Recommendations for a Tele newbie...

[yowen]

Ok, so I've been thinking about trying to learn to tele ski. I grew up alpine skiing but switched over to boarding in the early 90's. My two young ones are both riding the lifts now so I figure I'll learn something alongside them. Now, I recently purchased some used Solomon skis and BD bindings for short money ($50) and I'm now in the market for some boots. Any recommendations on what I should be looking for. I'm willing to drop some $$ but don't want to break the bank. Thanks for the help guys.

[yuckster]

I'm also a tele newbie. Scarpa T2X's have been working fine for me. I can't imagine needing anything more aggressive than the previous-generation T2 as a newbie, so if you see a deal on a used pair of T2's, grab 'em.

[Luddite]

Same scenario as when I switched over! Try some Garmont Synergys and some Scarpa T2ish boots, see if one or the other fits you better. I learned on pins, old 10th Mountains and leathers, but I would have progressed a lot faster on better gear. Once I switched to Garas (3 buckle) and El Caminos (Piste Offs I think is the tele name) things went a lot better! Hook up with a tele fest somewhere or invest in a lesson it can really help.

[Seeker]

I learned on pins, old 10th Mountains and leathers, but I would have progressed a lot faster on better gear.

Too funny! That was my "first" tele set up--only I couldn't learn the turn on them! I got it only when I went up a step to Merrill Fusions and Atomic Telemarks.

Luddite gives good advice--try the boots on before you buy. Most people fit Garmonts or Scarpas or Crispis but not all of them. Try them on, figure out which size you fit well and then look for deals. Now is a good time to buy!

[skibumnh]

I went for a big 4 buckle boot for my first boot. My logic was that it would be most comfortable making p-turns in an alpine like boot. I got a pair of Garmont Ener-G's on clearance and I am very happy with my choice. As far as boot fit, given the thermo liners in both Garmont and Scarpa boots, either will fit just about any foot. Dont be concerned with the out of box fit, pull the liner out and shell fit for 1-1.5 fingers. If your foot fits in the shell, the boot will fit just fine after baking the liners.

[PwdrHound]

Hey there,

You are indeed setting yourself up for some learning....it's take a few seasons! Really, it was more difficult then I expected, but once you get it the Telemark is a very natural turn...and so much fun!!! In a few seasons you'll be back to skiing, not telemarking, not alpine, just skiing...then you will know you are learning to free heel. That is, when you've adopted your good alpine techniques to the tele-world and, of course, expunged all of your bad alpine habits!

Anyway, I've been in a pair of Garmont Synergy's since I crossed over. They are super comfy. In fact, I alpined for the first time in two seasons just this past weekend and my feet were quite uncomfortable despite using the alpine boots that were a part of my body for so many years! My feet became quite content with the slipper like qualities of Teleboots.

Anyway, The Synergy is a great boot. Of Course, I haven't ever worn anything else, so take it for what it's worth. I will say that I was in the habit of using the Walk and Ski function of the boot, respectively. However, at some point, I think it was at Tele-Fest last year, someone told me to keep the boot on Walk mode at all times. Sure enough, that was a big break through. There is so much boot/protection that the walk/ski function is very unnecessary in the tele-world!! Also, I've heard someone is making replacement tongues for the Synergy, which increases flexibility. I'm not sure how that would feel, but it seems to be an option if you end up being someone who puts your knees to the top sheets.

Good Luck!!!

[RR]

Aside from being an erstwhile Luthier and college student, this guy has been telemarking for just one season:
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v189/151/104/6913973/n6913973_32928962_3114.jpg

That's surfsnowywaves ripping it up just the other day.

Score the boots that fit and take some lessons. When you start getting it, go for some Private Lessons and then...

Just as Rich said, you will be skiing...all over again.

[yowen]

Thanks for the help guys.
I'll be up in N. Conway on Friday. Maybe I'll swing by IME and the other usual spots.
Thanks again.

[Seeker]

Don't overlook EMS. I've known them to have sales better than the consigment boots at Ragged!

[RR]

True...EMS Comm Av Boston just got all of EMS Harvard Sq's skiing stuff...most of it is on Clearance

[PWDR8S]

Mmmmmm.... "new" teleboots..... I'm in T2's I picked up for a song at Ragged Mtn.Eq. but the shells are a wee bit tight... I went a half size smaller what with the liner being packed out and all..... I'm ready for real comfort!

[skibumnh]

Aside from being an erstwhile Luthier and college student, this guy has been telemarking for just one season:
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v189/151/104/6913973/n6913973_32928962_3114.jpg

That's surfsnowywaves ripping it up just the other day.

Score the boots that fit and take some lessons. When you start getting it, go for some Private Lessons and then...

Just as Rich said, you will be skiing...all over again.

I've got to agree, if you are an accomplished alpine skier its not as hard as you think. I've got about 15 days in telemarking this season and I feel confident enough that I want to drop a knee when I roll over the lip this sunday (or next). It took me 3-4 days to get the turn down, and since then its been non stop improvement every time out. Find someone who is really good, and ski with them. Try and emulate their movements. Have people take pictures of you so you can analyze your technique. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations - I've spent my last two days out almost exclusively on learning to make tele turns in the bumps. I think the #1 thing you can do is commit to dropping your alpine gear for the majority of a season. I didn't alpine more than 3 times from thanksgiving to march, and I did only when I had to give my quads a rest from a prior day of tele. Consistency was my best ally.

[surfsnowywaves]

Aside from being an erstwhile Luthier and college student, this guy has been telemarking for just one season:

*insert sweet picture here*

That's surfsnowywaves ripping it up just the other day.

Score the boots that fit and take some lessons. When you start getting it, go for some Private Lessons and then...

Just as Rich said, you will be skiing...all over again.

Well, the first thing about the boot is going to be what kind of skiing are you looking to do in the long haul? And also, what kind of binding do you have? You mention that you have BD bindings...I assume by this you mean the BD 03 bindings, which look somewhat like this:
http://www.bentgear.com/images/BLD0033.jpg

These bindings are relatively neutral compared to most bindings on the market today, which means that you have to do the work to keep your ball of the foot down on the ski. This means you want a bit less stiff boot. Sure, the Scarpa T2/Garmont Synergy class boots would work fine, but you might be struggling. If you go a step down, say to some other boot*, you may find that you have an easier time. These softer boots will also greatly lend themselves to touring better than those big ol' hunks of plastic.

*I haven't bought, and never will buy, the koolaid about beefy tele boots. I use Garmont Veloces, partially because they fit and were priced right ($250 on STP). I have skied BD Ethics with BD03s, BD Ethics with G3 Targa's, and currently own K2 World Pistes with Targas. I've demoed Hammerheads, skied the various positions, skied "better," but did not like the feeling of them at all. All this being said, I've seen a guy in leathers and 3-pins TEAR IT UP down Freefall at Smugg's.

The key to tele is practice, practice, practice. Some have mentioned the Telefests, I HIGHLY recommend these. Different instructors will ensure that you get a variety of tips and techniques. Lessons are key though. I was lucky enough to take "Telemark Skiing" as a college class last year, which involved a lesson up at Stowe once a week for about 8 weeks. This helped HUGELY! But nothing beats practice, and nothing beats skiing in the woods in powder. So go ski lots, get practice, and remember: It's a dance, not a stance.


EDIT: Two notes to add.
1. Rob, you can add to luthier 'experienced woodturner' after this weekend.
2. I've had no alpine experience in my life. I owe my accomplishments thus far partially due to this, because if I'm not dropping my knee, I'm not in control in the least bit. So I've been forced to drop the knee, work on weighting the back foot, and ski properly. No relying on p-turns to get me down the hill.

[doug]

Whoa! Just found this thread. Sell it to a freakin' publisher and call it "Essential Tele Tips" or "The Real Feel of the Free Heel". All joking aside, this is a great thread with tons of cool advice (walk position instead of ski position for example, wish I had tried that two weekends ago when I was in a pair of SyngerG's at Sunday River). Funny thing is I learned to tele passably well on eastern European double camber minimal sidecut skis with (now) soft Merrills. On powder I feel (felt) reasonably accomplished. However when I went to hard, fast surfaces with plastic and bigger planks I lost the feeling of the dance. I lost the feeling of the rear foot. Then I started to throw the upper body around to kill the speed and it was kook city all the way done the blue trails. I was skiing behind my buddy an instructor (poor guy - suppossed to be free skiing). Here is my advice! It helped me alot - DITCH THE POLES. Hey I have bad upper body habits, but when I ditched the poles I got back in the feeling of the dance a little bit and was able to start feeling the turns and the burn alot better.
Still looking for the right plastic boot at the right price. Wish I could get a new pair of two buckle leathers. I think for powder days in the trees on lighter nordic style skis the Rossi x11's (or whatever they are called), look like a fun ride. Certainly not a mountaineering boot though.
Thanks again for all the useful info on this thread.