemark race circuit, with dozens of male and female participants, in both amateur and pro level. In the 1980's, US telemark skiers participated in international competitions in Europe as a precursor to a possible Olympic and FIS telemark racing division. By the mid 1980s, telemark equipment had evolved into the even now familiar, almost separate schools, of backcountry only and lift service only gear. Far from the "small tribe" of folks with a "backcountry mountain-man ratty look", literally thousands of Coloradans of all attitudes, shapes, sizes, genders and clothing styles actively participated not only in telemark racing, but in backcountry day tours, Tenth Mountain overnight hut trips, lift service skiing, not to forget others that pioneered major descents of peaks, and massively long point-to point high alpine tours and routes around the state. Telemark festivals were commonplace at ski areas like Lovelond, Berthoud and Eldora, with vintage costume contests, citizen races, and general good times. By 1987, Paul Parker's excellent tome "Free-Heel Skiing: The Secrets of Telemark and Parallel Techniques - In All conditions " was in it's second printing, and many major ski manufacturers were producing lift-specific telemark skis. If anything, the 1980s was the defining decade in the evolution of modern telemark skiing. Just wanted you all to be aware of the somewhat un-documented history of this wonderful sport. Kippis! Dave Reading this article, I am a bit shocked at the lack of information about the history of modern telemark skiing in Colorado! While I understand that the article shows the opinions and observations of just one or two telemark skiiers, I’m surprised the author accepted this information without cross checking facts…
In fact, by the early 1980’s, nordic ski shops all over the Colorado mountains, and in the front range, were selling thousands of pairs of telemark-specific skis and boots yearly. The sport was very actively promoted by not only those shops, but by a complete racing circuit that involved slalom and giant slalom race events at ski areas all over the state–at ABasin, Aspen, Crested Butte, Copper, Vail, Breck, Eldora, etc. In Summit County, by 1982 there was a local Summit Series telemark race circuit, with dozens of male and female participants, in both amateur and pro level. In the 1980’s, US telemark skiers participated in international competitions in Europe as a precursor to a possible Olympic and FIS telemark racing division. By the mid 1980s, telemark equipment had evolved into the even now familiar, almost separate schools, of backcountry only and lift service only gear.
Far from the “small tribe” of folks with a “backcountry mountain-man ratty look”, literally thousands of Coloradans of all attitudes, shapes, sizes, genders and clothing styles actively participated not only in telemark racing, but in backcountry day tours, Tenth Mountain overnight hut trips, lift service skiing, not to forget others that pioneered major descents of peaks, and massively long point-to point high alpine tours and routes around the state.
Telemark festivals were commonplace at ski areas like Lovelond, Berthoud and Eldora, with vintage costume contests, citizen races, and general good times.
By 1987, Paul Parker’s excellent tome “Free-Heel Skiing: The Secrets of Telemark and Parallel Techniques – In All conditions ” was in it’s second printing, and many major ski manufacturers were producing lift-specific telemark skis.
If anything, the 1980s was the defining decade in the evolution of modern telemark skiing.
Just wanted you all to be aware of the somewhat un-documented history of this wonderful sport.
Kippis!
Dave

]]> By: fobp_admin http://berthoudpass.org/2009/12/03/the-telemark-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-6 fobp_admin Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:44:55 +0000 http://berthoudpass.org/?p=501#comment-6 Actually, I saw my first tele skier from Chair 1 at Loveland in 1987. In 1991 I finally gave it a go myself. Been hooked ever since. --Shan Actually, I saw my first tele skier from Chair 1 at Loveland in 1987.
In 1991 I finally gave it a go myself. Been hooked ever since.
–Shan

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