Fast track to telemark skiing: this season, instead of just hitting the slopes, rack up your vertical on "free-heel" skis--you'll get a better workout than you ever did on alpine skis, and you'll discover a challenging new way to enjoy the mountain in the process.(ski equipment)(Buyers guide)

GO ANY SKI TOWN WHERE GORE-TEX is considered evening wear and you'll see it. A bumper sticker that reads, "If it was easy, it would be called snowboarding." Look inside that old Saab and you'll spot a few skiers who like taking digs at the new kids on the hill (snowboarders) while perpetuating the myth about the difficulty of telemark skiing, one of the oldest ways to descend the mountain on two planks.

But they're living a lie. While tele skiing is challenging, recent advances in equipment have made the sport easier than ever before. Learn just a few basic moves and you'll discover one of the most fun ways to get down the hill. And backcountry potential? The possibilities on the mountain with tele skis are seemingly endless. Requiring equal parts agility and strength, the telemark turn is as beautiful as it is badass.

Here's the difference: Unlike its alpine brethren, the telemark binding does not keep the heel cinched down. Like a cross-country skiing setup, the telemark skier's boots attach only at the toe. To get down the mountain, "free-heelers" have to complete a series of lunges using parallel but staggered skis. When done well, it's the most graceful thing on snow.

Having a heel free helps skiers get around the mountains as well as up them. That's right, up. Many experienced tele skiers "earn their turns" by hiking up the slopes they'll ski down. Before doing so, they attach "skins" to the bottom of their skis to keep from sliding backward while ascending.

Like proposing, dropping to a knee for each turn gets easier the more you do it. One turn leads to another and nailing a single one will have you chasing after the next.

And that's where the beauty of the sport lies: Working your way down the slope feels even better than it looks. Although the sport never becomes easy, it will encourage you to let people think it's difficult in order to save the secret powder stashes only free-heelers can get to.

STEP-BY-STEP

FOUR STEPS TO THE PERFECT TELEMARK TURN

Although the fine points are debatable, the foundation of every turn is the same. Get these down first and worry about the nuances later.

1. Descend in athletic position--hands up in front of you, back straight, and knees bent,

2. Prepare for the turn by staggering your skis. The inner ski slides back and dictates the direction you're going. If you're going right, slide the right ski back.

3. Drop into the turn. Lift the heel of your inner ski while applying pressure with the toes of that foot. Keep the majority of your weight on your outer foot and keep that heel down.

4. As you come out of the tuna, put less pressure on your inner ski and get out of your crouch. Switch lead skis and repeat to turn the other way.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

THE SETUP

If you're brand new to the sport of telemark skiing, invest in quality gear. It will make learning easier and keep you on the snow longer--and those two things will accelerate your learning curve. Here are a low essentials:

SKIS

Don't even think about dusting off those old alpine skis from high school. On a telemark-specific ski, the flex pattern is different from what you'll find on alpine boards. The K2 World Piste is the best, most versatile tele ski out there. $489@ K2TELEMARK.COM

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

BINDINGS

Telemark bindings used to look like beefed-up cross-country ski bindings. They've come a long way. The Karhu 7tm Power is a good choice for newbies and vets alike. $269 @KARHU.COM

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

BOOTS

Fit is key. Your toes should hit the front of the boot without curling. The Scarpa T2X is one of the most popular boots in the world for both beginners and pros. $559@ SCARPA.COM

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

GET OUT

NEW ENGLAND TELEMARK

The only telemark ski school certified by the Professional Skiing Instructors of America, this gaggle of talented instructors offers one-on-one lessons for newbies and group sessions that cost about the same price as a lift ticket, netelemark.com

Fast track to telemark skiing: this season, instead of just hitting the slopes, rack up your vertical on "free-heel" skis--you'll get a better workout than you ever did on alpine skis, and you'll discover a challenging new way to enjoy the mountain in the process.(ski equipment)(Buyers guide)

GO ANY SKI TOWN WHERE GORE-TEX is considered evening wear and you'll see it. A bumper sticker that reads, "If it was easy, it would be called snowboarding." Look inside that old Saab and you'll spot a few skiers who like taking digs at the new kids on the hill (snowboarders) while perpetuating the myth about the difficulty of telemark skiing, one of the oldest ways to descend the mountain on two planks.

But they're living a lie. While tele skiing is challenging, recent advances in equipment have made the sport easier than ever before. Learn just a few basic moves and you'll discover one of the most fun ways to get down the hill. And backcountry potential? The possibilities on the mountain with tele skis are seemingly endless. Requiring equal parts agility and strength, the telemark turn is as beautiful as it is badass.

Here's the difference: Unlike its alpine brethren, the telemark binding does not keep the heel cinched down. Like a cross-country skiing setup, the telemark skier's boots attach only at the toe. To get down the mountain, "free-heelers" have to complete a series of lunges using parallel but staggered skis. When done well, it's the most graceful thing on snow.

Having a heel free helps skiers get around the mountains as well as up them. That's right, up. Many experienced tele skiers "earn their turns" by hiking up the slopes they'll ski down. Before doing so, they attach "skins" to the bottom of their skis to keep from sliding backward while ascending.

Like proposing, dropping to a knee for each turn gets easier the more you do it. One turn leads to another and nailing a single one will have you chasing after the next.

And that's where the beauty of the sport lies: Working your way down the slope feels even better than it looks. Although the sport never becomes easy, it will encourage you to let people think it's difficult in order to save the secret powder stashes only free-heelers can get to.

STEP-BY-STEP

FOUR STEPS TO THE PERFECT TELEMARK TURN

Although the fine points are debatable, the foundation of every turn is the same. Get these down first and worry about the nuances later.

1. Descend in athletic position--hands up in front of you, back straight, and knees bent,

2. Prepare for the turn by staggering your skis. The inner ski slides back and dictates the direction you're going. If you're going right, slide the right ski back.

3. Drop into the turn. Lift the heel of your inner ski while applying pressure with the toes of that foot. Keep the majority of your weight on your outer foot and keep that heel down.

4. As you come out of the tuna, put less pressure on your inner ski and get out of your crouch. Switch lead skis and repeat to turn the other way.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

THE SETUP

If you're brand new to the sport of telemark skiing, invest in quality gear. It will make learning easier and keep you on the snow longer--and those two things will accelerate your learning curve. Here are a low essentials:

SKIS

Don't even think about dusting off those old alpine skis from high school. On a telemark-specific ski, the flex pattern is different from what you'll find on alpine boards. The K2 World Piste is the best, most versatile tele ski out there. $489@ K2TELEMARK.COM

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

BINDINGS

Telemark bindings used to look like beefed-up cross-country ski bindings. They've come a long way. The Karhu 7tm Power is a good choice for newbies and vets alike. $269 @KARHU.COM

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

BOOTS

Fit is key. Your toes should hit the front of the boot without curling. The Scarpa T2X is one of the most popular boots in the world for both beginners and pros. $559@ SCARPA.COM

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

GET OUT

NEW ENGLAND TELEMARK

The only telemark ski school certified by the Professional Skiing Instructors of America, this gaggle of talented instructors offers one-on-one lessons for newbies and group sessions that cost about the same price as a lift ticket, netelemark.com