You've probably seen Telemark skis at a ski resort or on a snowy mountain. Yes, those strange-looking skis where you lift your heel and step back and forth, alternating between steps, making it look like you're walking
The origins of skis are said to be two boards used by people in the Telemark region of Norway as a means of transportation. Telemark skiing, named after the region, was revived in America and has since spread around the world
It's probably safe to say that this is an endangered skiing style, with only 2% of the Japanese ski population, or 2 in 100 people. Did you know that
a fanzine about this niche style of telemark skiing was published in February of this year?
It's called "FREE HEEL BOOK -Telemark Ski- "!
We spoke to freelance writer Moriyama Shinya, the publisher and editor-in-chief, about the magazine
"There used to be a lot of magazines and articles that specialized in telemark skiing. But with the decline in enthusiasts and the equipment, those publications have all but disappeared.
But even so, enthusiastic telemarkers can be found all over Japan. Perhaps it's the rebellious spirit of an endangered species that makes them so passionate, ambitious, and united.
And recently, we're seeing a tailwind in which skiers who have mastered a certain level of technique are trying their hand at telemark, and young people who are interested in counterculture and hiking are starting to want to get started. I
wanted to create a book that people like that would pick up and think, 'Wow, what an interesting world.'"
Soon after its release in February, it became a hot topic among telemarketers who had long been hungry for printed matter, and 600 copies were sent out across the country
" I received three inquiries from Americans who saw it on
social media We live in an age where you can instantly translate a foreign language into your own language with a smartphone camera. I really feel the global potential of paper media."
From the time of its release until the end of the season, the magazine was stocked in ski shops across the country that sold telemark skis, which helped to increase readership. Moriyama explains the reason for not launching an online store:
"Telemark skiing is a complicated sport, from choosing the right equipment to mastering the techniques. This is a major reason for the decline in the population. I thought that if there were shops and communities where people could experience the techniques and spirit, it would be easier for people to enter the world of skiing and continue for a long time."
However, because the editor-in-chief, Moriyama, is managing the doujinshi on his own, there are few stores that stock it, and he has been hearing more and more inquiries about stores that don't have stock, or that don't have it in stock. So, he has finally decided to open an online store in mid-June!
https://freeheelbook.stores.jp
"My goal for the future is to continue releasing new volumes. I'm currently in the midst of mentally editing Vol. 2."
Moriyama says with a shy smile. Freeheeling is a sport that was born in 1980s America out of the counterculture, anti-war movement, and ideas of returning to nature. Why not take a peek into the world of skiing, which is imbued with ideas of freedom, independence, peace, and nature conservation?
illustration/ @kurumaskie
Information
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freeheelbook/