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Dr. Andrew & Mr. McLean For his first assignment covering the world of Alpine Touring for Telemarktips, we asked Andrew McLean to write up his opinions of the advantages of AT over telemark for backcountry skiing We ended up getting two, well, sort of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde versions. Decisions, decisions, which one should we use? The sensitive and caring Dr. Andrew, or the evil and politically incorrect Mr. McLean? After much soul searching (what else?) we decided to present both in our own twisted, Telemarktips spin on that most dog-tired style so favored by skiing media, the "point/counterpoint" format. It is with great pleasure that we present Andrew McLean going toe to toe with......Andrew McLean.  Alpine Touring versus Telemark by Andrew McLean   Dr. Andrew leads off: Of all the equipment needed for ski mountaineering, none defines the sport more than the touring binding with its dual functions of climbing and skiing. It is possible, but very inefficient to get deep into the backcountry without them and thus they should be the first item to consider when gearing up. Another key reason to start with bindings is that they will dictate what kind of boots, and in turn, what kind of skis you will want, and in a larger sense, what kind of skiing you will be doing. . The Basics: There are essentially two backcountry binding ideologies: alpine touring and telemark. Alpine touring bindings, also known as AT or Randonee, have both a toe and heelpiece, whereas telemark binding just have toe pieces. AT bindings can be switched from climbing mode to skiing mode by locking or releasing the heelpiece, whereas telemark bindings are always in the same mode. In theory and historically, telemark bindings had the advantage of being simple and reliable, but in modern day reality, they are every bit as complex and oftentimes heavier and less reliable than AT bindings.  Mr. McLean: Coke versus Pepsi. PC versus Mac. AT versus Tele. With so many tough choices in the world today and stakes ranging from control to soul, it is time for a “fair and balanced” comparison on the two leading contenders of backcountry binding ideology, Alpine Touring (AT) versus Telemark. Traditionally, backcountry skiing in the United States has been synonymous with telemark equipment and all that it entails. Is this a legacy of confusing cross-country roots with backcountry routes, or an evil plot? In any case, if you are considering getting into the backcountry, there are some important choices to be made concerning truth, justice and choosing the right system. The Basics: Alpine Touring bindings have both front and back components just like bicycles have front and back tires. This revolutionary concept allows greater speed, performance and control. Tele bindings on the other hand are more akin to a unicycle with only one point of contact. The comic improbability of riding a unicycle or telemark skiing is a common bond between circus clowns and tele skiers, as is performing in public with farm animals. Dr. Andrew on the AT advantage: The advantage of telemark bindings is that you can transition from skiing to climbing, or vice versa, without touching your bindings, and some skiers feel they have a more natural stride on rolling terrain. The disadvantage is that you are only attached at the toes, and thus have less stability. This can be mitigated by learning the telemark turn, which is an art form in itself. Over the years, telemark bindings have attempted to incorporate many of the standard features of alpine touring bindings such as brakes, safety release, step-in ability and resistance free touring. These designs have met with mixed success and generally add complexity while reducing reliability. The primary advantage of AT bindings is that they have a built in release mechanism for both the toe and the heel. This is critically important both for the safety of your knees and in avalanche scenarios when you want to get rid of your skis so they don't drag you down. Mr. McLean on the AT advantage: Telemark binding designs were first sketched centuries ago on cave walls by Neanderthals. In a tribute to tradition, little has changed since then in both the design and the designers. AT bindings came afterwards, and like the invention of the wheel, something that is so perfectly conceived from the beginning that it can only be refined, not reinvented. The primary advantage of AT is that it's all about skiing, touring, safety, efficiency and fun. Nothing very complicated or involved, just the basics. Telemarking is more of a religious cult or a reality TV series about dysfunctional rock star families, most of which doesn't makes sense to the casual viewer. Why would you want less control, more weight and unreliability? Because in the thighs of the beholder, telemarking has its own special beauty, like running a 100m sprint in high heel pumps. x Dr. Andrew on additional AT advantages: Alpine touring bindings have other practical advantages as well. Most of the designs have step-in heel pieces, so you don’t have to bend over to attach them. This seemingly small detail is a godsend when you are putting your skis on while wearing a heavy backpack or on a steep slope. When in touring mode, AT bindings have a free floating pivot point that creates little to no resistance, versus telemark bindings, which have significant resistance from both the flexing of the boot and the binding. On long mountainous tours, the difference in expended energy is considerable. A closely related advantage of Alpine Touring bindings is that they work with alpine touring boots. AT boots have a rigid sole and a short toe welt protrusion, which makes them more suited for climbing, kicking steps, or attaching crampons. Telemark boots have a flexible sole and large toe welt protrusion, which does just the opposite. When kicking steps, the extended toe is at a leverage disadvantage, the flexible sole requires more energy to keep it level and a crampon’s front point penetration depth is cut in half. Telemark bindings are common in US ski mountaineering as many skiers have traditionally entered the sport from a Nordic background, where freeheel, or telemark style bindings are the norm. In Europe and Canada, alpine touring bindings are the standards for backcountry skiing and their popularity is now increasing exponentially in America. Mr. McLean on additional AT advantages: Weight: Published weight for Alpine Touring bindings are stated in grams and ounces, whereas tele bindings use pounds and should consider going to tons. It is one of the engineering marvels of the world how a tele binding with half the function and parts of an AT binding can weigh over twice as much. Safety: Both bindings have built in safety mechanisms. AT binding use a mechanical system of springs and cams to release the skier at a predetermined load. Tele bindings stick with their organic roots by using your ACL as a biological release mechanism. The AT system is reset by stepping back into it, and the tele system is reset by stepping into an emergency room. Functionality: A touring binding must go up as well as down. For years, telemark binding designers have struggled to find a balance between having freedom on the uphill and control on the downhill. The result is a nearly perfect division of performance: the uphill inefficiency is equal to downhill instability. Tele bindings may have less control, but at least they require more effort. AT bindings on the other hand took the cheaters way out by incorporating and optimizing two separate modes – skiing and climbing. X Dr Andrew concludes: As ski mountaineering matures, telemarking has spun off more as a countercultural alternative to commercialized resort skiing, than as an efficient method of moving through the mountains. To many people, telemark skiing has its own grace, beauty and challenges that they feel are lacking in fixed heel skiing. Alpine touring systems, which were developed only in the last 50 years, have no historical legacy to uphold and have taken a more pragmatic approach to designing efficient ways of climbing, skiing and touring.   . Mr. McLean concludes: Soul is where telemark really shines.Tele is absolutely bursting with soul, like, James Brown shaking it down in a vat of green Jello amounts of soul. Tele has soul patches, soul slides, soul brothers, soul sisters and soul searches. AT on the other hand has only a sole purpose – to go skiing. As of yet, there are no AT drum circles, support groups or backwoods gatherings to celebrate the AT’ness of it all. Where does this even handed examination of AT versus tele leave us? The answer lies in the happy little snapping sounds of heelpieces the world over which cry out “Fix your heel and you will fix the problem!” . . Cover | Site Map | News Page | Talk Forum.