. TELEMARK TRANSITIONS Or, where does the changed lead change lead? By Urmas Franosch April, 2008-- The telemark position, and the transition from one telemark position to the other, are what distinguish telemark turns from other types of ski turns. To understand how to derive the greatest performance and skiing pleasure from telemark turns, we should first define what a telemark turn is. Then we will look at some characteristics of good skiing, regardless of turn type. Finally we will discuss several patterns of movements that bring us from one telemark position to the other in a way that enhances those desirable characteristics. Because there is more than one possible pattern, understanding the purpose, or what we are trying to accomplish with our turns, will inform our choice of movements. Naturally this article will reflect my biases and preferences, but I have not finished learning how to ski (When I do, I will probably stop teaching others how to ski), I watch and try to learn from the best skiers regarding what works well, and from my students, regarding what they learn most easily. I'm willing to try it another way and to change my approach if the new way seem to work better.  Let's start with a definition. A telemark position is one in which the downhill ski is in the lead, and the uphill foot is trailing with the heel raised off the ski. For me a telemark turn begins with a telemark position, and ends with the opposite telemark position. Thus a telemark turn can be defined as a turn during which a transition from one telemark position to the other occurs. Some people would define a telemark turn as one in which a telemark position is created, albeit with the uphill ski leading, and then held throughout the turn. For these people a lead change is made, and then the new turn begins. For them the turn begins in the same position as it ends. If the lead change doesn't happen during the turn, but between the turns, it must be while traversing. Since modern skiing has eliminated traverses in favor of linked turns, the lead change must occur during the turn. In a nutshell then, the new turn begins with the telemark position from the old turn, and finishes with the opposite telemark position. The issues now become more focused; when does the lead change movement begin, what is its duration, and at what point in the turn do the feet pass each other? We might also ask how the feet move relative to each other; does the rear foot move forward, does the front foot move back, or do both feet move back and forth in equal proportion. For guidance in these questions let look for a moment at what characterizes good skiing. Balance and rhythm are undeniably qualities of good skiing. Balance and rhythm lead to fluidity; fluidity leads to stability; stability leads to mastery of difficult and exciting situations; and mastery of difficult and exciting situations leads to attention from young snowboard chicks. Or something like that! To Weems Westfeldt balance is a verb. In his new book, Brilliant Skiing Every Day (edgechange.com has a free e-book download) he says, "Balance is often mistaken for holding position. The agile movements of balance are really about rejecting position and staying in motion with the moving environment", and "Once you are in a position long enough to recognize it as such, you've been there way too long." I believe this is particularly pertinent to the lead change in telemark skiing. Movements become fluid when they are performed continuously and progressively. Telemark skiing is at its most fluid and elegant when the feet are constantly shuffling from one telemark position to the other (See our "Linking Turns" lesson video for a demonstration of this). Freeheel skiers started using the telemark position to enhance balance. Moving from one telemark position to the other while turning, transforms the balanced position into a balancing activity. Thus applied, the lead change movement begins with, or shortly after the edge change, and continues through the turn completion, with the feet passing in the fall line. Avoiding sudden movements, the skier in balance and motion finds it easy to make rhythmical turns. Weems paraphrases the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers: "Good rhythm carries me through times of bad technique better than good technique carries me through times of bad rhythm." I have found the pattern just described to work well in most "all mountain" situations. Telemark racers use a different pattern however. Since the goal of racing is to maximize rather than control speed, racers make most of the direction change early, and open up the finish of the turn. This comma shaped turn is made by engaging and pressuring the skis at the very top of the turn, making a quick early lead change and then holding that position through the turn. In order to keep from "parking and riding", they create angles in their legs, hips, and spine as they move through the turn. This requires considerable speed and highly developed inclination and angulation skills in order to be effective. Because all mountain skiers often need to make shorter, quicker turns to reduce speed and negotiate narrow gaps, they must crank their skis around using muscular turning powers. The continuous lead change works beautifully for this. It is also well suited for skiers who ski at moderate speed.   Unlike the medium radius carved turns of ski racing, short turns, and slower speed turns are best made by pivoting the feet around an axis between the feet. Imagine standing on a huge Mason jar lid a foot in diameter with both feet. Now unscrew the lid with your feet while keeping your body facing straight ahead. This is what happens in a lefthand telemark turn (remember righty-tighty, lefty-loosy). Your right foot moves forward in an arc, as your left foot moves back. Both feet pivot around an axis that goes through your body centerline and penetrates the center of the jar lid. Starting with your feet facing straight ahead, you can get the jar lid unscrewed about half way. Now start with your feet positioned as they would be at the end of a righthand telemark turn and unscrew the jar lid. This time you can get it all the way off. Imagine you are facing straight down the hill. You will notice that your feet are momentarily next to each other when aligned with the direction you are facing. If your feet move simultaneously, your skis will remain parallel through the entire turn. An early, or premature, lead change spreads your feet out fore and aft where they are harder to rotate, or point into the direction of the turn. Spreading them out more slowly allows the leg rotation that starts the turn to continue uninterrupted through to the completion. Remember, the telemark lead change is primarily a balancing activity, not a turning power. Another reason why all mountain telemark skiers start turns-especially in the steeps-in a telemark position (downhill ski leading), is they can push off against the snow with the uphill (back) foot to release the edges, and get the body moving downhill. Those who change leads prematurely can only fall passively down the hill and hope for the best. Furthermore, having the downhill foot ahead of you as you launch into the "gravity stream", as Weems calls it, allows the commitment to be more aggressive. In the final analysis, edge change is the most important element of ski turns. As veteran ski instructor Denis Bogan puts it, "You can change leads early, or late, or not at all, as in a monotele", but you can't make a right turn on your left edges. I have found that practicing smooth continuous lead changes helps make my edge change more fluid. A good rule of thumb is to match the rate and duration of the lead change movement to that of the edge change movement. In racing it's important to make a quick and early edge change, so the lead change is quick and early as well. At slower speeds and in shorter turns, the edge engagement happens later, so the lead change is more delayed. To learn the continuous lead change, you must have the feet equally weighted. Only then will both of your feet shuffle equally fore and aft. If you finish a turn with more weight on the front foot, you will stride into the next turn with an early lead change. Good skiers vary their lead change movements according to the purpose of their turns (See this YouTube video for a good example). Whichever lead change pattern you choose for a given situation, the most important thing is not to get stuck in any one position. Good balance and rhythm will result from smooth and progressive movements. Keep yourself moving and you'll keep improving!   About the author: Urmas Franosch is a former PSIA Telemark Demo Team member who has been teaching telemark at Mammoth Mountain for more than two decades. In addition to being a gifted teacher and master of the tele turn, Urmas also serves as the PSIA-West Nordic Chief Examiner. For more from Urmas visit our Lessons section and check out the many instructional videos.