On this week's podcast I sit down for a conversation with the founding members of Midwest Telefest that included the owners, employees, and friends of Life Tools Adventure Outfitters. The Co-op turned outdoor shop was a hub for Telemark equipment in the Green Bay, WI area for many years and helped bring awareness to the great Telemark turn. Midwest…

Today’s guest has been in the Snowsports industry for nearly 30 years. He has worked in various retail positions along with working as a rep for such brands as Karhu, Dynafit, and more. We had a great discussion about where Telemark has been and where it’s headed, where specialty retail might be going in the future, shifts in manufacturing, and why…

Andy Jacobsen has been a friend of mine for 20+ years and is a Telemark skier that I’ve always respected for his great style, backcountry proficiency, and determined and skillful competition skiing. He was always a top performer in the early Telemark Freeski competitions during the early to mid-2000s and graced the big screen not only in the early …

Drew Nylen lives in northern British Columbia, on the Alaskan border, in a town of 300 people. His interest for Telemark skiing began in his youth when he started working at his local gear shop and was able to get his first freeheel setup. He’s an ACMG apprentice ski guide who will be taking his full ski exam in April. His extensive guiding has tak…

World Telemark Day Celebrates 10 Years For Telemark skiers from around the world the 1st Saturday in March is a special day, it’s always World Telemark Day (WTD). This international celebration takes place this 2023-24 winter season on Saturday March 2nd, 2024 and marks one decade since its inception. “As a Telemark skier myself I saw how great the…

The other day I had the opportunity to teach a friend how to Telemark ski for the first time. I absolutely love sharing the turn with my friends but it’s been awhile since I’ve gone out with someone that has never made drop-knee turns before and starting from scratch. It reminded me of of things that I wanted to share with you as we head into this …

Todays podcast is all about fitness and some of the important ways you can keep you body healthy and strong during the Telemark ski season. Kate Galliett and I discuss five important tips that range from diet and warm-ups to joints and apres-ski. Kate Galliett has been a Personal Trainer and Coach for 22 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degr…

Every year we get so many voicemails, emails, DMs, and the like regarding Telemark skiing. A lot of these questions are the same because there’s generally a lack of information online or people have a hard time finding the answers they need. So today I thought I’d put together my top list of FREQUENTLY ASKED TELEMARK QUESTIONS IN 2023 and see if I …

This week I talk to me good buddy Cody Smith. Cody grew up near Aspen, Colorado where he started skiing at a young age as well as Telemark skiing. He attended the Colorado Rocky Mountain School and was a part of the school Telemark team. Following high school he filmed with Falling Forward Films, competed, and then eventually started Lipstick Films…

You all know how much I love the history of Telemark skiing and that's one of the big reasons I started the podcast. In Today's episode I talk about 5 fun Telemark history facts that I've always thought were important to the rich history of the turn. This episode is especially good for new Telemark skiers and those that may not know much about the …

There’s been some things that have gone down lately that really got me thinking about the current state of Telemark and where I think it’s heading in the next few years and beyond. At first these things that happened seemed like incidents that didn’t have much to do with each other, but as I started thinking more and more about them the connections…

This week I speak with my good friend Richard Schürf. He grew up in Munich, Germany and was introduced to Telemark skiing through Paul Parker and Yvon Chouinard while he was working for Patagonia in the 1980s. He's had a long career as a distributor for iconic Telemark brands like Karhu as well as many others. These days he runs a successful Telema…

This week on the podcast I'm digging into my deep mailbag to answer a few questions from listeners. If you want a question or thought to be considered for a Mailbag Episode, please send in your thoughts, questions, hate mail, etc. to podcast@freeheellife.com. Our weekly e-mail newsletter is a great way to stay in contact with all of our content, ev…

This week Craig and I sit down and catch up about his recent trip to Bariloche, Argentina. We discuss hanging out with Diana Rivera from We Telemark, teaching kids to Telemark in South America, and where are the best spots to go when you visit there. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life…

Today's podcast is with my good friend Keith Opperman. He is the the Midwest Tele Fest Organizer an annual event that will take place on February 9-11th, 2024 at the Porcupine State Park Ski Area in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. We discuss the upcoming event details, Keith's latest move to make the festival a 501c3 non-profit entity, Telemark s…

It's time to fire up the podcast again as we head into the 2023-24 Telemark season. Thanks for the wonderful break over the summer! I'm psyched to get back and talk your ears off about what we have going on at Freeheel Life along with a little history, equipment banter, etc. Today I just want to catch you up on some changes this year, re-focusing o…

Paul Flück started Telemark skiing back in 1989 and has been involved with everything from retail, to event management, marketing, and more. During the 2014-15 season he came up with a way to rent out the entire ski area of Schilthorn Piz-Gloria and create an on-hill experience called Telemark Only, where only Telemark skiers are allowed on the mou…

Jakob Schiller is from New Mexico where he grew up and went to school. As a high schooler, and when the snow was lousy at his local resort, he used to pull out a pair of 210 cm Tua skis mounted with flimsy Voile telemark bindings and then strap on a pair of thrift shop leather telemark boots. This is how he got started in Telemark skiing many years…

As we start nearing the end of another killer Telemark season I wanted to do a little clean-up in the mail department. Today I'm answering more of your questions regarding Telemark skiing in Mailbag Episode #13. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life Family Josh on Instagram, Facebook, an…

Craig Dostie joins me on the podcast after a day in the Utah backcountry to discuss the new Voile Transit Telemark tech binding. Our conversation goes over the new offering from Voile along with other tech-toe NTN Telemark binding offerings like the InWild Meidjo & 22 Designs LYNX. Craig shares some details about the Transit mounting pattern, cable…

World Telemark Day 2023 happened this past Saturday March 4th. On today's podcast I debrief the details of this year's event along with some highlights of some of the great events and things that happened around the world. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life Family Josh on Instagram, F…

This Saturday, March 4th, is the 9th annual World Telemark Day™. Whether this is your first WTD or you have celebrated every single year, today's podcast is your personal guide to walk you through it and help you have fun! I've also included a list of several of the events that are happening around the world. If one isn't listed near you, please ch…

Today we talk about the importance of demos and how they can help in your decision making process when buying new equipment. Taylor and I go over important facts about Telemark ski demos/rentals, ettiquette, and why it's a good time of year to hop on something you have always wanted to try. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingLis…

It's a good time in the Telemark season to take stock of what you've done, what you wish you did, and what you are still planning to do. In today's episode I'm going through some check points of the mind, body, & gear that I think make for a better Telemark season on the snow. Mind: Take stock of how the season is progressing. Go over the goals tha…

This week on the podcast I dig into the 'ol mailbag along with a ton of news about upcoming events, WTD gatherings worldwide, and a few thoughts on Telemark community building. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life Family Josh on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Telemark Skier Magazine o…

Over the past few years we have see quite the increase in both customers and other people through our various channels in the search for the the most lightweight ski possible for Telemark skiing. As the Telemark bindings have become more efficient for touring with bindings like LYNX, Meidjo, & TTS…people have looked to match their newfound bindings…

Decker McLean Jory grew up on the Front Range of Colorado near Golden. His family was steeped in the tradition of skiing and he grew up sliding on snow. Although he both alpine skied and snowboarded during his youth, he eventually would gravitate towards Telemark skiing. In the early 2000s he was sponsored by LINE skis as a Telemark skier, competin…

Sarah Clemensen is originally from Mendon, UT, a small town in Cache Valley near Logan, UT. She grew up always having cross-country skis around her house and was encouraged by her parents to get out and explore in the snow. Her first experience with making a Telemark turn was in high school, but it wasn’t until after she stopped playing collegiate …

On this week's episode Josh goes deep on a common topic that Freeheel Life customers have, "How is the transition to NTN (New Telemark Norm) and what can I expect?" He guides listeners through 5 key steps to transitioning to NTN that will help everyone know what to expect, ways to identify the right gear beforehand, and how to trouble shoot anythin…

Happy New Year to all the Freeheel Lifers out there! This week Josh shares his own wish list for the new year and 2023 in Telemark. Could this be the year we see a new boot announcement? Will Telemark skiing grow? Also what is your own wish list, regarding Telemark skiing, in 2023? Send us yours to podcast@freeheellife.com. Sign-up for the mailing …

We finish off the year with the final mailbag episode. Josh digs into some emails ranging from lurks to boots and bindings to asnwer your Telemark skiing questions. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life Family Josh on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Telemark Skier Magazine on Instagram,…

Russell Rainey is originally from Arkansas where he grew up enjoying the outdoors and getting exposed to many of his experiences through the Boy Scouts. It was one of his scouting experiences, at the age of 14, when he went to New Mexico and first saw the Rocky Mountains. He told me, “I came home from that trip, but I don’t think I really came home…

2022 has been a year full of important news, events, changes, and more within the Telemark world. This week I go back over some of those important stories along with some of my favorite 2022 podcast episodes that you may want to check out. New Freeheel Life Retail Hours 12-7 Monday, Wednesday, & Friday - Saturday 10-4 Nicolas C. Osborn Obituary: ht…

There is nothing like reading a good book, especially in the winter. On today’s podcast I share some of my favorite books about Telemark skiing. These books have been a great source of inspiration, research, and of course learning. Most of these books are out of print, but can usually be found on the used market through a simple search. I hope you …

Pin line, balance point, boot center on ski recommended line, xyz÷qrs+4cm-2 beers. This week I'm joined by Taylor Johnson to discuss a couple important aspects of mounting Telemark bindings on skis. We cover topics such as: where is the best place to mount Telemark bindings on skis, how to handle re-mounts, and what to avoid on modern skis. There a…

This week I talk to my friend Diana Rivera of We Telemark and the Director of the upcoming documentary TELEMARKERAS. She is also heavily involved in promoting youth Telemark skiing in both Japan and Argentina where whe instructs during the respective winters. Her first appearance on the Freeheel Life Podcast was episode #105. It's a great episode t…

This week I gather up all the mail that has been coming in regarding the last few episodes and share it with you! There are several responses to Episode #154 I share with you along with some social media commentary and more. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life Family Josh on Instagram,…

There are always questions floating around about Telemark skiing that go something like this: "What is the point?", "What are the benefits?", and "Is it easier?" On today's episode I attempt to answer not only these more specific questions, but also the larger question of, "Is Telemark Skiing Still Relevant in 2022?" DEFINITION OF RELEVANT: Definit…

This week I bring back my good friend Craig Dostie to discuss Telemark bindings. It's a full-on dive into the deep end of Telemark technology you won't want to miss. We get weird on Spademan and Besser bindings and then head on down the rabbit hole to talk about everything from DIY Telemark to what I think is missing amongst the all the current off…

Today’s episode revolves around a listener submitted idea — Upgrade Ideas for Your Gear Setups. I took the question and answered it both on the macro and micro levels. I cover modification ideas, replacement parts, add-ons, and then big picture upgrades from one set-up to another. This is the perfect episode that everyone from the beginner Telemark…

This week I've got Freeheel Life GM, Taylor Johnson, on the show. We do a full breakdown of what's going on at Freeheel Life right now, including where all the Telemark boots are, how opening day was, and what to expect this season from us. Follow Taylor: HERE Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Fre…

This week I tackle the subject of how you can identify good used Telemark gear. I'll walk you through the methods that I personally use when I'm looking at Telemark boots, bindings, and skis before I buy them. This podcast is great for someone looking to buy their first used Telemark setup as well as techniques for the seasoned Tele skier to use to…

On this week's podcast I dig deep back into the mailbag to catch-up on some listener questions and comments. There are some fantastic first-time Telemark stories, gear questions, how to powder ski, and learning about The Day That Alpine Died. Have a great week everyone! Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh a…

Today on the podcast I dive deep into the realm of Voile bindings and skis. We are currently running a 75mm ski package deal that includes all of the Voile products, so I thought this would be a good chance to give you the scoop on each item one-by-one. THIS IS THE LAST DAY for the deal: Save $252 on a complete package of a Voile Ski, Voile Binding…

Jeff Cox always wanted to be an inventor. Even at the youngest ages, living on the east coast, he wanted to create things. As an adult he would become a mechanical engineer, but never gave up on his interest to create new ideas. In fact, he kept lists and lists of inventions that he thought he could possibly create one day. His father was the first…

Kevin Templin grew up moving around and skied a little bit before taking a job in the Carrbassat Valley where he worked at Sugar Loaf Ski Area in Maine. His brother had moved out to Alta, Utah and eventually convinced him to head out west where he scored a job at Alta Ski Area. During his stint there was when he brewed his first batch of beer with …

As we start heading out of summer and towards fall and winter, I wanted to give a message specifically to the beginner Telemark skiers out there. I talk a little bit about my first experiences on Telemark equipment nearly 30 years ago and my tips for those just starting out. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with J…

On Today’s show I recap a quick trip to Norway last week where I visited the new Rottefella HQ & Holmenkollen Ski Museum. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life Family Josh on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Telemark Skier Magazine on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube Freeheel Life on Insta…

Today I'm joined by my good friend and Telemark legend Ty Dayberry. We chop it up about all things Telemark related to tricks, park, urban, never-been-done moves, and more. Ty himself brings a plethora of knowledge to the table when it comes to freestyle Telemark skiing, both in the terrain park, as well as urban and backcountry. We spend the entir…

Alex Johnson grew up in Salt Lake City, UT in a family full of Telemark skiers. Skiing was a way of life growing up and part of the regular family routine. Aside from moving around the mountains in the winter on skis, he’s passionate about hockey and grew up playing that as well. Post high school he kept Telemark skiing and then graduated from West…