Sunday mornings, while most students are still recovering from Saturday night's escapades, a small group of Bowdoin telemark skiers are already slipping and sliding at Sugarloaf. "We leave at 6:30 a.m. and are skiing by 9:30 a.m.," said Max Palmer '08.
Telemark skiing, which takes its name from the region in Norway where it originated, has been regaining popularity, according to assistant editor of Bowdoin Magazine Matt O'Donnell. Bowdoin's "tele" program was started in 2001 by skiing enthusiasts O'Donnell and then-students TJ Fudge '02 and Aaron Graustein '01.
The primary difference between tele skiing and regular alpine skiing is the equipment used, particularly the binding. Unlike an alpine binding, the telemark binding isn't fastened at the heel; instead, it hinges at the toe. This equipment difference accounts for the special technique that tele skiers employ. While tele skiers must stride "much like a classic cross-country skiing stride," O'Donnell said, "other than this striding motion, all the skiing skills and most of the skiing mechanics are the same as in an alpine turn."
"[Telemark skiing] predates the alpine discipline, but faded for a while, had a resurgence in the '70s and early '80s, and is in the midst of another one. It's the fastest growing segment of the snow sports industry," O'Donnell said. Interest in the program has greatly increased since its establishment.
At Bowdoin, demand has exceeded the total number of available spots, forcing the BOC to adopt a lottery system to determine who can take the class, reserving some spots for returning tele students. Palmer considers himself fortunate. "I was waitlisted and then someone decided not to take the class. I got really lucky," he said.
Although prior skiing experience is not required, most students are already proficient downhill skiers. "I've done downhill skiing for probably eleven years," said Palmer. "I've always wanted to try [telemark skiing], but never had the chance."
Other skiing experience is especially helpful, according to O'Donnell. Any snow sliding experience helps?nordic, alpine, snowboarding?and the higher the level of experience, the easier it is for students to transfer their skills to telemark.
First year Oliver Cunningham believes that "it is a lot harder [than alpine skiing]. First, you have to apply weight to both feet instead of just your downhill foot, and it is a lot like doing lunges down the hill, instead of just sliding down. But that doesn't make it any less fun," he said.
Over spring break, six students will take a backcountry tour through Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec. Participants will ski and hike with their backpacks, staying in huts along the trail for almost eight days.
For O'Donnell, "Any way you choose to slide on snow is fun! Telemark is one way, and I'm happy to see that so many people at Bowdoin are having a good time doing it."