Telemark skiing combines elements of Alpine and Nordic skiing, and is known as the most elegant form of skiing. The invention of telemark skiing in the late 1800s is widely credited to Sondre Norheim, who came from the Telemark region in Norway. It subsequently became popular in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s.
While its popularity has declined since then, in particular due to the invention of alpine touring (AT) skis, there are many telemark enthusiasts out there who love the sport for its elegance, challenge, and freedom.