To take part in the breadth of free-heel skiing may now forever require a collection of boots, but telemark innovators have in mind consolidation and standardization.
Is the industry listening?
Pictures of boots are boring. Deep and low (resolution) at Taos.
Considering the myriad gaps in offerings, the telemark boot quiver borders on being a necessity. Making do with a boot or two is certainly a viable option. But when looking at both the many boot discontinuations and the various binding platforms available, it becomes clear that entire norms lack certain options that others offer. The boot quiver becomes the remedy - it gives the ability to jump between setups and fill in the gaps. But innovators are looking to a future where norm-jumping could be obsolete. The ideas are there, what remains is buy-in from the manufacturers.
Among the most glaring voids is that there is nothing in the NTN (new telemark norm) arsenal available at retail that is analogous to the softer 75mm (old Nordic norm) options. This includes a three-buckle T2 equivalent, and a two-buckle, meadow skipping, T4 parallel. Not to mention NTN is decidedly oriented toward powerful downhill turns, essentially leaving lower angle, kick-and-glide style skiing to other norms. And the new Scarpa telemark boot will probably do little to fill those gaps.
It is telling is that Scarpa, while culling their 75mm boot options – like the T-Race and T1 – has spared the T2 and T4. their softer, less aggressive options. While many speak to the Death of 75mm, whether in practice or at retail, Scarpa seems to have conceded that – at least for now – heavy telemark (that is the mode that desires aggressive downhill functionality) will move forward as necessitating NTN gear, while softer boot telemark will remain in the realm of the duckbill. Still, the T2 stands alone in the meat of the bell curve for tourability and skiing prowess, and - in a reality that only telemark could find for itself - has the unique characteristic of being available at retail, but happens to be on a dead norm.
Some cross compatibility does exist. Boots that work in an NTN-tech setup, like a Meidjo or Lynx also work in regular NTN bindings. Though it has been documented that Scarpa has avoided tech fittings in the toe of the TxComp for fears of potential breakage and associated liability issues when skied in a cage-style NTN binding. The world of complete and partial incompatibilities in telemark is indeed widespread, and muddies the current landscape of what moves forward, making the necessity of the boot quiver – not to mention the ski and binding quiver – all the more necessary. Especially if a skier desires to ski differing terrain and conditions.
But progress toward streamlining the norms is front of mind for tele innovators, creating some potential for streamlining - or at least creating norm consensus - in future telemark boots. InWild’s Pierre Mouyade has proposed a path forward for NTN tech, first written on by Craig Dostie in 2019 in a now inaccessible Telemark Skier article.
Mouyade's idea was not so much a new norm as it was a proposition to standardize the specs of NTN tech boots. While the specs of the NTN connection are well established, there currently does not exist an industry standard on where the tech fittings should be placed on an NTN boot. Mouyade's idea also proposed a new, more svelte toe lug. NTN boots currently are produced to sit into a toe cage, something a telemark tech binding doesn't necessitate - and less plastic at the toe could give better flex in a two-pin system.
Another innovator – Robert Tusso – has proposed moving forward under what he initially called the Universal Telemark Norm. Tusso, a telemark DIY leader, has done much to move boots forward, especially with advents on the legacy bellowed F1 and F3 boots from Scarpa. On the heavily telemark forum Backcountry Talk, where the absolute bleeding edge of telemark is discussed in-depth, Tusso proposed his vision.
As he states it, the concept of UTN is that, “every new telemark boot sold should work with every new telemark binding sold, and vice-versa,” adding that, “for a new person, the choices are overwhelming, and for a manufacturer, it's an uncertain scene to invest big $$$ into. Simplification would be really helpful.”
Tusso has codified his vision of the UTN as:
“Boots:
Standard AT-spec tech fittings at the toe (at a standard distance from the tip of the toe lug)
Toe lug compatible with NTN-spec toe cage (maybe a flat face in middle for toe bumper)
Heel lug shelf compatible with heel throws (incl Bishop step-in)
Tele-specific AT-style tech fittings at the heel (discussed here)
Removeable/replaceable duckbutt (with a beveled lower edge)
Sole flex optimized for use with tech toes/pivoting cage
Cuff ROM commensurate with weight
Bindings:
Can have tech pins or NTN-spec toe cage (ideally pivoting)
Can attach at duckbutt or real heel
Can have optional tele-specific AT-style heel”
As Tusso points out, the UTN boot would be compatible with all current norm bindings, creating cross-compatibility across the telemark gear spectrum, save for 75mm. The idea is simple, workable, and could help create not just a better experience for the telemark skier, but also nudge telemark retail toward a more accessible and modern facing.
Tusso has moved away from the UTN moniker some, saying that his idea is simply "about the boots and making the boots so they'll work with every NTN binding that's made and every TTS binding that could be made."
While the likes of Tusso and Mouyade (and not that long ago Dosite) have called for moving forward with innovative and cross-compatible new norms and boots to go with, the large manufacturers have been mum. Though Scarpa NA’s Kim Miller as recently as July teased that their new boot is close to seeing the light of day, little more has come from the telemark boot giant, though perhaps an unveiling of sorts is at hand with the ISPO tradeshow weeks away.
The other boot manufacturers have been even quieter. While Crispi has unveiled a model touring boot – with the letters 'Prototype" written on the boot in silver Sharpie – nothing more has come to light nearly four years later. And Scott seems to have little interest at all moving forward with new telemark boots. While it’s difficult to know what the boot manufacturers are thinking, the years of silence have been telling.
While a future of cross compatibility could exist, returning to a world where one norm covers the breadth of free-heel skiing (like 75mm once did) may not be possible - nor ideal. The scope of free-heel skiing encapsulates so many variations in technique, touring, and philosophy – from 3-pin meadow skipping, to heavy resort laps, all the way to telemark alpinism (some jest intended) – that even a quiver of norms for the telemark skier may be the reality going forward.
From 75mm's various uses to the different tech-toe platforms, and everything outside of that and in between, the hypothetical boot quiver could cover myriad platforms - from 75mm and 3 pin; to NTN, TTS, NNN, even (gasp!) Xplore. No one boot from Scarpa, no new line from Scarpa even, could hope to cover this diversity in free-heel gear or technique. And the different norms help cover the wide usages. Without a boot quiver, the telemark skier keeps themselves quarantined in one corner of the free-heel world, forsaking a broad variety of experiences.
The notion of a cross-norm boot quiver is a reaction to the muddy incompatibilities present, and represents just how disjointed the offerings from the telemark industry have become. But it also showcases the magnificent range of options the free-heel skier has - at least in approach and philosophy - something our alpine counterparts do not enjoy. Part of the beauty of telemark - and integral to its original, countercultural tenets - is to do more with less. Less resistive gear, less options , less scene, less heel. The omni-norm boot quiver represents the fluidity and improvisation inherent in free-heel skiing, and changing up the norm, changing the feel from time to time, let's one enjoy the many paths (and many flexes) that telemark takes. And, in practice, it's fun.
But from an industry perspective, the hoarded boot quiver illustrates a convoluted gear landscape that has contributed to the stagnation of participation and has helped continue the norm wars as gear bottlenecks have wrought frustration and confusion. And frankly, not everyone has the means to hoard boots. Many simply want one boot to do what they need it to. The collection of boots on several incompatible norms is a retail nightmare for a sport that begs for some attention and marketability.
Whether seen as the bane of marketing telemark, or a living, breathing example of free-heel skiing as an improvisational subculture, the boot quiver at once shows what's lacking in telemark retail and why The Turn lives on in the passionate. And it's necessity is more than likely here to stay.
In a conversation I had with Craig Dostie, he related that free-heel gear hadn't made enough big leaps lately to necessitate gear reviews, thus his legendary blog EarnYourTurns had become an archive instead of remaining an active site. I told him that the telemark scene longs for his gear insights, and that no one could match his prowess as telemark gear reviewer emeritus.
I said to him, “maybe we’ll see EarnYourTurns come back to life when we see some new gear.” To that Craig retorted, “who says we’re getting new gear?” I defended: “we have to be getting new gear at some point, right?”
Craig responded with one word to which I had no answer: “Why?”
There is no guarantee we’ll get more gear in telemark. Without a large uptick in participation; without some force that pushes more to take up telemark and – in turn – take up supporting the manufacturers that produces telemark gear, the free-heel scene may be destined to its current state – one of limited gear on several incompatible norms. Omni-usable or not, they allow us to telemark – all we really want in the end. Thus the hoard is on.
If you are a 75mm lover – especially of the burlier boots – you may have started hoarding your quiver long ago. I hear tall-tales of folks with closets full of Scarpa T1s. I myself have a fresh pair of T-Race, purchased at closeout years ago, that patiently await their turn on the slopes.
But the finite nature of telemark boots goes beyond the discontinued classics – the bellowed (and essentially vintage) F1s and F3s may have sold well in their time, but only so many remain – whether new-old stock or clapped-out specimens – in garages across the continent. And who knows what Scarpa, or Crispi, or Scott has planned for their current stable of telemark boots – SKUs that undoubtedly represent the smallest revenues across their vast offerings.
Still, a certain demand does exist for new telemark boots – just look at all the franken-boots cobbled together, look at the many that scour for legacy F1s and F3s. Listen to how many ask year after year – where are the new boots? Hopefully the news from Scarpa at ISPO in a few weeks is exactly what the telemarkers want to hear.
With that demand coexists the deepest of passions that has always been the bedrock of the telemark experience. Who else would wait year after year for just one boot? Who else would put this kind of ingenuity and sweat equity into moving things along other than telemark tinkerers? These concepts are but reality for the telemark skier – just as the concept of a boot quiver is so often employed to make due with the reality at hand.
So the telemark faithful go forth, and they hoard boots. They take three apart just to remake one that works. They ski twenty-year-old boots built for another use because fate would have it that this footwear represent the pinnacle of telemark ingenuity.
Hopefully others are seeing what the hoarders and tinkerers are doing – like that telemarker years ago who saw Lou Dawson on what were then new F1s, and wondered, what is that cool gear you’re on? May their passion be a ripple in a pond that makes it to the eyes of the decision makers in the industry. The ingenuity and perseverance of the telemark skier is unique in modern sport. And maybe – maybe – if enough people – if the right people – see these hoarded, DIY-ed boot quivers in action, the attention of the industry may be caught - to better serve its adherents.
*Robert Tusso and Craig Dostie contributed clarification on gear specs for this article
If you take a TXP and remove a cuff buckle and the cuff lock, it is both a lot lighter and skis with a much softer feel