How to Protect Your Knees While Telemarking

Acquire a pair of knee pads that are specifically for telemark skiing if you can. Other, general types are better than nothing but telemark knee pads are designed to stay on your knees better while making your turns in the mountains. If a knee pad is made by the same company that produces telemark specific skis, bindings and boots, such as Black Diamond, then you can bet they will work better than the pads you used to learn to roller skate with.

Make sure your knee pads are not too loose but not so tight that they impinge movement or pinch. The pads should have a strap that fastens above the kneecap and one below on the uppermost part of the shin.

Wear the knee pads underneath your ski pants or r your outermost pant layer. This is probably the most important piece of advice. If you wear them over your outer layer, as you drop a knee when turning the knee pad can act as a scoop. You can end up with a knee pad packed with snow, which won't feel very good unless you have an injury to ice.

Wear the knee pads over a base layer such as long underwear but underneath the outer layer. It can become uncomfortable to have the straps of the knee pad right on your skin.

Wrap the pads with some athletic tape or vet wrap if you have trouble with them slipping down.