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November 2012, I’m on my way to enjoy skiing this week-end in Tignes, the French Alpes. I arrive at the hotel “Le Ski d’Or,” Oh my! This is crazy, I’ll sleep tonight at 2127 meters high! In this season the slopes close early (3:30 p.m.), so I’ll enjoy the spa are the hotel before dinner and stroll into the station.

www.hotel-skidor.com

info@hotel-skidor.com

 

 

Saturday morning …. Hop hop hop standing hearty breakfast at the hotel and on the slopes! The day is beautiful, the sun shines! I’ll take the funicular to reach the glacier.

 

 

I leave the tunnel one second blinded by the sun when gradually my eyes just have to be accommodated to see that spectacular walls stand up in front of me. This is the place where the slaloms are shaped! Just side by side which does not lack intrigue me ……

 

 

I decided to start head up and continue my ascension, I reach the 3450 meters high and then walked over to his teams that obviously are training. Italian, Korean, German teams are present and answer the call, alongside the riders hurtle their own course, incredible vision! I do not know where and who to watch! Impressive!

 

But as I said it is a beautiful day and I’m lucky ….

As I asked many questions (I’m curious) and I’ll slalom from one slope to another, a coach finished by saying, “you know on the bottom, next to the ” lift ” there is the French Telemark Team that is practicing.

L’EQUIPE DE FRANCE DE TELEMARK ???????

 OH MY! Yeah for sure it’s definitely my day! And what a good day! Come on! hop hop hop I lacing skis and go to conquer the slopes. That’s it! here I am!!

Blue-White-Red …. There is No doubt here, this is for French equipment! Elegance, speed, accuracy … no doubt either…This is  Télémark !

 

 

PASCAL BERGER

I stood there like a statue, I watch fascinated racers train on their slalom course.

 At the lunch break I talk to them, the atmosphere is one that is known in all the sports teams in a high level at lunch! Good child, friendly and frankly relaxed !

With the agreement of Pascal Berger, Vice President of the National Committee of Telemark and Coach Denis Gachon, I will attend as discreetly as possible to the drive of the afternoon, more technical.

 

THE COACH & VICE-PRESIDENT

I met some lovely people on the top of the glacier.

I met the French Team of Telemark!

 

SOME GUYS FROM THE FRENCH TEAM!

 

 

 

ANTOINE BOUVIER :

This 26 year old boy shows a peaceful and quiet determination, and on the deepest of his eyes I can see the stars brighting when he tells me about his passion! Antoine has made every effort to ensure that this passion is at the center of his life, and he tremendously succeeded! When he’s not displaying the colors of the French team of Telemark on competitions or training, this young engineer is a “test charge” within a major brand of sports equipment. This young man, calm, composed, smiling, sympathetic who is talking to me is a formidable runner, a champion in the French team of Telemark. Proof? OK!

Let’s go!

Two World Cup podiums, vice champion of France … for now! His purpose? Winning the World Cup of course! And you know what Antoine ? I’m pretty sure you’re going to win this World Cup!! “not a wooden pipe!!” (french expression)

That was a really good meeting on the glacier, I met the elegance on that champion’s smile !

ANTOINE BOUVIER

 

 

 

KALINE OSAKI

I find the same stars and light as Antoine, in the eyes of the bubbly 18 years old girl, when she talks about her passion! Our Kaline fell in love, soon enough with the Telemark! And it’s obvious ! As the training is synonymous of determination, will and desire to seek after the end that small difference which is going to take her to the victory as she hopes to become the World Junior Champion in 2013!

What a great and emotive meeting on the glacier, the beauty of a smile that we hope to see on that podium as soon as possible!

 

    KALINE OSAKI

 

DEREK BOUVIER-GARZON

Is there some stars in Derek’s eyes when he speaks about his passion? What’s in your opinion?

Yes of course! And it is the enthusiasm I feel first in this young 21 years old man. In training I had discovered a volunteer boy, always having a good mood and dynamism. During our interview I met a young, friendly and courteous man who wants me to understand and share his love for this sport. In one sentence, Mr. Derek Bouvier-Garzon, you’ve proven that you are a great ambassador for Telemark. Indeed, you gave me this essential leitmotiv : - “when we’re skiing in Telemark, even in competitions, we are not fighting against the runway, but skiing in harmony with it! ‘

And this is totally right. I suddenly understood that Telemark is a real declaration of respect and love to the snow, to the nature. Not an aggressive thought in order to eat and break the powder!

 

DEREK BOUVIER-GARZON

And for sure, I am also convinced that we will see you on a World Cup podium this season! Derek, we will wait for you!

The telemark turn is an ancestral and Nordic technique. The skis used for telemarking either have a binding that only connects the boot to the ski at the toes, just as in cross-country skiing, or may be released to only connect there. Telemark turns are led with the heel flat on the outside ski (the downhill ski at the end of the turn), while the inside (uphill) ski is pulled beneath the skier’s body with a flexed knee and raised heel. The skis are staggered but not quite parallel, and 50% to 60% of the body weight is distributed on the outside ski, depending on snow conditions. The Telemark turn came to the attention of the Norwegian public in 1868, when Sondre Norheim took part in a ski jumping competition. Norheim’s technique of fluid turns soon dominated skiing, and in Norway it continued to do well into the next century. Starting in the 1910s, newer techniques based on the stem gradually replaced Telemark in the Alpine countries. Newer techniques were easier to master and enabled shorter turns better suited for steeper alpine terrain and skiing downhill. The Telemark turn became the technique of ski touring in rolling terrain. The technique is named after the Telemark region of Norway, just as the stem Christie turn was named after Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. As well as inventing the Telemark turn, Sondre Norheim and his fellow skiers used and refined parallel skiing techniques. Thus, while the Telemark is part of early skiing’s foundation, parallel techniques are of equal importance.

ALL IS SAID!

 

 

As you can expect, I can’t really talk about all the champions I’ve met because it’s a whole team, but there are so much more fabulous people that i suggest you to meet and follow on:

www.ffs.fr

www.facebook.com/equipedefrancedetelemark.fr

 

 

I do not forget that these two accomplices are Pascal Berger, Vice President of the National Committee of Telemark and Denis Gachon “The Coach” of the French team, both focused on trainings, each in his role but also so complementary! To me it seemed like that in this incredible french riders team!

Thank you both for allowing me this wonderful meeting on the glacier, thank you for your kindness, your patience and good humor!  Thank you to all the Team in harmony with the competitions spirit, it reigns supreme courtesy that makes me think that Telemark is much nobility, grace and elegance of a total top-level sport.

 

DENIS & PASCAL!

This sport is difficult, it requires discipline, endurance, physical and mental strength, the french team has all of these qualities.

These runners are training more than any other national ski team.

There is however one thing that concerns me at this nice meeting, I realized that although they play a sport on the verge of being recognized as an Olympic discipline, they lack economic resources. They are actually looking for Sponsors to engage their determination into the best training conditions ever as they also want to succeed going to all that competitions that take place across borders.

Please…A good hearers salvation! So do not hesitate a second to sponsor the team that will carry your name with pride and gratitude and will be your most stylish sports ambassador.

Contact: francetelemark@gmail.com

 

 

Before I go down, I take a break “photoshoot” of some fabulous jumps made by athletes ! go bonus!

 

Ok it’s time to go now, I get down to the station with that great illusion!

I made a phone call to The Issue Mag team, and they suggested me to shoot some handsome guy here! haha Well Done!

So lucky, I assist to an animation organized by Tignes (station) for this Weekend! Here I am! I fall on the stand of the French ski brand “BLACK CROWS” Fine skis ….. beautiful …… and skiers as well! Pics for you girls!

 

CARL, JAMES, OLIVIER from BLACK CROWS!

I’d like to introduce you from the left to the right: CARL, JAMES and OLIVIER. Thank you guys for taking that time ! It was really nice! But seriously. The specificity of this French brand of Chamonix is its independence!

If you a lover of freedom you’re Black Crows.

If you like to have fun and quality, you’re Black Crows.

If you make some good “figures”and jumps in the park and right next to the slopes, you are Black Crows.

If you “hikes” seeking performance or the best moment ever, you’re Black Crows.

And finally if you love the snow slides, aesthetics, you’re Black Crows!

And as they say at Black Crows:

- “Black Crows is extremely popular and absolutely aristocratic. “

That’s it! Any Questions?

The answers right here: www.blackcrows-ski.com

 

 Here is my lucky life, this amazing Weekend, but as in so much good moments, it comes to an end! I spent magical instants in a beautiful French Alpes resort: Tignes. I want to thank Tignes development, as well as press agents of the station, which despite W.E, responded so kindly to all my questions.

www.tignes.net

Good snow, a wonderful time, surprising encounters that’s what we like!! So if you go skiing this winter, consider Tignes as a good place to be!!

With passion for snow!! <3

FABIENNE THE REPORTER

 

Fabienne & S. A.