Racing ClubINTERVIEWS
Mattia Tosello, ski instructor on the slopes of Limone Piemonte, is the only one in the North West to have passed the exam to become a National Telemark Instructor. Honored to have it in the Neveitalia tester team, we asked him some questions to let us tell the charm of this ancient sport.
Wednesday 9 May 2018 6 minutes reading time
What path did you take to become a National Telemark Instructor?
I have been practicing this discipline for six years, that is when I attended the specialization course at Sestriere. This year I took part in the Master, which was held in early May in Livigno, and I first passed the barrier tests and then the final exam to become a National Telemark Instructor. Now I miss only the last training course to finish the path. Five years ago I created a freeride team in Limone Piemonte composed of students who taught me the telemark discipline and now they are all good telemarkers.
How did you approach this discipline?
I had lost the urge to ski on the track, but with the telemark I found an immense stimulus. The telemark has become a passion that I also brought on the off-piste. For me it is the off-piste skiing that makes this gesture unique.
Is this the first time that a training course for National Telemark Instructors is held?
They have been held in the past, but 10 years have passed since the last Masters course was held. This year they planned it because a new telemark text was written. Now we want to start again by doing the Master more often with the aim of giving more and more continuity to this sport.
Is telemark a discipline that has taken hold or has yet to be established?
It is a discipline that is becoming more and more important and that is why I wanted to participate in the Master. In Limone Piemonte, since I made the specialization, more movement has been created with this discipline. Both my friends and the guys who stopped skiing have approached the telemark as well as the ski instructors. So I think it is a growing discipline and this master was made just to revive the spirit of the increasingly strong telemark.
In some ski schools the figure of the telemark teacher is also present
Yes, in ski schools it is one more thing that allows you to teach another discipline. In Piedmont, at the ski school level, there is not much work in telemark teaching. I personally created the job myself and I have a good clientele. In Trentino, on the other hand, the telemark is more developed. However, now in Piedmont the specialization courses in telemark will be carried out more often, therefore the number of telemark teacher figures will increase in the ski schools.
Telemark is an ancient discipline. What correlation is there with alpine skiing?
The telemark is the discipline born before alpine skiing. It was discovered in Norway. It was the only means of transport that the Norwegians had to move. Currently, as in Alpine skiing, there are telemark World Cup competitions. So there is also the competitive level, not just tourism. In the freeride there are also telemark competitions. Then, of course, telemark and alpine skiing are two distinct disciplines.
Is it useful to do some telemark lessons to improve the technique in alpine skiing?
Yes, it's very important. That's what I'm doing with my boys. In terms of posture it helps a lot. Some World Cup athletes train in telemark in the summer. It is a very valid discipline in terms of growth in alpine skiing.
Can you explain to Neveitalia readers what the telemark movement consists of?
There are specific movements to define a curve, but the telemark for me is a matter of freedom and pleasure that gives you. Free your mind when you're bending over with your friends!
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