GILFORD, New Hampshire — Gunstock Mountain Resort will host the 2nd annual Tele fest Saturday, March 3rd. This year will feature New England Telemark in an all day event including demos, clinics for all abilities and a Classic Tele Race which if you have never seen one, includes gates, jumps, and a Reipjelekke. This type of race demands the superior athletic qualities of the skier because of the variety of elements that compose it. The first portion consist of a Giant Slalom, intersected by a few jumps, followed by a series of “Camel bumps”, a skating ascent and finally a long distance jump. All stages of the race must be in the telemark position.

The day will start at 8:00 with registration in the Base Lodge for the race, clinics will begin at 10:30 outside the Stockade Lodge and the Race will be from 10:30 to1 on Cannonball. Clinics will be offered for free for all abilities(with your lift ticket) including: never evers, crossover skiers, specialty women’s clinics with NET’s top women instructors, and Master Clinics.

The Demos will be free to all and will include most of the Telemark companies. This is a great chance to try out one of the fastest growing winters sporting in The United States. Companies that will be represented are: Atomic, Alpina, BCS, Black Diamond, Garmont, Karhu, Kootenay, K2, Mahoosuc, Rossignol, TwentyTwo, EMS, Teleboard, and Voile. “This is a unique opportunity to try, for free, the most advanced Tele equipment in the country for free.” says Jonah Fernald, Marketing Coordinator and avid teleskier at Gunstock Mountain Resort. Registration for the race is $10.00 and your day lift ticket will allow you to test all of the gear and enjoy the days events.

After the race there will be an apr??s tele party, and awards ceremony in the Powder Keg, with live entertainment. For those racers awards will include swag from the sponsors and a pair of skis and bindings, so even if you have never raced on a tele course, this is your chance to try.

The turn first originated in the Telemark region of Norway around the 1860s. Sondre Norheim is often credited for first demonstrating the turn in ski races, which included cross country, slalom and jumping, in Norway around 1868. Sondre Norheim also experimented with ski and binding design, introducing side cut to skis and heel bindings (like a cable).
Telemark skiing was reborn in the 1971 in the United States. Doug Buzzell, Craig Hall, Greg Dalbey, Jack Marcial, and Rick Borcovec are credited reintroducing the style after reading the book “Come Ski With Me” by Stein Eriksen. Telemark skiing gained popularity during the 1970s and 1980s.
Gunstock Mountain Resort, in the heart of New Hampshire, located in Gilford, New Hampshire, with incredible views and great skiing, riding, cross country, and New Hampshire’s Longest Tubing Hill. Check out all of the events at www.gunstock.com .or call 1-800-GUNSTOCK.