Free the heel and the mind will follow :) If you are in the market for some new telemark skis then do not pay full retail. Check out our listings for new and used telemark skis, many for sale online direct from the distributors.
Pre-season you will find many astonishing deals for new telemark skis from last years range at super low clearance prices, and increasingly you will find deals on models from the current range as distributors look to sell more direct...
 Garmont Elektra Womens Telemark Ski Boot Size 245 White Silver  US $249.99
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 Scarpa Telemark Ski Boots Size 125 US $60.00
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 Rottefella Chili Telemark Bindings w G3 riser US $40.00
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About Telemark Skis
Telemark skis are meant especially to be used for skiing using the Telemark (named after a place) turn, a technique pioneered in Norway by a guy called Sondre Norheim. It is also known as free heel skiing, and telemark skis have a binding that only connects to the boot at the toe end, ie. the heel is free as in cross-country skiing. But unlike cross country, telemark skis are used for downhill skiing, with turns led with the heel flat on the outside ski (the downhill ski at the end of the turn) while the inside (uphill) ski is pulled beneath the skiers body with a flexed knee and raised heel. And yes, it is a full on work out even more so than regular downhill skiing. Mid turn telemark skis are staggered but not quite parallel, with most of the telemarkers weight distributed to the outside ski.
These days telemark skis are basically the same as regular downhill skis. Telemark skis have got shorter, wider, and with deeper side cuts just like alpine skis. You would think the physics of the telemark turn would mean some differences in the design of telemark skis, but actually the evolution of regular ski design and telemark boot design has meant this is not necessary. That said many ski companies do have telemark-specific skis, which are generally lighter (to help the skier) and softer.
