AUGUSTINE CARLIEZ
Speciality: Race
Augustine recently joined the French telemark team. Her progression is vulgar, she became Junior World Champion during the 2021-22 season. We help Augustine with the boot fitting part as well as the assembly of her skis.
How old are you, and where did you grow up?
Hi, I'm Augustine, I'm 17 years old and I live in Annecy since I was born. In 2020, I stopped alpine skiing in favor of telemark.
Before telemark, what sports did you practice?
Before the telemark, I practiced alpine skiing in sports studies for 8 years
What equipment did you start with (fixed boots - if you remember?)
I started on old standard fixed boots, Scott boots, and K2 skis of 95 mm at the skate.
And today you telemark on what?
Today I telemark with NTN fixed skis and I prefer them a lot! In boots, I am on Scarpa and in ski on Kastle racing.
Telemark has evolved a lot, and the equipment I have now is much more demanding and precise and allows me to fully express my skiing.
How did you come to Telemark?
My parents taught me this new sport which I liked very quickly. Quickly, I was able to enter the Mont Blanc Committee and had very fast access to the high level. Today, I am fulfilled in this sport which mixes balance and technique.
Is this your only sport?
I don't have any other competitive sport, but I like to practice other activities as a hobby.
During the summer, what do you like? Trail, mountain bike, road, motorcycle, kite, lazing around ...?
Besides that, I practice kitesurfing, surfing, and board sports in general, as well as trail, wheel skiing, or road biking which allow me to stay in shape physically.
How do you like Telemark? Between poles, freeride, rando?
Because of my background, my telemark style is very alpine.
What kind of telemarker are you? Big genuflection, finesse, aggressive?
I telemark with a relatively small slot and like to be toned in my giant turns.
Are you still a student?
I am currently a high school student and ski every weekend as well as some Wednesday afternoons.
Where do you ski?
I mainly ski in the Aravis resorts, but also in Les Houches during the committee courses.
What is your favorite spot?
I would say that my favorite place is the Grand Bornand, a resort where I have been skiing since I was a child.
Where would you like to Telemarker (the ultimate spot)?
I would love to telemark abroad, especially in Norway or Slovenia, and I hope to be able to do it quickly on the few world cups that will take place there, and if I have the chance to join the French team.
ALEC DIXON
Speciality: Race
The Telemark according to Alec is an international story. Between Switzerland, England, the Jura, and dreams of Wyoming, his heart sways. He is the first "non-French" to win the French Cup.
How old are you, and where did you grow up?
I am 21 years old, I was born in Meyrin, Switzerland. I spent my entire childhood in a small village called Crozet - where I spent many hours with my brother playing in the woods. It was my ambition to become a man of the forest. I learned to speak English and German thanks to my parents, who often took me to visit my home countries.
Before doing Telemark, what sports did you practice?
When I was young, I played a lot of sports. Before Telemark, I was mainly an alpine skier. I also did soccer, rugby, swimming, and a bit of mountain biking in a club.
You started on which equipment (ski fixed boot - if you remember?). And today you telemark on what?
My first binding was the Rottefella 3 points in red, with orange Crispi boots and Völkl skis in red. Now I ski on the Meidjo from M Equipment, on Telemarkshop TKS Overlimit rockets, and always in Crispi! Today's gear is incomparable to what it was before!
How did you get into Telemark?
My father discovered Telemark in Tignes in 1993. When we started skiing, my brother and I always wanted to do Telemark with him. One year he bought us some equipment, and took me to some competitions, including the "Varnav" and the "Ah bah bien sûr".
Is this your only snow sport?
Yes, it's my only snow sport.
During the summer, what do you like? Trail, mountain bike, road, motorcycle, kite, lazing around ...?
In the summer I do mountain biking as often as possible, to prepare myself for the next season. But I also play a lot of soccer - that makes me happy. I also keep myself busy by repairing cars - and participating in university clubs (Formula Student - a club where students build a racing car and compete in Europe).
How do you like Telemark? Between the poles, Freeride, rando?
I love Telemark in all its forms. It's unbeatable in Freeride (in terms of feeling), and it gives me a lot of adrenaline on the poles, especially on the jump.
What kind of telemarketer are you? Big genuflect, finesse, aggressive?
My dad always made me work on finesse. I try to ski with my sensations and not with my brain. It's a sport of feeling.
Do you compete? Your ambitions, your previous results?
My favorite result is to have won a stage of the French Cup at home. I am also very proud to be the first non-French male to have won the French Cup Circuit. My ambition - like all the other riders - is to be the best. But for now, my goals are those of GB Snowsport, which is to get Britain into the top 5 winter sports nations.
How do you consider Telemark in the middle of the other sports? Do you see an evolution?
I think there is clearly an evolution in Telemark, both in terms of technology, whether it's freeriding or competition. But there is also a change in the way the sport is seen from the outside - especially after coming so close to the Olympics this summer.
Do you work?
I'm an Aeronautical Engineering student at Loughborough University in England.
Where do you ski?
My resort is Crozet, in the Jurassien, and I'm proud of it! (I tried the dry slopes of Stoke last year, but it's not for me).
What is your favorite spot?
My favorite spot is an off-piste called "Les Deux Potes". It is located at the top of the Crozet resort in the Jura. It is a locally recognized off-piste. You have to do a bit of hiking to get there - but it's the best run I've ever telemarked.
Where would you like to Telemarker (the ultimate spot)?
My ultimate spot would be the United States. Specifically Corbet's couloir, in the state of Wyoming, in a resort called Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. It's a couloir with a spectacular entrance.
ARGELINE TAN-BOUQUET
Spécialité : Compétition
Argeline is the most successful French athlete in telemark. In three senior seasons, she has gone from seventh place to second. She won the small crystal globe in Classic last season. Her schedule is overloaded, between the preparation, the competitions, and her physiotherapist's office, she still finds time to escape on beautiful hikes.
How old are you, and where did you grow up?
I am 24 years old, born in Massy, until 1996 then in Haute-Savoie
Before doing Telemark, what sports did you practice?
Alpine skiing in a club until I was a minor, then I switched to telemark.
I also did some dancing and gymnastics, but I stopped when I was 11 years old.
What equipment did you start with (fixed boot ski - if you remember ?)? And today you telemark on what?
I've always skied on Dynastar, even in the Alps! (I admit I had Rossignols in slalom but well...) Concerning my first telemark equipment, what is sure is that I started on the old standards (cable bindings)! And I switched to NTN with the Rottefella Freeride in 2011. Finally, I came back to the Scott family for shoes in the winter of 2014-2015.
How did you come to Telemark?
I took advantage of local initiations to try telemark, and I was immediately seduced by this sport. I had the opportunity to do it a few times, and at the same time, I continued my alpine skiing.
I then definitely adopted the heel lift in 2009, when I joined the Samoens Telemark Team. That winter I participated in my first competition in Praz de Lys, where I won in my category.
2 years later (winter 2010-2011) I joined the Training Partner team at the federation, and I participated in my first Junior Worlds in Norway. I won my first Bronze medal in the Sprint event. The following winter, I joined the French Junior team.
Is it your only sport?
It's my main sport! After that, I sometimes wear alpine boots for the pleasure of changing. Snow is not my forte but I have done some. Cross-country skiing in skating to work on my technique. I also train in rollerblading, road biking, and ski-wheeling in the summer. I like wakeboarding on nice days.
During the summer, what do you like? Trail, mountain bike, road, motorcycle, kite, lazing around ...?
Between work and prep, I have to admit that I take chilling breaks in the sun when I can on weekends, and it feels good! I like to go hiking and enjoy our beautiful mountains. I also like to climb cliffs. And if not in physical preparation I go from weight training to road cycling, fractional running or wheel skiing, etc. In short, I am very busy!
It's maybe out of the subject, but since I tasted it last June, I go up every year to the Hellfest Festival in Clisson!
How do you prefer Telemark? Between the poles, Freeride, rando?
I would say that it is not in the same spirit when I train in the gates or when I go on a ski tour/freeride. I love to cut in a line, people sometimes have a hard time conceiving it, but you can really have crazy sensations when skiing in a giant! I love the adrenaline you feel when you get close to the start of the race, and the crazy energy you have when you cross the finish line. Last winter I had the chance to do a few days of a hiking trip in Norway with two friends, and it was great. To walk with skis on in this white universe, to have gone down these few slopes full of fresh and light puff, was incredible. I love Telemark skiing in all its aspects.
What kind of Telemarkeuse are you? Big genuflector, finesse, aggressive?
Um, I would say that I combine finesse and aggressiveness. I have a rather committed ski.
Your record of achievements is starting to grow. Can you give us a little recap? Your ambitions, your previous results? Your strong points (Giant, jump, cross-country)
My ambitions this year are to win a title at the World Championships and keep my Crystal Globe. My strong points are the giant, and it has always been. For the past few winters, I can also say that cross-country skiing is one of my strong points. It took me a long time, and I worked a lot technically and physically to get there. Concerning jumping, I was much more regular this winter, in general, I was among those who jumped the farthest. However, I still need to improve my landings.
All these trips, a year of competition, and training, how do you finance?
I am lucky to have financial and material sponsors who follow me and trust me. Honestly, it would not be possible to continue without them...
How do you consider Telemark in the middle of the other sports? Do you see an evolution?
Telemark remains a sport that is not very well known because it is not covered by the media. And it's a pity because most people find a real interest in our discipline. The public that we have often finds itself by chance at the bottom of the slope watching our events, and regularly we hear that they did not know that it was practiced in competition and that it deserved to be put forward on the media scene. Unfortunately, telemark is a small sport in this family of winter sports already little covered by the media on a national scale. But there is a real evolution since I started. We hear more about it on the radio, in the newspapers, and on some TV shows. The fact that the World Cups are broadcast live on a Livestream, with a big communication work behind it, is a real asset. It has changed a lot of things for us. The athletes and their social networks are also a big part of it. Our various sponsors also play the game, trying to put us forward, whether it be during events or media campaigns. And that counts a lot. Finally, there was a vote at the FIS Congress in favor of including telemark skiing in the 2022 Olympics. Honestly, this would not have been possible a few years ago. And even though the IOC did not make this dream project a reality, it is still a great step forward for winter sports.
Do you work?
I am a physiotherapist since 2015, I work from the end of March/beginning of April until the Christmas vacations
Where do you ski?
Mainly in Samoëns. We also train in Les Houches, Tignes, on Austrian glaciers, and sometimes in Italy. And then wherever the races take us!
Your favorite spot?
My heart and soul resort is the Grand Massif without hesitation. But I must admit that I like to ski with our friends from Savoie, especially in the Paradiski area...
Where would you like to telemark (the ultimate spot)?
I would like to test the famous Pow du Japon one day!
PHIL LAU
Spécialité : Compétition
Today, when one wants to describe Telemark in France, there is always a small part for Phil Lau. First World Champion, first to have won the World Cup, his long list of achievements will perhaps never be equaled. He has carried the French colors high. He is a jack of all trades who does not limit himself to Telemark. He is a complete sportsman above all.
How old are you, and where did you grow up?
I am 32 years old, I was born in Céret (66) of German origin, and have a little Austrian blood on my mother's side. But I have always lived and grown up in Meribel.
Before doing Telemark, what sports did you practice?
I started with alpine skiing at the ski club of Méribel and in parallel, I played field hockey at the club of the valley until I was 15 years old when I devoted myself 100% to Telemark under the wing of my coach Denis Gacon. In the summer I practice paragliding, mountain biking, wheel skiing, and many other sports to diversify.
Which equipment did you start with (ski fixed boot - if you remember)? And today you telemark on what?
I started telemarking with half leather and half plastic shoes and the Rottefella chili pepper if I remember well. Then I adopted for the safety (removable system) the 7tm and the green Crispi translucent that we had developed. As soon as the NTNs came out I adapted quickly and I was the first to run on these bindings which had more precision and support than the Crispi Evo. The progression was radical and I was ahead of the other racers. Today I ski on NTN freeride from Rottefella, Crispi WC Evo, and ski FIS from Blossom.
How did you come to Telemark?
I started telemarking thanks to my coach Denis Gacon who made me discover this sport, tired of alpine skiing, I was immediately hooked and I can't go back.
During the summer, what do you like? Trail, mountain bike, road, motorcycle, kite, lazing around ...?
In the summer I'm more into mountain biking, wheel skiing, and motorcycle but I don't say no to water sports.
How do you like Telemark? Between the poles, Freeride, rando?
In telemark I enjoy myself in all situations, I have fun on all terrains.
I would say that I don't have a type of telemark, I adapt to the conditions, and I can be aggressive or be a cat depending on the conditions.
Your record of achievements is getting pretty good. Can you give us a little recap? Your ambitions, your previous results? Your strong points (Giant, jump, cross-country)
My record of achievements is already well filled, I have been multiple times World Champion and winner of the World Cup as well as French Champion to simplify my panoply. I think that there is no strong point but mostly weaknesses in everyone. For me, it's the long races where my body weakens. In any case, I like fast races where you don't have time to think.
All these trips, a year of competition, and training, how do you finance?
I finance my season through my sponsors, without them I would never have been able to live this adventure but it's not enough to live I work on the side and I give ski lessons at the esf in Meribel.
Where do you ski?
I ski most of the time at home in Meribel, I have discovered so many ski resorts through competition and I'm always happy to go home to ski because I can't find better skiing anywhere else. Except maybe for freeriding.
Where would you like to Telemarker (the ultimate spot)?
I would like to ski once in my life in Alaska and Japan where I have not yet set foot.