UKC

I'm wondering if anyone has experience of telemark lessons in the uk? I'm wanting to book a half day or so for someone to start the basics of telemark. I had a day in a snowzone which was really useful, but that was just alpine. Does anyone do telemark at the indoor slopes? Outdoor in Scotland would be fine too.

In reply to annakyn:

some recommendations here
http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/read.php?2,143543,143555

http://www.telemarkskico.com/ are well known & run a few courses in Scotland (& many more in the Alps & Norway). I've never been on one of their courses but have skied with John Eames once or twice & he's a good skier with a reputation for being a good teacher

In reply to Doug:
I can confirm that the telemark ski co courses are very good.

In reply to annakyn:

Check out G2 Outdoor http://g2outdoor.co.uk/winter-activities/telemark

and also http://ibsc.org.uk/programme as we are doing an intro to tele day.

Great, good info there thanks. It seems Hemel snow dome do lessons too but will probably wait and do it on the real stuff. Unfortunately we can't make the intro tele day - that would have been ideal.

In reply to annakyn:

My friend Matthew definitely used to teach telemark in the Midlands (is it Tamworth?) but, unfortunately, I just checked his website http://www.telemark-skiing.co.uk/ and because he now lives in S Wales, he's not doing lessons anymore. But it might be worth dropping Matt an email via the site and he might be able to suggest someone else.

In reply to TobyA:

Yeah I've ordered some gear off Matt before, I'll give him a shout.

In reply to annakyn:

I can offer telemark lessons at Nevis Range or Glencoe. I'm a BASI L2 telemark Instructor.

You can also book lessons through Nevis Range ski school. http://snowsports.nevisrange.co.uk/snowsport-school.asp

In the Cairngorms I can also recommend G2 Outdoor.

In reply to annakyn:

the scottish telemark club train at braehead every week

In reply to brian_m:

Only problem is that, certainly this winter just gone, no one in Aviemore has tele kit for hire.....

In reply to nickinscottishmountains:

Definitely a problem. Braemar Mountain Sports is the only place I know of hiring tele kit in Scotland!

In reply to brian_m:

Yup....not very handy for Aviemore!!!

In reply to nickinscottishmountains:

Yeah I thought I was stupidly over-planning looking for hire shops 2 months before our trip last year. Glad I did though as decided it was far simpler and not that much more expensive to pick up a 2nd hand setup before going, although had to hire boots from Braemar. They sold them to us after though. Did mean a detour on the way to Fort William but worth it.

Surprised telemarking isn't more popular in Scotland. It should be!

In reply to annakyn:

It is but I don't think it's the sort of thing that lends itself to the walk up and hire market as it is basically more difficult than "alpine" skiing.

Tele takes time.

In reply to Cuthbert:

Not that long ago when you could only hire telemark gear (although there were rumours that Peter Cliff had a couple of pairs of alpine skis/boots for hire). But said telemark gear was narrow skis with 3pin bindings & leather boots - great for the Cairngorm plateau or forests but 'challenging' for steeper downhill in anything other than good snow conditions. But back in the 1980s we didn't know that better gear existed

In reply to annakyn:

Another vote for John and Bonny over at the TelemarkSkiCo. We've probably been on five or six trips with them over the years, and they have been consistently great instructors and excellent company.

We've been to the Cairngorms, Norway, Canada, Italy, Greece and Switzerland - all happy memories and I can actually telemark now (not that well admittedly)!

b

In reply to annakyn:

I did a trip with Telemark Ski Co last Feb with Neil Macpherson instructing. Superb week with great instruction and good company, strong recommendation.

You can also hire kit from Backcountry in Ilkley.

In reply to NRichardson:

Another vote for Telemark ski co, been on two different holidays with them. I had Neil last time and he was a great instructor as they all are. A well ran company, passionate about telemark and all thing Skiing.

Phill

In reply to Phill_Away, Neil Richardson, Ben B etc: Thanks so much for the votes of confidence - we do try hard at The Telemark Ski Co.
Unfortunately the only tele ski hire now is from Braemar Mt Sports - non in Cairngorm or Ilkley for a while.

Please note we also offer alpine skiing instruction/ off-piste trips / custom IFMGA guided tours too. We use a (non-Brit) guide who telemarks really well.

Please check out our courses at www.telemarkskico.com
& our Facebook page 'The Telemark Ski Company' for news & inspirational pics.

In reply to Klimb:

Thanks. WIll get in touch nearer our trip. Now just hoping for a good snowy season.

In reply to annakyn:

Midland telemark club run coaching sessions 1st Monday of the month at Tamworth Snowdome 8pm to 10pm,

You can borrow equipment if needed.

Friendly bunch of people with 4/5 instructors.

Contact Ian Acey at midlandtelemark@hotmail.co.uk
http://www.midlandtelemark.co.uk/

Hope that helps.

cheers