The Freeheel Life Podcast

Episode 196 | Armond Dubuque — Inventor of The Ultimate Telemark Binding

Armond DuBuque grew up just outside Seattle, Washington, and started skiing at the age of nine. He later picked up snowboarding, but by the early 1990s, while working at Stevens Pass Ski Area, he discovered Telemark skiing—and it stuck. In his mid-20s, he set out to design his own Telemark binding, incorporating features he felt were missing from the options available at the time. With the help of his father, who had a small machine shop, he began prototyping his ideas and eventually produced a limited batch for public use. He called it the Ultimate Telemark Binding—or UTB, as it became known. The UTB introduced several groundbreaking features that had never been seen before, including enclosed compression springs, rigid cables, a spring-loaded heel piece with bidirectional tension, a six-hole mounting pattern, a step-in mechanism, and built-in crampons. This is an incredible story of youthful ambition, innovation, legal battles, and, of course, Telemark skiing. I had an amazing time documenting this chapter of Telemark history, and I hope you enjoy it too! SHOW NOTES: Armond's Original Patents: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6234514B1/en?q=(armond+dubuque)&oq=armond  https://patents.google.com/patent/US5823563A/en?q=(armond+dubuque)&oq=armond+dubuque  https://patents.google.com/patent/US6923465B2/en?q=(armond+dubuque)&oq=armond+dubuque   Reading: North America, United States, Alaska, Denali National Park, Mt. Hunter, First Ski Descent: https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12200419500/ Mt. Hunter Ski Descent - Alaska: https://pawprince.com/pawprince/adventures/hunter/home.html Here is my latest technique video for you to check out: https://youtu.be/3b3X3EiQCCo Check out my website and online store: https://www.freeheellife.com/ My weekly e-mail newsletter is a great way to stay in contact with all of my content, events, product launches, etc. You can sign up by visiting Freeheellife.com and signing up on the front page of the website.

Dickie Hall - American Telemark Ski Pioneer & Founder of N.A.T.O | Episode 195

Dickie Hall played a pivotal role in reviving the Telemark turn, alongside many others, beginning in the 1970s. While he introduced the turn across the United States and later Europe, his influence on Telemark skiing in New England remains undeniable. He was the founder and director of the North American Telemark Organization (N.A.T.O.) from 1975 to 2015, running a yearly schedule of workshops, camps, expeditions, and instructor and guide training programs. By his own estimate, he taught over 40,000 Telemark skiers and trained 1,000 instructors and guides worldwide. Hall's career began in the early 1970s on the Killington Ski Patrol, followed by teaching Nordic skiing at nearby Mountain Meadows. He later established Trailhead Telemark and Backcountry Ski Center in Stockbridge. By the time he moved on from Trailhead, he had become Chief Examiner and Certification Chairman for PSIA-E Nordic. In the late '70s, he received an offer he couldn't refuse, an opportunity to start America's first alpine-based Telemark ski school at Mad River Glen. Over the course of his career, he produced five films on Telemark and backcountry skiing, consulted and trained staff for the nation's leading outdoor schools, and served as an adjunct professor of ski mountaineering for the University of Alaska's Wilderness Studies program. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have this conversation and document some of the incredible stories and history of Telemark skiing. Please welcome to the podcast, Dickie Hall. Here is my latest technique video for you to check out: https://youtu.be/3b3X3EiQCCo Check out my website and online store: https://www.freeheellife.com/ My weekly e-mail newsletter is a great way to stay in contact with all of my content, events, product launches, etc. You can sign up by visiting Freeheellife.com and signing up on the front page of the website.

Episode 194 | Mike Hattrup & The History of K2 Telemark

Today's guest is a legend in the skiing world with roots that trace back to Seattle, Washington, where he discovered skiing at the age of 11 at Alpental Ski Area. Embracing the freestyle trends of the 1970s, he became a passionate mogul skier with his sights set on the US Freestyle Team. Though he achieved that dream, it was tragically cut short after a knee injury on his very first run. But that setback didn't stop him. He soon became a central figure in Gregg Stump's iconic ski films, starring in classics like Time Waits for Snowman, Blizzard of Aahhh's, and more, solidifying his place as a pioneer in the ski culture of the era. In 1988, he took his talents to K2, working as a product manager. By the mid-90s, he spearheaded the creation of K2's groundbreaking Telemark ski division. Under his leadership, K2 Telemark dominated the market, capturing over 50% of it with innovative ski designs, eye-catching graphics, and unforgettable names like She's Piste, Hippy Stinx, Heli Stinx, and many more. In my view, K2 Telemark didn't just keep the tradition of the Telemark turn alive—it redefined it, pushing the sport into the future and reshaping its image for a new generation. It's an honor to welcome to the podcast the one and only Mike Hattrup!   Check out my website and online store: https://www.freeheellife.com/ My weekly e-mail newsletter is a great way to stay in contact with all of my content, events, product launches, etc. You can sign up by visiting Freeheellife.com and signing up on the front page of the website. Thank You, Josh Madsen  #SpreadTelemark Always 

Episode #193 | Telemark Health & Fitness for 2025 — The Freeheel Life Podcast

NOTE: Originally published Dec 26, 2024 for YouTube Members  Today I've got Kate Galliett Madsen on the podcast to talk over health and fitness in Telemark skiing. This has really proven to be a topic of interest that folks on my channel have been requesting more of lately and I wanted to have her back on to drop some knowledge for us. Kate and I are going to be working on some other video content to cover more health and fitness topics moving forward so I wanted to have her on to talk about some of the more general concepts we can be thinking about as we head into 2025. Thanks for listening! — Josh Madsen

Episode #192 | Telemark Pirate Radio: Back from the Grave & Scarpa TX Pro 2.0

NOTE: Originally published Nov 25, 2024 for YouTube Members  In this engaging conversation, Josh Madsen and Craig Dostie delve into the world of Telemark skiing, discussing their unique experiences, the evolution of Telemark gear, and the recent release of the TX Pro boot. They explore the nuances of boot flex, the importance of subtlety in Telemark technique, and the challenges faced by skiers transitioning to new equipment. The discussion highlights the balance between performance and comfort, as well as the need for diverse options in telemark gear to cater to different skiing styles and preferences. Check out my website and online store: https://www.freeheellife.com/ My weekly e-mail newsletter is a great way to stay in contact with all of my content, events, product launches, etc. You can sign up on the front page of my website: www.freeheellife.com #telemark #spreadtelemark #freeheellife #skiing