Established as a facility for the standardization of Telemark instruction in New Zealand, the Telemark Division of the NZSIA was inaugurated in 1985.
Modeled around the Ski qualification framework, the first ever Telemark Stage One (now Level Two) was held that same year and the Stage Two (now Level Three) followed not long after in 1988. The teaching progressions constructed in the early years still stand today internationally as one of the most adaptable methods for learning the sport, techniques have been adapted and changed, along with the equipment, maintaining simplicity and not getting tied up with too much technical jargon.
All-be-it a much smaller division of the Alliance, Telemark run a number of additional courses over the years including Advanced Skills, Race Clinics, Backcountry Workshops, Avalanche Awareness Courses and Women’s Clinics. The division has contributed to the NZSIA as whole in a variety of different ways, even sending representatives to every Interski event from 1995 through to the more recent Korea 2007 and again at Inter ski in Austria on 2011.
Like all divisions, Telemark has a representative on the NZSIA Executive Committee. This provides good representation for the division in the grand scheme of the Alliance. The same person may fill the role of Telemark Course Coordinator, responsible for the day-to-day management of Telemark Qualifications. These qualifications themselves are delivered by an experienced team of Telemark Examiners.
The Telemark Divisional Committee meet at least biannually to discuss and implement best practice course content and delivery approaches. The Course Coordinator, Examiners and other interested parties consider international input, personal experience and course participant feedback to deliver the best possible experience for candidates.
