 We can go back a few centuries for this one,and in fact to Telemark Norway, which is where the style of skiing gets its name. Before anyone ever skied they ice skated, then cross country skiing evolved from that. I don't know the exact time line of the evolution, but cross country skiing gave rise to Telemark skiing, which in its most basic form, is going downhill on cross country skis. I lived in a small town in Colorado in the mid 70's, where a bunch of extremely good downhill skiers, took the evolution to the next step, and reintroduced Telemark skiing to the world of skiing. They were jumping off of big cliffs, skiing extremely steep slopes, and basically taking the sport to a whole new level. Soon it became apparent that the equipment needed to change, as it was breaking, and for those of us that were just starting out, we needed more support in the boots and the skis. Over time, and I think every year, the equipment got better, and better. Today the skis are pretty much the same as downhill skis, and the boots are made of high tech plastics. The only difference is that the bindings on the skis only hold your toe, and the boots have an articulating baffle in the toe box, for forward lean. Also with Telemark skis, they do not release like alpine skis, although some people have added that feature for safety. I choose not to have release, as it adds weight. Telemark skiing in bottomless powder is probably one of the most exhilarating experiences one can ever have.
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