How to Fall Properly on Telemark Skis

Many telemark skiing injuries can be avoided if you can learn to fall correctly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Ski Clothing
• Telemark Ski Equipment

1. Place the pole straps around each wrist. This keeps the poles connected to your body, and the sharper pole ends stay away from your body in a fall.
2. Fall into the hill. If you know you are going down, lean up the hill.
3. Spread the impact of the fall by trying to land sideways across one leg and hip and your upper body.
4. Try to keep both hands close to your body in a fall. If you land with all of your body weight on a hand or thumb, you may incur broken bones.
5. Extend both legs away from your body in a fall. Telemark ski tips can flop forward and hit you in the face if your feet are tucked close to your body.

Tips & Warnings

• Falls happen quickly. The important thing to remember when falling on telemark skis is to extend both legs, to keep the skis from hitting your face.
• Telemark skiing is a physically demanding sport that could result in serious injury. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.