Telemark skiing (also known as
'free heel skiing') is a form of
downhill skiing using bindings where the boot is attached only at the toe similar to those of
Cross-country skiing, allowing the heel to come up from the ski.
Because the heel is free, it allows the skier to go into a lunge position in order to turn.The act of lunging while turning is a technique called the
telemark turn. Telemark is one of the oldest ski techniques.