Telemark Ski Binding: A Matter Of Control

The sport of telemark skiing is an interesting hybrid of cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. Telemark skiers can usually be found on the slopes, heading up the chairlifts and down the hills just like downhill skiers. However, the manner in which they come down the hills, and the equipment they use to do so, is much more similar to cross-country skiing. Unlike downhill ski boots, the boots of a telemark skier are attached to the skis only at the toes, just like those of a cross-country skier. It is this manner of binding and the skiing style it dictates that makes telemark skiers so easy to pick out on the slopes.

When a downhill skier wants to carve a turn, all he or she has to do is exert pressure on the edges of his or her skis. Because downhill ski boots are firmly attached to skis from toe to heel, the skier's energy is easily transferred to the skis. However, making a turn in telemark skis is a little more difficult. As mentioned, telemark ski boots are attached to the skis only at the toes. To turn, the telemark skier must accomplish two things at once: the foot on the downhill ski must remain flat and the leg straight, while foot on the uphill ski must go up on the toes, allowing the skier to bend that leg at the knee. This position allows the skier to effectively transfer his or her energy to the skis and control the turn.

Telemark skiing boots usually feature a "duckbill," an extra piece of plastic at the toes of the boots that interface with the skis' bindings. There are several different kinds of telemark ski bindings, each of which has different characteristics. Three-pin bindings are the most traditional version. Such devices have three pins pointing up from the skis that correspond to holes in the duckbills of telemark skiing boots. The duckbills are simply placed on top of the bindings and then secured in place with a locking mechanism called a "bale." This method is exactly the same as that used by cross-country ski bindings, which allows skiers to cover a wide range of territories.

Cable bindings have spring-loaded cables that hold the boots to the skis. The duckbills of the boots fit into sockets, but unlike three-pin bindings, cable bindings have no pins. The cables of these types of bindings stretch around the heels of the boots. Cable bindings are popular because they restrain the heel better during turns, allowing the skier better control. However, they are heavier and make it more difficult for the skier to flex his or her boots. This means that cable bindings are less suitable for cross-country skiing, as opposed to three-pin bindings.

Lastly, hinged plate bindings actually allow the skier to essentially switch back and forth between traditional and cable bindings. "Free pivot" mode allows the heels of the boots to remain free, mimicking the control level to three-pin bindings. But "downhill mode" increases the cable tension on the boots, keeping them closer to the skis and allowing the skier more control.