Beyond the Telemark Turn: Exploring Telemark Racing

Whether you’re a seasoned telemark skier with years (or even decades) of experience, or you stumbled upon this page without even knowing what telemark skiing is, welcome! We understand that telemark racing is a niche sport. Most people are unfamiliar with the intricacies of a telemark race, so let’s break it down for you.

Ultimately, the aim of a telemark race is to record the quickest time between the starting gate to the finish line.

In between the start gate and the finish line there are many obstacles that the racer must go around, over and through. There are usually a set amount of gates per race event (Classic, Sprint Classic and Parallel Sprint Classic). The Classic is the longest of these three events and therefore has the most number of gates, the Sprint and Parallel Sprint have fewer gates. 

Racers must make a telemark turn around each gate. This requires a ski boot length between the toe of the back boot and the heel of the front boot while in the lunging position. The transition from turn to turn must also be one fluid motion, without any pauses or falters. Gate Judges stationed along the course observe these technical aspects. If a racer fails to maintain sufficient boot separation or exhibits an unsmooth transition, the Gate Judge will issue a penalty, adding one second to the racer’s raw time.

The next obstacle in a telemark race is the jump. All of the race events have a jump. In the Parallel Sprint (where two racers race on two parallel courses at the same time), the racers jump off of the same jump. At the jump, there are distance lines that the racers have to make and land in a telemark lunge to have a clean jump. If the racer does not make their (Men’s and Women’s) jump line, 3 seconds is added to their raw time. If they also do not land in a telemark lunge, 1 second is added to their raw time. A racer can lose 4 seconds on the jump if they do not make the line or land in a telemark lunge. The jump can be where a racer can make time or lose a lot of time in the overall race.

After the jump, the course continues with more gates, requiring racers to execute clean telemark turns at each one.

Next comes a 360-degree banked turn known as the reipeløkke, sometimes called the wrap or the loom. The entry technique into the wrap varies depending on the size, radius, and snow conditions. Generally, racers start higher on the bank and exit lower to maintain speed and carry momentum through the turn. The jump and the wrap are notorious for causing the most crashes, with racers occasionally veering off course and into the protective netting surrounding the wrap. In the Parallel Sprint, both racers enter the same wrap. If they are close enough, they may enter simultaneously. Specific rules govern right-of-way in such situations.

Following the wrap, the course features a skating section. The length of this section varies depending on the course setter’s decision. The Classic race typically includes a longer skating section compared to the Sprint and Parallel Sprint events. Racers must navigate a series of gates within this section, employing a skate skiing technique to cover the distance as quickly as possible.

Sometimes racers encounter more gates before the finish line. In other cases the course is set so that the racers have to skate to the finish. That skate to the finish is often uphill! 

In the end, a racer’s combined time is calculated by adding their raw time to any penalties incurred at gates or the jump. This total time determines their final race result.

• In the Classic race, the racer completes a single run.
• The Sprint Classic involves two runs, and the combined time of both runs determines the winner.
• The Parallel Sprint utilizes a bracket system, meaning the top 4 racers will compete in the most races.

This is a simplified overview of a telemark race. In reality, the sport encompasses much more, including the vibrant atmosphere of cheering spectators and the joyous celebrations that follow the races.

At US Telemark we hope this gives you a small glimpse into what telemark racing is about.