What gear setup do I need for telemark skiing?
Any recommendations for a beginner's telemarking setup (skis, boots, skins, bindings) to use on groomed downhill runs and backcountry trips? I also recently bought a used Mountainsmith sled in the hope of taking my toddler up and down some trails at a local ski resort. Can this sled handle this type of use or I putting my kid's life in danger? Wayne Cleveland, Ohio
Scarpa T2
The T2s are so good you can lash the proverbial barrel staves to them and still make it down the slope. Hell, I can telemark with them, which is the equivalent of getting a pig airborne and moving at near-supersonic speeds. But, short of homemade solutions, you want to try something like the Atomic TM 10 Superlight skis ($292; www.atomicsnow.com), which offer pretty good all-around performance at a reasonable price. For a step up, K2's Super Stinx ($460; www.k2skis.com) are extremely popular.
Ascension Adhesive ClipFix skins will get you uphill just fine. About $120, depending on length and width (www.bdel.com).
I think the kid-in-sled idea is fine, but I would be cautious about it. Stick to trails onlyno downhill slopes. Once in a while I see parents skiing down the slope with an infant in a backpack. This gives me the willies. Sure, the parent probably thinks, "I'll never crash!" But that doesn't take into account getting clobbered by an errant skier or 'boarder. I just think it's flat hazardous, and even foolish.
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