Telemark Technique for Cross Country Skiing

Start down the slope in a balanced posture with your feet shoulder width apart.

Drop your body into a low, balanced position. To lower your body, simply bend your knees, ankles and waist slightly. Keep your hands in front of you, below the waist which will encourage you to stay in that low position.

Begin your turn. Bend your inside knee as close to the ground as possible and allow it trail behind you while the outside foot glides forward. Bend your outside knee so that it is at a 90 degree angle. Keep the weight on your leading ski balanced. Avoid leaning too far forward or too far back. It helps to curl your toe up to the top of your boot so that your weight is distributed between the ball of the foot and the heel.

Plant your ski pole downhill to actually make the turn. This will depend on which direction you are going in. If you are going left, place the left pole downhill on the left side of your body and vice versa if you are going right.

Rotate your body in the direction that you want to go. Use your planted ski pole to help guide your body.

Keep your body weight evenly distributed along the uphill edge of your ski. Apply pressure to the inside edge of your leading ski so that you feel the pressure on your big toe. You will also need to apply pressure to the outside edge of the trailing ski so that you feel pressure on the little toe.

Once you've completed your turn simply extend your body up to your starting position.