Word: telemarking
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Typically, Nykanen shows superb sail but flawed form. On takeoff his arms may flail, and in landing he often misses the perfect telemark position: back straight and knees bent, with one leg considerably in front of the other. But these faults stem from his unique method of reading and reacting to the wind, sacrificing grace for distance. The antistyle may also owe something to Nykanen's fierce personality and determination to do everything his own way. At any rate, it does not seem to cost him style points. Judges are apparently willing to overlook his less than perfect form, presumably...
...snow and "ouch" for the spectacular disasters. Couch-cozy spectators are likely to remain otherwise speechless at the subtleties of winter sports. They will not be helped by the glossolalia that accompanies the coverage of the Games, including such fascinating but baffling terms as Axels and Lutzes, telemark and super-Gs. Enlightened appreciation will also be hindered by Zen-like axioms ("the fastest way to ski cross-country is to skate") and nonsensical riddles ("What sport has contestants who practice black magic and wait their turns in a morgue?"). As a guide for the perplexed, TIME has gathered a number...
...perfect jump, watching out for such sins of style as bent knees, curved backs, unsteadiness and crossed skis. They also look askance at failure to land with one ski in front of the other, knees flexed, hips bent and arms straight out at the sides -- the so-called telemark position, named after a region in Norway where the sport originated. The final score on a jump is made up of distance plus style points, but somehow the longest jumpers must always have the best style. In the end, the sport is mostly one of superlatives: whoever jumps farthest wins...
...search for pristine slopes has led thousands of escapists into the back country. There, distinctions are blurred: touring fans discover the speedy pleasure of schussing, and downhillers get an aerobic workout on cross-country skis. The two passions meet in a 120-year-old technique called telemarking-a turn of great difficulty-which offers balance to the free-heeled skier. One ski is extended beyond the other until the skier is crouching. The rear ski rudders the front one into the turns necessary for steep downhill flights. One aficionado calls it "genuflecting on the run." A new generation of skis...