Absolute Telemark is a project started by René-Martin Trudel.
I’m a mountain enthusiast that wants to promote telemark skiing. Through this web site, my goal is to share my experience and exchange with telemark skiers from all over.
I’ am a level 4 telemark instructor, a ski patroller and a ski guide. My life has been driven by mountain and snow, professionally for the past 30 years.
I’ve skied my all life.
I don’t remember my first turns neither my first ride up a chair lift. I was 3 years old.
Now 48, I live a mountain life, 30 years full time jobs on ski resorts and in the backcountry. That’s all I ever did. I’m a telemark skier. I think that describe me better than anything. Telemark is more than a sport to me; it’s a feeling, a vibe, a community, and an art form. And it rips too.
At age 15, I got my ski instructor certificate and taught alpine skiing for 6 seasons. During that time, I got the chance to try telemark skiing. One year, my ski school director, the visionary Tony Dinelly, bought 15 telemark kits and promise the interested one’s a paid level 1 telemark instructor course. It changed my life, forged a passion. «I quit» I told Tony the next year, I wanted more skiing and less teaching. I never looked back and I became a ski patroller, enabling me to telemark all season long, at my own pace.
PATROLLER
After a decade of ski bumming around a few places, living in shacks, travel trailers or converted school buses, I now patrol for Le Massif, Eastern Canada’s highest vertical (2500 feet vertical). It’s got an incredible view on the St-Laurence river and over 1500 inch of powder every year. Not bad for the East. Most of all it’s a small big resort. Just a fun place to be. 15 years full time ski patrol has given me the experience toi ski à lot. In all terrain, in all conditions and have shaped the skier I’m today. I’m now in my 23rd season as a ski patroller and do it part time.
TELEMARK INSTRUCTOR
Since 2016, because of this website, I’ve reembarked in the telemark instructor progeression and I’ve now acquiered my level 4 with the Canadian Association of Nordic Skiing Instructor (CANSI). This is the higest level in the country. I’ve also just qualified (2026) to represent Canada on the canadian Insterski team. I run telemark lesson, telemark instructor course, ski week seminars and more. If I have one quality our special power above all else, it’s my ability to explain movement. And this is what this website is all about
SKI GUIDE
I’m in my 11th year as a ski guide in the Chic-Chocs with Vertigo Adventures. This coop is the oldest backcountry ski outfiters in Quebec’ Chic Chocs. Our exclusive domains are just beyond extraordinaire. They combine the best snow, the most remote mountains and the very coozy Yurts for you to stay. I trully love this place, it’s people, the VIBE. I’m now theacting president of the coop. I’m there full time from mid january to late march.
The goal as always been to TELEMARK, to be out there.
Working, on my days off, traveling, it’s always been about that. There is nothing else. That’s how Absolute Telemark is born, just another excuse to ski, to get others psyched. If you know what I mean, or if you want to know, see the blog.
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