Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Hello

I'm wondering if using a lurk (one long stick) with soft leather boots would be more efficient for the xcD with telemark turn in challenging snow ?

Does anyone want to share his thougts or experiences ?

For me, having 3 contacts points with the snow help to get more balanced position... But the turn is longer than with 2 stick...

Fred

I've been skiing without poles or with a lurk most of this season. First time skiing with the lurk for long periods of time. It has been fun and I've been enjoying it. Skiing without poles has been better for technique and fun.

That being said, the lurk has been useful but I have found that most people are using it in a less efficient way. Don't drag the lurk on the inside. This turns the shoulders into the turn and into the hill, setting up for too much pressure on the inside and not set up for the next turn. The shoulders are not oriented down the fall line but into the hill. I have decided that except for a few certain applications (very very quick turns, to almost a stop) it is very important to drag or balance the lurk on the outside of the turn, not the inside. The lurk on the outside of the turn sets up your counter-rotation, keeps your shoulders pointed down the fall line more, and eases everything into the next turn.

Most people on youtube drag the lurk on the inside. I think this is dumb for general turning. Take it to the outside. I have been experimenting with this for several weeks now, it's definitely a more solid stance and less prone to issues. If you are good, you don't need to drag it at all you just use it to balance.

The best is to not use any poles if you are using lifts and want to work on technique. If you want to use the lurk, think about what I said.

BAD turned into hill: GOOD turned down hill ready for next turn:

Hello

Thanks for the advices. I already used lurk in the past with big solid shoes and, yes, the outside is the best way to use one pole !
Now, I have to try this technic with the combo : soft boots / bad snow / alpin mountain... That's a lot challenging !
However... I will make my one experience and give you all : my feelings, and, if one pole is better with soft boots.

Fred

it's all fun & good until you hit some flats or a long traverse

Maybe !
But when you see the altai skier, they are using one pole and walking all day long taking there pole with 2 hand
Of course it's maybe less efficient but the downhill is more fun...

My lurk is a bit over 7' (220cm) tall and there is a technique on flats that works ok, but it's not something I'd want to crush miles with.

FrenchFred wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:57 pm

Maybe !
But when you see the altai skier, they are using one pole and walking all day long taking there pole with 2 hand
Of course it's maybe less efficient but the downhill is more fun...

My guess is that the traditional Altai skis climb way better than modern skis and they only need the pole for the steepest terrain. Their skis are also wide, and stable enough that they don't need poles for balance so much. What kind of ski do you plan to use.

Hello
Yes. I'm ok with you, one pole on the flat is not so efficient than 2 poles... In fact, where I'm skiing in the Alps, there is almost no flat but always challenging downhill around 35 degres !

With soft leather boots (Alaska NNNBC) and Asnes FT62, on bad snow, even with a good ski technic i think i need a third contact point with the snow in order to be more balanced and to get more security and pleasure.

I will make my opinion by myself.
And I will give you my conclusion as soon as possible (the winter is really bad for good snow here...).

Thanks for all
Fred

actually, now that I think about it, with a lurk and 2 skis you're still way ahead of snowboarders on the flats - at least you can skate & pole along like a gondolier.

to each their own...reminds me of teacups - in the West we put the little handle on the side so you don't burn your hands - in the East they still favor no-handle cups

In case you missed this from earlier times....