Editing Telemark skiing (section)

=== Telemark skiing today ===
The appeal of Telemark skiing lies in access: long pieces of synthetic fabric, known as skins, can be attached to the bottom of the skis to allow travel uphill in the [[Backcountry_skiing|backcountry]]. With the invention of light-weight [[Ski touring|alpine touring]] (A.T.) skis, however, telemark skiing has decreased in popularity in the backcountry.

Telemark skiing uses a specialized type of equipment.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/twoplanksandpass00hunt|title=Two planks and a passion : the dramatic history of skiing|author=Huntford, Roland|date=2008|publisher=Continuum|isbn=9781847252364|location=London|oclc=212847523|url-access=registration}}</ref> Generally, Telemark skiers use flexible Alpine skis with specially designed bindings that fix only the toe of the [[ski boot]] to the ski, thereby creating the "free heel". Oftentimes the heel is attached to the front of the binding by a hinged cable, which holds the ski boot firmly in the binding. These bindings are often non-releasable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://telemarkski.com/how-to-begin-telemark-skiing/|title=How To Begin Telemark Skiing|date=2016-01-23|access-date=2024-10-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123105135/http://telemarkski.com/how-to-begin-telemark-skiing/|archive-date=2016-01-23}}</ref>