Third Annual Tele-Fest at Beech Mountain Resort January 12th;
Region’s Biggest Event for Cross Country Downhill Skiers
The High Country Nordic Association’s Third Annual Tele-Fest will offer downhill Nordic skiers a chance to celebrate the beautiful Telemark turn at Beech Mountain Resort January 12th. The telemark is that dipping, dance-like turn that Nordic skiers can execute because only their toe is attached to the ski binding.
In its third year, the NC High Country event has become a regionally celebrated opportunity for “tele-ski” enthusiasts to meet, ski together, improve their skills, and win great prizes from a long list of outdoor gear suppliers.
The event runs from 9 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday the 12th (registration starts at 8 am in the View Haus where the event will be based). The cost is $50 and includes a lift ticket, 2013 event T-shirt, HCNA decal, and entry in various raffles and a Poker Run (each skier gets a random playing card after each run—even if they ski the easiest beginner slope). The winners of the “poker hands” and raffles take home national name brand outdoor gear prizes. The fee for skiers who already own a season ski pass is $15 and includes a shirt, decal, and prize entry.
Get your Tele-Fest weekend started early at Footsloggers by pre-registering from 6-8 pm Friday evening in downtown Boone. Pre-registrants simply pick up their lift ticket and hit the slopes Saturday morning. Footsloggers will remain open to purchase last minute essentials and attendees will enjoy a beer from sponsor Blowing Rock Ale.
The Saturday Tele-Fest will feature a Gear Swap for Telemark skis, boots, poles and other equipment, and a Gear Share, where organizers hope to “get as many people on the snow in borrowed gear as we can,” says HCNA’s Russel Hiatt. “We’re encouraging everyone with gear they’d be willing to lend, particularly boots, to please bring them.”
The tentative list of sponsors includes Beech Mountain Resort, Mast General Store, M-prints, Black Dome Mountain Sports, Footsloggers, Black Cat Burrito, Blowing Rock Ale, Boone Brewing Company, Stick Boy Bread, Bald Guy Brew, Mountain Sports, Ltd., 1st Tracks, Ski Country Sports, High Country Ski Shop at Pineola Inn, Mahoney's, Black Diamond, Appalachian Ski Mountain, 22 Designs, Voile, Backcountry Magazine, and Scarpa.
The 2013 Tele-Fest received regional coverage in Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine (http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/outdoor-sports/snowsports/no-one-cares-that-you-tele/).
Also this year, the event’s T-shirt will feature a female telemark skier.
For more information visit the group on Facebook (type High Country Nordic Association into the Facebook search field).
