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Maybe you’ve seen other telemarkers carving beautiful turns on the mountain, maybe you are looking for a new challenge, or maybe you want to really work those quads–either way, getting into telemarking is fun and challenging.
Telemark skiing is a blend of Nordic and alpine skiing that combines the grace of cross-country with the thrill of downhill turns. Central to this style is the telemark binding, which allows the heel to lift, enabling a skier to lunge gracefully through turns.
Ready to pick up some telemark gear? Here’s some great news: Unlike downhill bindings, telemark bindings don’t get put on indemnified lists, meaning there is no set age at which they cannot be mounted. This meansbuying used telemark gear can be a great deal.
That said, telemark does differ from downhill in one major way: There are several types of telemark bindings, and which one you choose will dictate what you can and can’t reasonably do on skis as well as what kinds of bindings you must have.
Here’s what you need to know about telemark bindings:
The 75mm binding, often referred to as the “three-pin binding,” is a classic telemark binding that dates back to the early 20th century. This binding features a 75mm-wide toe box that clamps the boot's toe into place with three metal pins and a locking bail. Skiers using this system can enjoy a free-heel motion, essential for telemark turns.
While the original Nordic Norm binding gained fame for its simplicity, the New Nordic Norm (NNN) was developed to improve performance in both cross-country and telemark skiing. NNN introduced a more efficient, bar-based binding system that used grooves under the boot sole to lock in place, creating better control and flex while skiing.
Included in this category are step-in Rottefella NNN BC bindings, which are beefier than standard NNN but still not beefy enough for aggressive skiing.
Cable bindings, which gained popularity in the 1980s, revolutionized telemark skiing by adding a cable running from the toe piece around the back of the boot to increase power and edge control. With this system, the boot heel can still rise, but the cable provides more resistance, helping the skier to engage the edges of the ski better during turns. Boots that fit 75mm toe plates can also fit cable bindings.
The New Telemark Norm (NTN) binding system, introduced in the mid-2000s, represents the most significant shift in telemark skiing gear in decades. NTN bindings departed from the 75mm toe box entirely, instead relying on a boot's toe and midsole to secure the skier to the ski. This creates more direct power transmission, better edge control, and a step-in system for ease of use. NTN bindings require an NTN-compatible boot.
In recent years, some manufacturers have begun to blend telemark bindings with alpine touring (AT) technology. These "tele-tech" bindings use the tech toe from AT setups, which grips the boot with pins, while still allowing the free-heel movement required for telemark skiing.
Telemark is both timeless and modern, as this list of bindings shows. From classic 75mm three-pin bindings to cutting-edge NTN systems, telemark skiers today can choose from a wide variety of setups. Thanks toDurango Outdoor Exchange, you can pick up telemark skis, boots, and bindings at drastically reduced prices. Stop by to see what we’ve got in store!
When the days get longer and the snowpack stabilizes, many skiers turn their attention to climbing bigger peaks and skiing bigger lines. While weather, snowpack, and daylight often conspire to limit big mountain activities through the winter, spring’s longer and warmer days help give skiers a better chance at getting high in the mountains and ticking off some more impressive lines.
The mighty San Juan Mountains fill your windshield every time you turn north on Main. These fearsome, jagged peaks have some of the best and most accessible backcountry in America. That said, if you are a beginner backcountry skier or are new to the area, it may not always be obvious where to go. This guide gives you a quick overview on mostly gentle, mostly safe places to backcountry ski in theDurango area.
When it comes to outdoor sports, a quality jacket can make all the difference between comfort and misery. Whether you’re hiking, skiing, climbing, running, climbing, or simply out and about nature, a jacket serves as your first line of defense against the elements.
That said, there are a LOT of jackets out there, in different styles, materials, weights, and weather proofness. How do you know which is best for you? We put together this guide to help you sort out what jacket you need and when you should whip it out.
Keep in mind that these jackets can be ridiculously expensive, and buying a ski jacket, rain jacket, puffy, light puffy, and a wind jacket new can easily mean you run up a tab of $2,000 or more. What’s the solution? Qualityused gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.