Skiing was originally practised in Norway as a means of travelling across snowy terrain from one house or village to another, primarily through flat valleys. No one had considered descending steep slopes, as it was deemed far too dangerous—and indeed, it was.
Then came a pivotal figure in telemark history: Sondre Norheim, born in Morgedal, Norway. During a ski jumping competition—a sport just beginning to gain traction—he stunned spectators by executing an elegant turn using a never-before-seen technique. This involved sliding one ski forward while bending the knee of the other leg, a stance the audience found remarkably practical.
With this, the Norwegian proved to the world that turns could indeed be made on skis, giving birth to downhill skiing. From then on, it became possible to traverse between valleys and reach even the highest mountain villages.
This competition took place near Oslo in 1868, in Norway’s Telemark region—hence the name of this skiing style. Later, in the neighbouring region of Christiania, a new turning technique emerged, relying on keeping both skis parallel rather than sliding one forward. This became known as the Christiania ski.
Telemark skiing gained rapid popularity and spread worldwide. It soon reached the Alps, where skiers embraced descending snowy slopes, and by the early 20th century, it had arrived in Spain, albeit slightly later. It also reached the United States, where tales persist of a famous Norwegian postman in California’s Sierra Nevada who delivered mail exclusively on telemark skis.
The beginnings of telemark
Germans, Austrians, and French—relentless innovators—developed techniques to conquer the Alps’ steep terrain. Building on ideas from Christiania, they soon established what is now called the Alpine School.
Telemark skiing later became confined to Norway, used mainly for flatland travel, evolving into what we now call cross-country skiing or Nordic skiing. It faded into obscurity until the mid-1970s, when American mountaineers revived it, reconstructing its historic techniques and equipment.
This revival spread swiftly back to Norway, reigniting interest in this simultaneously ancient and modern sport. Today, its equipment, possibilities, and techniques continue to evolve, capturing enthusiasts’ imaginations—evidenced by this very webpage section and the many developments yet to come.
In Spain, though slower to adopt, momentum is building. Gradually, more people are discovering and practising it.
Take the leap—step away from the armchair, and next time you’re in the snow, at least consider it. If you’re not already hooked, the day you try telemark skiing, you’ll be addicted—just like everyone who gives it a go.
