Things nobody really cares about but I'll comment on them anyway

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Free Heel Fever

I've gone and done it. Against my better judgement I have acquired a new passionate hobby. I'm blaming a whole host of people on this one. I'm not going down alone here. I've been surrounded by these crazy tele people for a while now and I guess they've finally whittled down the resistance. I'm convinced it's some sinister plot. Whatever the circumstances I am now the proud owner of a complete telemark ski set-up. Skis, bindings, boots, and poles (and some ascension climbing skins). There's even a helmet to keep me from completely destroying myself. I thought for sure that my gear acquisition would certainly have doomed us to a quick, warm, and snowless spring. However, apparently someone had other plans as we got the biggest dump of snow in the past ten years Sunday. We got over ten inches at the house and I was actually worried that I might not make it to the resort to take advantage. Thank goodness for the best all-wheel-drive vehicle in the world. The sube was a champ and got me down the back way to meet Todd Nolt, Lynn Willis, Corie Klamborowski, Nick (Todd's cousin-in-law), Shack and Ahn at the old caboose site on 105 to carpool up to Sugar Mtn. We ended up meeting up with Rich and Heidi Campbell, Mike and Susan Trew, Burton Mumaw, and two other guys who just all happened to be skiing tele. It was an incredible day of conditions and company on the mountain to enjoy breaking in new skis and equipment and beginning to find the groove of the free heel turn. In short I'm hooked. It will probably be the last day of the season but I'll hang onto this good vibe well into next winter.






4 comments:

Josh Madsen said...

well done. I've had the Telemark problem for 16 years now. enjoy.

Unknown said...

Hey Russ, thanks for the comment on the new blog! How did I miss these tele videos? Erin and I treated ourselves to new skis while we were home this summer, I hope it's a good season here in Turkey! How's the fall treating you and the family?

rc said...

I would love to meet up with you sometime, I am in Black Mountain for the last year and Tele, and would love to find soemone else in the area that frees the heel! Love to get out, Ryan

zircon said...

RC there's a decent tele community in the high country. Drop me an email at hiatt.zircon@gmail.com and I'll get you on the email list of when people are getting out. Cheers Zircon