The British Army Telemark Association is once again looming for the 2011 season, yet again Communication Specialists will be sponsoring this event with our equipment of 15 two way radios.

We sponsored the Combined Winter Sports which was held in Meribel, France on the 2nd - 6th February 2010.

The number of Telemark skiers across the Services is growing. Whilst many are „old hands‟ with arctic warfare experience, an increasing number come from pure alpine or ski-mountaineering backgrounds; whatever their history, they all share a passion for Telemark skiing.

The Army Telemark Ski Association (ATSA) was formed in 2007 to gather like-minded people together for racing and further development of the sport. Now in its fourth season, ATSA is the acknowledged heart of Army and Service Telemark skiing.




For the Alpine skiers, the Army will again be looking to exert their domination at team and individual level. Last year they were chased all the way by the RAF!

2011 Telemark Event Dates

Army Championships (Rauris, 8-19 Jan 11)
World Cup (Rauris, 21-22 Jan 11)
Inter Services (Meribel, 29 Jan - 05 Feb 11)

As usual, entry is also open to RN and RAF skiers and UK civilians. Novice telemarkers are welcome. BFBS Sport

The Championship comprises three types of races:

1. Classic. The cornerstone of Telemark racing: a course of up to 40 gates, with a number of features unique to Telemark such as the Reipeløkke, a jump and a skating section. Top racers will complete the course in around two minutes. One run only.

2. Sprint Classic. A shorter, more spectator-friendly, version of the Classic. Two runs.

3. Giant Slalom. A more traditional race format, with up to 40 gates and a jump. Two runs.

4. Mountain Race. A team or individual race, with a ‘Le Mans’ start. Racers use skins to make their way uphill (and off piste) around a turning mark and then back downhill via some control gates, to finish near the start.

Telemark turns must be made through all gates, except where there are yellow flags. Time penalties apply.

Reipeløkke: A banked 360° turn.
Skating: Flat or slightly uphill and roughly 1/3 of the race time.
Jump: 25-40m of ‘air’. Time penalties are awarded for failing to clear the distance line.

For further information about the British Army Telemark Skiing event please got to ArmyNet

British Army Telemark Skiing Association

The British Army Telemark Skiing event will be taking place in Austria and will commence in January 2010. We will be sponsoring this event again in 2010. The Army Sports Association require communications for this event so we will be supplying them with 10 Motorola Hand Held Radios and PA system.

Motorola design, manufacture, sell, install, service analogue and digital two way radios as well as voice and data communications products and systems.

Buy Motorola VHF Hand Held Radios

The list below provides you with the dates of this event. It will be held in Rauris, Austria between 6th - 18th Jan 2010.

Mon 04 - Jan Committee Arrives
Tue 05 - Jan Set up day
Wed 06 - Jan Competitors Arrive
Thu 07 - Jan Training
Fri 08 - Jan Training
Sat 09 - Jan Training
Sun 10 - Jan Training
Mon 11 - Jan Training
Tue 12 - Jan Training
Wed 13 - Jan Development Telemark Sprint
Thu 14 - Jan Championship Giant Slalom
Fri 15 - Jan Championship Telemark Sprint
Sat 16 - Jan Development Telemark Sprint
Sun 17 - Jan Championship Telemark Classic. Prize-giving
Mon 18 - Jan Competitors depart
Tue 19 - Jan Committee depart

Those wishing to take part in the 2010 Army Telemark championships should read the DIN and complete the included entry form.

Many of you reading this may not even know what Telemark Skiing is, so, let's go back in time and give you some background history on Telemark Skiing and the British Army Association.


Where did the Telemark come from?
Telemark skiing was introduced in 1868 by Sondre Norheim of Norway, it is also referred to as free heel skiing which is a technique focused around the Telemark turn. This type of skiing has steadily regained popularity since the 1970s.

What is Telemarking?
The Telemark turn is a skiing technique that allows for fast, smooth and stable turns on a variety of surfaces. Telemark skiers have cable bindings, which allow the heel to rise during turns - hence the term 'free heel' skiing. Telemark skiing is therefore characterised by the 'telemark turn', in which the outside ski leads in the turn and the inside ski trails, with the knee bent and the heel raised. (By contrast, Alpine skiers' boots are fastened firmly to their skis and the inside ski leads in the turn.)

History of Telemarking Skiing
Telemarking Skiing has been called "the world's oldest new sport". Telemark has also been referred to as "the most rhythmic and flowing way to descend snow covered mountains". Telemark skiing is all about the stroke, sensation and the feeling of excited exhilaration that comes from getting into the grove of the tele turn. The true stoke of Telemarking is hard to describe. It can be an almost ethereal experience in those moments when everything comes together: form, function, time and space.

In 1868, Norheim and a group of skiers from Telemark travelled to the city of Christiania (now Oslo) to take part in the second annual Centralforeningen (Central Ski Association), a ski competition the object of which was to see who could ski most skilfully down a particular nearby slope in the city . At the time, nearly all skiers were straight running everything, and struggled to make any kind of turn. At the competition, Norheim and the other villagers shocked the city skiers, demonstrating skills that had never been seen before, including strong turns and precisely controlled stops.

Who Are the ATSA?
ATSA was set up in 2007 to provide a focal point for Telemark skiing at all levels within the British Army.


The Aim of ATSA:

• Encourage new telemarkers to get involved
• Run an annual Army Telemark championships in Austria. (This is open to Royal Navy, RAF, UK Civilian and other military competitors. In 2010 we will also host a world cup telemark event.)
• Send a British Army team to the Inter Services Championships
• Support GB Telemark - the focus for the British national team

Competing in this skiing event are the Army, Navy and The Air Force.