\ Ty Guarino

Ty Guarino

Where are you from, when did you begin skiing and telemarking, and where do you ski most now?

I grew up in southern NH and learned how to ski at the age of three at Gunstock. In high school, my social studies teacher Dave Hawley told me that if I wanted to ski for real, I would have to free my heel; so here I am now, a telemark skier. Telemarking was also a much cheaper alternative than alpine touring, so I bought my first telemark touring setup for less 100 dollars.  I spent a lot of time in high school touring around Mt Washington, and then move to Bozeman MT in 2008 for Bridger Bowl… err I mean college. Now I am based out of Bozeman, ski a lot in the Tetons, and still ski a lot at Bridger.

What do you love about telemarking?

I floated back and forth between alpine skiing and telemark skiing for a while, but have realized that freeheeling is simply easier on my knees.  I have had 3 ACL reconstructions and torn my meniscus 4 times; all from Alpine skiing!  Comically enough, I really like the work-out I get from telemark turns, and the fluidity of the turn. Both of which make skiing on telemark gear much easier on my body.  I also like to have an excuse every time I tomahawk in the middle of my run. :-)

What do you like about our bindings?

I really like the fact that I can adapt the activeness of my bindings based upon which type of terrain I am skiing.  I generally ski on a neutral setting when I am skiing slow in steep no-fall terrain, and like a more active setting when skiing in bounds.  I also like the fact that they are indestructible.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not skiing?

When I am not skiing, I am generally working all the time as an instructor for Outward Bound or Montana Wilderness School. Between contracts I do random guiding work, host dinner parties at my friend’s houses, or go rock climbing.

Accomplishments, awards, and sponsors

My main psych for telemarking lies in ski mountaineering; trips and locations both near and far from home. I have first descents in the Revelations, St Elias, and Alaska Ranges of AK, also in the Purcell range in Canada, Peak descents of Cayambe and Chimborazo in Ecuador, and a number of classic ski descents in the Tetons including a solo ascent/descent of the Grand Teton. I most enjoy skiing sphincter clenching couloirs in no fall zones with close friends.  I have written for Telemark Skier magazine, run my own personal website www.telemarkty.com, and have been fortunate enough to share my love of backcountry skiing with students at Outward Bound. I am also sponsored by Voilé and Glerups of Denmark.

In the future I hope to continue skiing in wild places, share meaningful experiences with close friends, and push my personal boundaries both as an athlete and human being.

Ty GuarinoTy GuarinoTy Guarino
Ty Guarino