It is B in contrast to A. It is just a symbol or name for distinction.
So what is that A?
So far, everyone except me is A. In other words, we call regular telemark
A tele.
What is the difference between A and B in simple terms?
I wonder if it comes from the telemark position (or telemark stance). In
A, you probably practice the telemark position. For the time being, the
goal is to stabilize the telemark position. Then, next, you move on to
the telemark turn, which expresses that in the turn. On the other hand,
the B method does not have the telemark position itself. There is no curriculum
because there is no word for it. If you watch the video, you may think
that I am doing a telemark turn, but that is simply the result of braking
alternately with a heel-free attitude. It may also be easier to understand
by comparing the icons. I have put a diagram below. The icon for A is telemark,
right? The icon for B is this.
Even if the B icon says Telemark...
That's right. That's why I divided it into B. By the way, when it comes
to organizing, you can imagine that A goes into folder A and B goes into
folder B. And the contents of folder A and folder B never overlap. They
don't mix. Hmm...
Even though it's the same telemark?
Yes, even though the equipment is the same... On the other hand, alpine
skis and A-folder telemark skis go well together and overlap. And as expected,
alpine skis and B-folder telemark skis don't overlap at all !!
Is that so?
That's right.
Is B okay?
What do you think? But a video is reality. I think there is nothing more direct than the person skiing in the video skiing like this, "See?" And it is organized as a method.
What is B's goal?
Become me in the video. You can copy my skiing (including the way I ski,
my equipment, and my environment) perfectly, so I think it's fine for each
person to make their own arrangements from there. The class is held to
help you understand the steps to take, the words to use, and the differences
from A.
We understand B's goal, but what is A's goal?
The simplest answer would be "do a telemark turn with heel-free equipment". If you can do a telemark turn that is "acting out a role" at first, and then do it over and over again until you can do a telemark turn that is "natural", then that's the goal. After that, try changing equipment or changing the environment while still being heel-free, and it's OK if you can do the same telemark turn. This is A. In other words, doing a telemark turn is the purpose and the goal. This is just my opinion.
By the way, is it possible for you to teach me how to ski A?
Of course! I'm very good at it. Please apply for a private lesson.
Is it possible to ski B-tele with NNNBC, XPLORE, or soft leather boots?
Yes you can. Or rather, that's what B is for. Now, this kind of equipment
is heel-free, but it's too weak to use that as an advantage when downhill.
If you want to use it, it's because it's a low-cuff boot. Low-cut boots
allow the ankle to move. If you can move your ankle, you can play "CHUô".
If you can control CHUô, this is another world, it's versatile! For more
explanations, please see the illustrations, videos, and lessons.
I use NTN. Can I take the course?
It doesn't matter because it's a classroom lesson! Jokes aside, I think it's difficult to ski NTN in B mode. The reason is that it's hard to lift your heels. It's hard to get into the shape of the B icon. And the boots are high-cut, so it's hard to move your ankles. It's hard to use "CHUô". So I often go downhill in walk mode. I don't think it's a good idea, but... I think there is a way and environment to ski NTN that brings out its strengths. We will teach you at resort slopes. Please apply for a private lesson.
What about the B-tele for carving turns?
It is possible to cut just the top sheet of three stacked sheets to make a track. With Alpen and A-tele, you cut all three sheets.
What about steep slopes?
Braking is a crucial element when it comes to steep slopes. How do you
brake? You do it by firmly applying the brakes with the outer edge of the
ski on the uphill foot. You control the grip there in whatever way you
can. That's braking. Generally, A-tele skiers take the telemark position,
so they cannot control the uphill foot. The point of action of the uphill
foot is the toe, and on steep slopes the two skis are not parallel. So
it's out. That's why people say that telemark skis are suited to mellow
slopes. The reason is not because it's telemark, but because it's A-tele.
If the goal is to turn, you can turn only in places where it's easy to
turn, and you'll be very satisfied. This can also be said for alpine skiers
who enjoy carving turns. Skis are all about being able to ski on steep
slopes. B-tele skis are better at maneuvering heel-free skis than alpine
skis, and you can also do soft touches, and you can turn with spins instead
of turns. A and B don't mix well, which is why we separate them into folders.
Is the school a classroom?
The first class will be in the classroom. 2 classes/4 hours @ 2025 season (until 2024, it was 3 classes/4.5 hours). We are working to make it more efficient and shorter every year. The class will be centered around "conversation" using a whiteboard, and taking notes, recording, and taking photos are prohibited.
What is the content of the two classrooms?
One class is an explanation of the overview. The other class is learning the "chuô" sound. We would have liked to spend 3-4 hours on each class, but we managed to keep it to two hours by making it possible to provide feedback online. The order of attendance starts with the overview. And as mentioned earlier, there is no overlap between folders A and B. Therefore, whether you are a 30-year veteran or a first-year student, you will all start from zero in B. Since you will be starting from zero anyway, we also recommend that people who are already skilled or instructors take this class. The fact that the folders are separate means that we will not touch your skiing at all. Please participate with peace of mind.
What is the outdoor class like?
We will be creating an outside division from the 2025 season! We have been
able to compress the three old classes into two by uploading the course
content to the web. The one freed up time will be used for an outside class.
We plan to introduce two basic exercises with skis on flat snow. No lift
pass is required for this.
How much does it cost?
The basic course for B-tele is 1 class/2 hours, with 2 classroom classes and 1 outdoor class. The cost is 10,000 yen/class/1 person and 16,000 yen/class/2 people. A lift ticket is not required for the basic course. The classroom portion can be taken even in seasons without snow. Weekdays are also welcome, not just weekends. Accommodation is available all year round for 11,000 yen/night with 2 meals (tax included). Lunch is 1,200-1,500 yen. The 1-night, 2-day, 3-class complete course starts at 13:30 on the first day and costs 40,000 yen/accommodation, class, and coffee (lift ticket is separate, 6,000-8,000 yen/2 days). The evening ski talk is free. You can bring your own alcohol. Chilled beer is 500 yen. Chilled white wine is 2,000 yen, split between the drinkers. For applications/inquiries, please send an email.
The another one, B-tele 
