The Combined Army, RN and British Telemark Championships are taking place in Rauris, Austria 5-17 Jan 2013. This season sees an entry of approximately 120 competitors, which is a 50% increase in previous years. The Championships start with 5 days of training, which includes general ski training, specific race training and training for the Telemark specific obstacles such as the jump. There are then 6 days of racing, from a qualification race, through the development races for those new to the sport and the main championship races. The races include; a Giant Slalom, which is similar to an Alpine Giant Slalom but includes a jump; a Sprint which has Giant Slalom gates, a jump and a loom (a 360 degree banked turn) with a short skating section at the end; lastly is the Classic, which is a longer version of the Sprint.
To round it all off we run a mountain race, where the competitors race uphill with skins on the skis, before returning to the start, the race taking approximately one hours for the fastest.
The Telemark Team complimented Comm Spec on the service we have provided over the past few years
“None of this would be possible without the support of Communication Specialists. It is your radios that enable the organising team to communicate effectively across the mountain to ensure that races are run smoothly and efficiently. Testament to this is the fact that immediately after the British Championships we shall be running our 4th GB FIS Telemark World Cup event, which will see the best racers in the world from over 13 different countries and is a fundamental part of the Telemark World Cup season. We shall be running a Sprint and Classic on the 18 and 19 Jan 2013.”
Races Quick Guide
1. Classic. The cornerstone of Telemark racing: a course of up to 40 gates, with a number of features unique to Telemark such as the Rap, a jump and a skating section. Top racers will complete the course in around two minutes. One run only.
2. Sprint. A shorter, more spectator-friendly, version of the Classic. Two runs.
3. Giant Slalom. A more traditional race format, with up to 40 gates and a jump. Two runs.
4. Mountain Race. A team or individual race, with a ‘Le Mans’ start. Racers use skins to make their way uphill (on and off piste) around a turning mark and then back downhill via some control gates, to finish near the start.
Race Features
Telemark turnds must be made through all gates, except where there are yellow flags. Time penalties apply.
Rap: A banked 360º turn
Skating: Flat or slightly uphill and roughly 1/3 of the race time
Jump: 10-20m of ‘air’. Time penalties are awarded for failing to clear a distance
