Telemark diehards will descend on Pebble Creek this Sunday to take part in its Telemark Festival. Until recently, the annual event was in jeopardy of having to move the course for its main event.
In past years, Pebble moved the race course for the Classic Terrain Race, the festival's main event, farther up the mountain because there wasn’t enough snow at the mountain’s base to set gates.
For most of February, Pebble had snow depths in the 30s. But last weekend’s massive snowstorm dumped close to 34 inches on the resort, which bumped the snow depth on the mid-mountain to 72 inches, allowing the festival to hold the race at the bottom of the mountain.
“It was a pretty mellow winter through February,” said Tim Arrington, who is in charge of setting the course for the Classic Terrain Race. “I was running out there running dry dirt in shorts and a long-sleeved t-shirt for most of February. I was pretty sure we were done.”
Telemark skiing is a combination of both alpine and cross-county skiing. The race is mostly downhill and the ski design allows for tight and quick turns down the mountain, but skiers don’t have anything attached to their heel, giving it a cross country-like design in the back.
“The thing we struggle the most with every year is the uphill gates,” Arrington said. “Even the experienced skiers can ski into those.”
Competitors will race down Pebble’s Rock Garden run, a blue run that skirts down the middle of the resort ending at the lodge, allowing spectators to sit on the deck while watching the racers. The race is set to begin at 1 p.m. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and there’s a $25 fee. A long-sleeved t-shirt, race entry and access to the post-race party are included in the fees. Entrants must have a valid lift ticket or season pass.
“The telemark skiers compete throughout the day and then have a party,” said Mary Reichman, general manager of Pebble Creek.
Arrington partners with Pebble’s ski school instructor to design the course. The struggle is finding a balance between a course that is challenging enough to attract the diehards, but still easy enough to encourage beginners to compete.
“I would like to see a little bit of air under their skies,” Arrington said. “Nothing too major. They would be small. We want to welcome everybody.”
