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Annual Bear Valley Telemark Festival Spreads Thrills of Modern Freeheel Skiing
The 11th Annual Bear Valley Telemark Festival, set for Feb. 9–11, 2007, celebrates the thrills of modern freeheel skiing through education, celebration and community. Tucked deep in the Sierras, the small alpine ski resort of Bear Valley will host three days of clinics, demos, banquets, races and live music. Skiing ability doesn't matter, this is the chance to experience what the freeheelers have been raving about for years.
Mountain Adventure Seminars (MAS), a year-round mountaineering school and guide service, founded the festival. The first MAS Telemark Festival was held in 1997 out of a rented house in Bear Valley. Fourteen people attended and three MAS telemark instructors were on hand to teach, clinic, cook, clean and entertain. The Bear Valley Telemark Festival hasn't slowed down and now is one of the premier telemark ski events in the country. About 300 freeheel skiers attend over the three days and most events sell out.
For many people the festival serves as a centerpiece of the winter season. The festival organizers view it as a time to gather and celebrate in the spirit of telemark skiing.
On Friday, Feb. 9, all-day telemark workshops are available for everyone from beginner to expert. The workshops begin with a few warm-up runs before splitting into groups, with one instructor teaching a group in the morning and another teaching in the afternoon.
Saturday, Feb. 10, includes telemark ski and boot demos, two-hour telemark ski clinics, Beacon Olympics, a costume contest, and the "All-Terrain" Tele-Race. Go to the website for details about clinic topics and schedules.
The Saturday Evening Banquet is one huge telemark ski party. It includes dinner, beer and wine, slide show (contributions to the slideshow are welcome, just contact MAS in advance), a "monstrous" free drawing, live music and dancing. Space is very limited so don't lag on this one. In 2007, the festival is donating 100 percent of the banquet profits to the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center. Festival sponsor New Belgium Brewing Company is also donating to this cause.
On Sunday, Feb. 11, spend a day in the backcountry with professional ski guides learning about avalanche skills and how to link the next turn just a little better. Similar skill groups will focus on either turns or backcountry avalanche skills. Due to popular demand, telemark clinics have been added to Sunday's line-up, so take advantage of them.
You'll find a full schedule of events and an instructor roster here. Festival packages and single-event options are available. Pre-registration is required. Ask about discount tickets. All registration forms must be sent to Mountain Adventure Seminars via mail, fax or through online registration. For more information and registration, visit Mountain Adventure Seminars at www.mtadventure.com.