I started drooling over NTN years ago when I saw a picture of the prototype. Some skiers call it the Holy Grail of telemark gear. The lateral stability of this binding is incredible. It rips, on and off piste, I would hear. Some aren’t convinced. “Maybe when it becomes a true step-in binding and loses some weight,” said Jamie Wolter, Professional Ski Patroller at Winter Park, Colorado. But one thing is for sure – NTN seems to be the future of telemark skiing.

For those of you who don’t know what NTN is, it stands for New Telemark Norm. Developed by Rottefella (inventors of the original three-pin binding) and in conjunction with boot makers Scarpa, Garmont, and Crispi, the NTN system works via a hinged plate with a pair of spring-loaded cartridges – all positioned under the forefoot, not the heel.

The NTN setup also offers semi-step-in convenience with the push of a lever on the front of the binding (no more bending over to attach your binding cables), a touring mode, a sideways release (not ISO certified) via hinged tabs on the back of the binding, and an integrated ski brake (no more leashes and worries about runaway skis). System converts say NTN-compatible boots are easier to walk and hike in without the duckbill, more comfortable, and easily fit into crampons and AT setups.

But the biggest advantage of the NTN system is that it brings a whole new level of performance to the sport. While it’s relatively easy to edge with the lead ski in a tele turn, getting the rear ski to carve in sync is a lot more challenging. “With NTN, you can transfer the driving forces of your legs in a tele stance to your edges without the lateral play that’s typical with cable bindings,” said Chris Cameron, Professional Ski Patroller at Winter Park, Colorado. It’s that torsional rigidity that gives tele skiers the power and control they’ve been craving.

While the NTN setup offers lots of pros, the system definitely has its cons. It’s taken years for the manufacturers to develop and further refine the NTN system to the point where it works well and reliably. Many early testers repeatedly wrote in their reviews that durability would play a big role in NTN’s success or failure – and they were right. One of the biggest issues has been with boot and binding compatibility. “I broke three pairs of boots and spent a lot of time dealing with customer service about my warranty,” explained Cameron. On earlier generations of the Scarpa NTN boots, the flex of the bellows was either too stiff, which caused the Pebax (plastic) material to crack, or too soft.

Chuck Bird, a pedorthist for 18 years in the outdoor industry and a tele skier who has seen and tried just about every iteration of the NTN system said Scarpa, Garmont, and Crispi have made great improvements to their newer generations of NTN boots. “The boot manufacturers will be making smaller sized boots next year so more people will be able to ski the setup. It’s unbelievable the amount of money these companies have spent on the NTN project,” he noted.

Another sore spot with NTN among skiers has been price. Not only do you have to fork over more than $300 for the binding, but NTN-specific boots are at least $650. But Bird cited a few reasons why he sees the cost issue on the wane. “The binding’s sophistication has gone up, touring bindings are now in the $300 price range, and people converting from alpine skiing are used to spending a lot on their gear.”

Despite the kinks, skiers I talked with look forward to NTN becoming more mainstream and think the investment in the system is well worth it. “The NTN solves so many problems that tele skiers currently have,” explained Bird. “Unbelievable front and back ski edge control. Comfortable boots you can actually walk in. And you don’t look stupid at the base of the mountain getting your bindings on.” Cameron, who skis the system an average of 40 days on pro patrol every season, sees other benefits. “The setup is less fatiguing and I have a lot of confidence in it. I don’t worry about losing a ski in avalanche terrain and if I need to get somewhere on the mountain fast, I can stand up and alpine with the NTN, no problem.”

Until an NTN boot geared for us smaller-footed people (or women specifically) hits the market, I’m going to stick with my current telemark setup. But with so many manufacturers working together on evolving NTN, I’m confident that my quest for the tele Grail will soon become a reality. Anybody have some coconuts I could bang together in the meantime?

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