Skiing on bended knee.

Byline: Mike Stahlberg The Register-Guard

SANTIAM PASS - One of downhill skiing's oldest maneuvers is fast becoming the newest big thing on the slopes.

The Telemark turn - named for the region of Norway where it was developed in the 19th century - is experiencing a 21st century revival.

"Every year I see more and more Telemark skiers - it's kind of like a fad thing, almost," said Rick Geraths, a Sisters contractor who made the switch from rigid Alpine boots and bindings to free-heeled "Tele skiing" about 10 years ago.

"I Alpined for like 30 years and got on a set of these and haven't looked back," said Geraths, with a nod toward a pair new Telemark skis he'd just taken for a test run during a recent "Tele Fest" at Hoodoo Ski Area.

"It's just more fun, and you can get around better, easier, I think."

Telemark skiing is the technique of executing downhill turns on skis that are attached to the skier's boots at the toe but not at the heel. Bindings that do that are standard on all Nordic (cross-country) skis.

Describing the difference between Alpine and Telemark turning techniques in a way that makes sense to a nonskier is difficult.

But the difference is obvious to anyone watching skiers come down a powdery slope.

Telemark skiers are the ones that look like ballroom dancers, making smooth and flowing turns on bended knees, with one ski well in front of the other.

Alpine skiers are the ones that look more like hip-hop dancers. Their skis are remain side-by-side.

"Oh, yes, the Telemark turns are the most beautiful turns you see on the mountain. Even the snowboarders will acknowledge that," says Jarl Berg, co-owner Berg's Ski Shop in Eugene and Tele Fest's organizer.

Telemark skiing "is growing very quickly," Berg said "We should see it in the Olympics here pretty soon."

Sales figures reported by SnowSports Industries America, a ski industry trade group, show sales of Telemark gear has been increasing by about 10 percent per year, while sales of traditional cross-country ski equipment have been flat, or even in decline.

What's the appeal of free-heeling?

The beauty of the turn is what lured Heather Goff of Ashland - who drove all the way up from Ashland for the festival - into taking up Telemark skiing about two years ago.

"I wanted to try it because it looks cool, it's beautiful," said Goff, who quickly fell in love with the sport.

"I'm converted," she said. "My Alpine equipment's gone. I've found the light."

First to see the light was Sondre Norheim, a potato farmer in the Telemark region of Norway who showed up at a ski race in Oslo in 1868 and shocked everyone by making turns that were much faster and more efficient than what the other skiers were able to perform.

Norheim was able to carve out fluid, curving turns by bending his knees and staggering his skis so that the outside ski was well in front of the inside ski. He kept most of his weight on the outside ski and his inside heel was lifted.

Closer examination revealed Norheim had made advances in technology as well as technique. A strap that wrapped around the heels of his boots and attached to the ski at the toe provided lateral stability. And he'd carved his wooden skis slightly narrower at the waist than at tip and tail, which allowed the ski to flex into the shape of a turn as soon as Norheim tipped it on edge.

Ironically, the development of modern skis that exaggerate that "sidecut" pattern have helped fuel the revival of Telemark skiing by making turning much easier.

Executing Telemark turns with the leather boots and the long, skinny, straight cross-country skis available in the 1960s and 70s was a physically demanding task. No wonder only a few dedicated back-country skiers were up to it.

Now many Telemark skiers use boards that are essentially the same size and shape as Alpine skis. Only the boots and bindings are different.

"I like to take a good Alpine race ski, mount it up and go," said Geraths, who says switching from Alpine skiing to Telemarking "is kind of like going from a tricycle to a bicycle - it's a whole different world.

"It makes a little mountain into a huge mountain," Geraths said. "When you first do it, you feel like you're going to go over the handlebars all the time. But once you get it ... I mean, I'm more at home on these than I ever was on Alpine gear. I just have more fun."

Even with the modern gear, however, Telemark turns require strong thigh muscles.

"Basically, you're doing lunges all the day long," Berg said. "That's pretty much what a Telemark turn amounts to."

Telemarking was long associated with back-country skiing. But those deep-knee-bending turns have become common sights at downhill ski areas, many of which offer Telemark gear rentals and lessons.

Area skiers have a chance to be introduced to the sport Saturday when the University of Oregon Outdoor Program presents beginner and intermediate Telemark Skiing Clinics at Hoodoo Ski Area. The clinics start at 10 a.m. The fee is $20 for the lesson only, or $46 for lesson and lift ticket. Van transportation is an additional $7. For registration details, call 346-4365.

In addition, Mount Bachelor Resort near Bend offers monthly workshops for beginning through advanced Telemark skiers.

CAPTION(S):

Top: Tate Shepherd of Eugene cuts a Telemark turn through race gates set up for Tele Fest at Hoodoo. Right, top: Telemark ski equipment has undergone a number of innovations over the past few years. Boots are more like downhill boots, but with flexible toes. Right, bottom: Dressed for Tele Fest, Tom Powers (left) lets Sonja Bonilla try out her horn blowing skills to the amusement of Craig Smith.