[snowgimp]

I don't know what finally did it, but my husband finally converted from Alpine to Telemark. And since he sold all of his Alpine equipment in the week after he bought his telemark equipment, I think this will be a permanent transition.

Seeing as his wife and his best friend are both telemark skiers, I am surprised that it has taken him this long to finally make the switch. He's one of the best Alpine skiers I've ever skied with (which I think is really saying something), so his telemark skills have come quickly. He has yet to really figure out how to land switch in the park, but considering that it's his first month and he doesn't ski park much anymore, I'll let that slide. But watching how quickly he is finding his balance on the big mountain almost makes me want to convince him to enter some of the competitions.

While it doesn't matter to me if he alpines, telemarks, or even snowboards, there is something greatly satisfying to myself to finally hear him say: "Wow, it really makes your legs more tired!' To myself, this is a mental victory. Of course it is harder. Why did you think I was always more cooked than you after a full day of skiing?

Watching him develop a passion for telemark skiing has also helped me remember mine. Sometimes we forget why telemarking is fun when our alpine friends don't feel the burn after 1000 vertical feet. Sometimes I still swear at putting on my bindings, especially on a narrow ridge. But when someone new finds that simple joy of a great, deep turn in soft snow, it reminds me why telemark is just more soulful.



www.lostinerinland.blogspot.com
www.erinyoungskiing.blogspot.com

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So, you're undecided as to whether you like tele skiing
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If you are doing less than loving whatever you are giving your attention to, you are not who you were really born to be.

[Woody R.]