How to Use a Lurk While Telemark Skiing
Taking a trick from telemark skiers of a hundred years ago and using a lurk - a long stick or pole held in both hands and used for balance - may improve your skiing.
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Instructions
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Find a 6- to 8-foot bamboo stick or cross-country ski pole.
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Spread your hands about a foot and a half apart.
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Grab the lurk with both hands. An equal amount of the stick or pole should extend past each hand.
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Start skiing and turn to the left.
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Angle the left side of the lurk into the snow and drag the end as you turn.
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Turn to the right and drag the right side end of the lurk in the snow.
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Notice that your hands are forced to remain in front of your body while using the lurk. This also causes your upper body to point downhill and remain stable.
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Switch to regular ski poles and try to mimic the hand and upper body position you used while skiing with the lurk.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to use a lurk when you are beginning to telemark ski. It will help teach you the correct upper body position.
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.
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Comments
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jonathantm
Dec 24, 2010
In my experience, trailing the lurk on the inside of the turn (ex; to the skier's left if they're turning left) encourages/creates/worsens rotation (that's bad), the opposite of what the article above describes. Trailing as described above can be fun (especially due to the rotation for those of use who enjoy indulging in the occasional evil), but I've found the following technique very favorable. Holding the lurk as described above, counter-rotate and flex enough in your legs to plant the pole on your downhill side as you would with the usual two separate pole technique we all know and love. You'll be in an aggressive, counter-rotated, athletic position - facing straight down the fall line, and very twisted in your trunk/core - and this - with the same turning force that normal pole plants deliver - will initiate the turn BEAUTIFULLY. As you actively turn you lower body under your...
