With skiing for everyone from experienced, back country skiers to neophytes and plenty of après ski for the tired, the eighth annual Telemark Ski Festival promises hours of fun both on and off the slopes,
Mar. 9.
This year, the event has gone through a bit of a change, with the main race now a truly backcountry experience. The race will include skiing up and down parts of the mountain, including a run through the new ski cross course, before finding the finish line, which, contestants will find, has been obliterated by an avalanche that has covered all the prizes. Luckily, we can be sure, the organizers are always safety conscious and will have avalanche beacons attached to the prizes to cover every eventuality. In case of this unforeseen accident, contestants will need to find the prizes with receivers, probes and shovels in an effort to save each prize from its hideous fate under the snow.
Skiers will need to bring skins, probes, shovels and tranceivers to take part in the race, which will include both telemarking and all-terrain skis.
The Telefest includes telemark lessons for those who have never tried to go down hill and get their heels loose, to those looking for a couple pointers on form and the finer points of telemarking.
After battling hills, strange skis and avalanches, the party moves indoors when the music starts at 3 p.m. and the party continues till the music stops.
Despite the name, the ski fest is developing into a festival for everyone who hits the slopes, regardless of how many planks you use, or how your feet are bound to the planks. Everyone is invited to come out and hit the slopes.
The event brings in skiers from all over the northern parts of the province.
Tickets for such a unique event come uniquely, with the purchase of a Troll Telefest Toque, sold at Rocky Peak or Troll for $25 each, registering you for all events. Lift tickets are sold separately.
Lifts open at 9 a.m. and lessons start at 10 a.m.