 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Ok so it looks cooler than a Polar Bears' backside and you probably end up with thighs like steel springs but apart from that what is the attraction /advantage of this style?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
The ability to knit your own yoghurt...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
JT, Does he have to use 1 of those "lung" things to help him breathe? If so that would seriously detract from the coolness of the venture!
offpisteskiing, Does this involve lots of ducktape?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PsychoBabble, More to do = more fun. Having the heel free ups the difficulty, frustration and satisfaction in equal measure. Technically it's inferior to alpine in almost every way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The main advantage is in ski touring. The binding and boots are so light compared to normal alpine gear. On tele gear you can almost forget you've got something strapped to your feet, and on long ski tours this is a BIG deal.
+ it does look pretty cool, and there's nothing like the sensation of linking tele turns. It feels much more like dancing that skiing!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
It' s a kick lots of fun doing the turn, powder is in your face more often, less weight hanging on your feet (after 20 seasons alpine my knees used to whine on the chair not anymore) , hiking is easier, and yes legs of steel after the legs of pain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ski, and are lifts more "fun" in the same way?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I wrote this on another thread. The pros and cons as I see them;
Why?- For me it is more social- when alpine skiing with friends and my wife I ski a lot faster than them- for me the tele gear really slows me down- I get to talk to the wife more!- and I get a better work out- which I really need as I am not very fit.
It is a real challenge- I feel like a beginner again- although the learning curve is quite fast I think (so after a couple of lessons 2 years ago- some sessions in the Manchester Chill Factore and about 5 or 6 half days in les Arcs I can now tele reasonably fast on blues- ski linked turns down the fall line on reds and pisted blacks- but only survive on bumps and I am lost off piste) but my styl eneeds alot of work- I think I am wha's called a 'dog legger' or 'toe dragger'- which means that my knees are too far apart and my back leg is too far back with the back heel too high.
The feeling of tele turns is great- like skiing well off piste.
Easier to walk in tele boots (much)
It is fun and makes you think- a lot- about balance- I am sure it really helps with alpine skiing.
It is an odd thing to do- which for me is an attraction- in Les Arcs there were another 3 guys telemarking- that was it- as a minority interest this means it is quite friendly.
Very very strangely it is actually easier on the knees than alpine skiiing- both when skiing- because you absorb bumps much better in a tele stance - but also the stats are that it is the least injury prone snowsport (see ski-injury.com)- even with non-releasable bindings you are less likely to injure your acl- but if you do it is likely to be less serious than on alpine skis.
Why not?- Arguments against bothering would for me include-
wasted time when I could be skiing well on alpine gear- especially if there was lots of fresh snow (when I skied off piste I switched to alpine gear)
expense (boots about £300, skis as expensive as alpine- bindings ditto)
the fear of injury (but not the reality)
the weight of taking 2 sets of skis and boots on holiday (and the agro from the Mrs when I explained that because of this we would all only be taking 2 spare pants each on holiday- and that was it- if it was going to be cold we could always use them as balaclavas)
the pain of getting new boots and the pains involved in wearing new boots
abuse from my friends about looking like a ponce (and looking like a ponce)
On balance- I really like skiing on tele gear- I need more practice- especially on bumps and off piste (that said skiing bumps on tele skis is probably a stupid thing to do anyway)
but when there is fresh snow I will be sticking to my alpine skis for the time being- but hope that I'll be able to tele in the powder- which would be really good especially with areally low stance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
edsilva, have you managed any jump turns on tele gear yet?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PsychoBabble,
| Quote: |
ski, and are lifts more "fun" in the same way?
|
 You use lifts for tele just the same as alpine ? You can use skins to leave the resort and tour - but you can do that alpine as well as tele.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
PsychoBabble,
| Quote: |
you have to learn a new technique for getting on and off
|
No. You can use alpine techniques on tele gear just the same as on alpine. As in "Alpine skiers make parallel turns because they have too, Tele skiers make parallel turns because they can"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
[quote="PsychoBabble"]ski, as in do you have to learn a new technique for getting on and off
Some lifts can throw you getting on since the heel is not locked down, there were a couple lifts on the sella ronda we really had to pay attention to getting on getting, off no problems.
Not so much the lifts more the people movers getting to the lift.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| PsychoBabble wrote: |
[
Does this involve lots of ducktape? |
Undoubtedly..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
comprex, one jump turn! on some bumps in Peisey and about 3 moguls skied with any style whatsoever- otherwise very tricky!!
PsychoBabble, if you struggle to keep up with the family on alpine gear do not tele!! When I ski on alpine gear Mrs Ed gets cross as she feels quite left behind- and in fairness not very social - off piste is better for as as stopping essential for safety. On tele gear however everything changes! I am really puffed and have to rest both for my poor heart and lungs and for my legs (neither usually an issue on alpine gear). With friends I become the last man down / covered in snow / crying for my mother.....
pinhead, is right- drag lifts of all types really quite unnerving on telegear (hence the Sella Ronda anecdote I guess)
offpisteskiing, ducktape and lama wool - ducktaped lama wool??
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
edsilva, got one in, that's more than quite a few peoples at my home bump.
As an interesting oddity, all the patrol are on tele now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| edsilva wrote: |
| Why?- For me it is more social- when alpine skiing with friends and my wife I ski a lot faster than them- for me the tele gear really slows me down- I get to talk to the wife more!- and I get a better work out- which I really need as I am not very fit. |
This sounds a good reason for me. Not that I'm very fast but "Mrs Peura" is even slower. Of course she is getting faster but so am I. Comfy boots sound good too, my feet don't seem to like any rigid soled footwear.
Edit: what's all this with Llama wool? It's Nordic skiing = no Llamas. Shouldn't it be Reindeer "wool"? 
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Wed 15-10-08 18:04; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
peura, have you looked at a reindeer recently? Resolutely non-woolly creatures.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lizzard, no it was about 6 months ago  . Have they changed? The ones I saw had what I believe to some sort of hair all over them. I suspect this is to keep them warm. Although neither as long or soft and fluffy as sheep or llama non the less I think it is possible to work this hair stuff in to make things to keep the Sami warm.
Actually though it was only supposed to be a joke rather than a serious comment. Very sorry for trying.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
peura, you do bring up an interesting cultural oddity. Notice that the hats are of Andean design also.
Telemark goes to the US, gets spiced up with Peruvian flavours, then reimported into Yurp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Not sure of the name. The ones that spring to my mind are more like clogs than boots. So I'm not sure they'd be much good for skiing - too much snow down the "cuff".
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
peura, sounds like they might be the ones I'm thinking of. Definitely felted soles, tho, probably off that same hair/hide.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
felt boots- sure these also feature in a day in the life of ivan denisovich??
pardon spelling
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
peura, great get some gear and try it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| edsilva wrote: |
| felt boots- sure these also feature in a day in the life of ivan denisovich?? |
'Zackly. What's the reindeer herder term for valenok?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
. Thanks though 
. I'd have thought Sami designs or reindeer skin coats, etc would be the thing for a Nordic "back to basics" 
. - ideal when it's -40C.