Telemark Skier Magazine Archive 2003-2022

Steve Barnett helped introduce a generation of skiers to the Telemark turn through his landmark 1976 book, Cross Country Downhill. In this classic interview from the Telemark Skier Magazine archives, Barnett shares his thoughts on touring, gear evolution, "heavy telemark," and why the freedom of the backcountry still matters more than the latest equipment.

photo: Kjell Ellefson I'VE SURFED FRIENDS COUCHES FOR YEARS. THAT'S WHAT SKI BUMS DO. Entering your personal information on a website can feel strange, especially if you are asking to sleep at a stranger’s house. At least that’s how I felt at first. That was before I experienced, firsthand, my initial couch surf...

by Craig Dostie The invasion of 2-pin tele bindings, originally conceived as the Telemark Tech System®, continues. The latest is a telemark kit from Kreuzspitze, a ski mountaineering shop in Germany. It provides the ability to build your own tele tech binding without needing a machine shop. This is not...

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) announced the construction of a new gondola for the 2016/2017 season. Construction will start this spring to be ready for a winter 2016/17 opening. The Sweetwater Gondola will be located between the Bridger Gondola and Teewinot High Speed Quad will have a mid-station approximately a...

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) announced today that it has acquired Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin near the Illinois state line, expanding its collection of premier urban ski areas in the Midwest. Located approximately 65 miles north of Chicago, Wilmot Mountain has long been a favorite of skiers and snowboarders in...

  Jeff Cox in his Springfield, VT workshop   by Tony Gill  “I’ve got nothing near me, but there’s a white ribbon of death thanks to some snowmaking,” said Jeff Cox, founder of Bluebird Day Gear. Snow conditions were looking pretty grim back in Vermont when I spoke to Cox...

by Craig Dostie   You need skins. Get some or go home.   \Now that the Sun is heading for the horizon, and with it the excitement of getting out in the snow, thoughts that tend toward getting ready for those coming days lead to gear. One of the three...

Choosing a Telemark binding doesn’t have to be complicated. This comprehensive guide breaks down 75mm and NTN systems, release considerations, touring efficiency, and downhill performance—helping Telemark skiers make informed decisions based on experience, terrain, and priorities.

Yup, that’s a Scott Voodoo clamped to a Meidjo with tech inserts in the toe. There has been a lot of telemark binding development to work with NTN boots lately, especially those incorporating a 2-pin tech toe in the design. Sadly, the news on the boot side of the equation...

Staying connected when you want with a 2-pin tech system requires tight tolerances – especially with the boot insert.   What started out as a simple test of the Meidjo, a telemark binding with a 2-pin toe and NTN clamp, turned into an investigation of tech toe inserts and what...

A hard turn is good to find.Photo by Halsted Morris. There’s a really good chance you’ll think of my advice on picking gear for telemarking as just another died in the wool leatherneck recommending old-fashioned values just because that’s the way he did it. You’d be right, except that everyone...

After an extensive beta season, the 22 Designs Outlaw emerged as one of the most anticipated NTN bindings ever built. Craig Dostie reviews the updates, improvements, and on-snow performance that helped make the Outlaw an Editor's Choice and a milestone in modern Telemark binding design.

In 2015, Bishop Bindings introduced the #Badassadors, a team of athletes dedicated to promoting the freeheel lifestyle and pushing the limits of Telemark skiing. Meet the skiers chosen to represent Bishop's vision of innovation, progression, and Telemark culture.

Moonlight Mountain Gear's Pure Tele and Tele Rando bindings represented an important step in the evolution of tech-toe Telemark bindings. Craig Dostie reviews the beta prototypes, exploring their innovative heel stabilizer, roofed spacer, removable cables, and what they could mean for the future of freeheel touring.

Did Telemark skiers really use the long wooden lurk made famous in modern demonstrations? Drawing on research from Telemark historian Tarjei Gjelstad, Josh Madsen explores the surprising history of the lurk, Sondre Norheim, and the short wooden stick actually used by many of the original skiers from Morgedal.

  by Jeff Eckhouse // Photos by Kjell Ellefson // Modeling by Athena Brownson There are a lot of weekend warriors who dream of snow and check weather reports at lunch. If that sounds like you, harness your excitement and try this exercise in the break room. This month, we’re...

From the powder-rich slopes of Montana and Utah to the deep skiing heritage of Vermont, these three universities offer students the perfect balance of academics and adventure. This Telemark Skier Magazine feature highlights some of the best places in North America to earn both a degree and a serious ski education.

For one Vermont couple, skinning uphill isn't just a way to avoid lift lines—it's a chance to escape everyday life and reconnect with the mountains. This charming Telemark Skier Magazine essay celebrates the simple joys, quiet adventures, and unique romance found in earning your turns.

Four freeheel skiers set out to experience Haines, Alaska the hard way—earning every turn while chasing some of the steepest and most beautiful lines in the world. This Telemark Skier Magazine photo essay by Jay Beyer captures the adventure, commitment, and dreamlike terrain that make Haines legendary among big-mountain skiers.

From the rugged, ungroomed terrain of Mt. Bohemia to the powder-filled forests of the Porkies and Marquette's secret stashes, the Upper Peninsula has quietly become a Midwest stronghold for Telemark skiing. Explore three destinations that define the region's unique freeheel culture and deep snow traditions.