TKS Technology

The technical solutions laboratory

At TKS, every challenge begins with identifying a need or problem encountered in the field. TKS Technology is where the team applies its expertise to find appropriate technical solutions that are both simple and effective. Rather than following trends or inventing for the sake of it, the objective is clear: to meet the expectations of practitioners by designing products that enhance their skiing experience.

The team focuses on concrete and practical solutions that bring real added value, whether it's making telemark skiing more accessible, improving ski performance or solving specific problems. Every idea stems from a need expressed by skiers: whether it's for better binding support, increased comfort or greater ease of use.

Prototypes are quickly tested in real conditions, and all feedback is taken into account to refine the products. This process enables TKS to offer reliable and durable products that meet skiers' expectations, while making practical improvements with each new version.

Innovations such as TKS AREA Technology, which solves the problem of telemark bindings coming loose and has now been adopted by certain ski brands, and the LTK heel piece, designed to enable a smooth transition between alpine and telemark modes, are the direct result of observing the specific needs of skiers. These are concrete responses to problems encountered in the field, not simply innovations for the sake of innovation.

TKS Technology is therefore above all a laboratory dedicated to the continuous improvement of the telemark experience, finding simple, effective and accessible solutions for all practitioners. Here are a few examples...

Delamination in telemark skiing: a technical challenge solved thanks to TKS TECHNOLOGY in 2019

The evolution of NTN boots in telemark skiing has improved precision and power transmission, but it has also increased the stress on skis, particularly at the bindings. NTN boots are stiffer and generate greater forces during turns and changes of direction. Combined with increasingly lighter skis, this phenomenon has led to delamination problems at the bindings. The bending, torsion and traction stresses exerted on these mounting areas weaken the skis, which can cause the bindings to tear off. To date, no manufacturer has been able to guarantee a solution to this recurring technical problem in telemark skiing.

It is in this context that TKS TECHNOLOGY has developed a specific technical solution. TKS AREA Technology is an internal plate specially designed to reinforce the binding mounting area on telemark skis. This technology allows for better distribution of the forces exerted, thus reducing the risk of delamination. Integrated directly into the ski, this innovation ensures greater strength and increased resistance to delamination and tearing, even in the most demanding conditions.

To date, this technology is the only one to offer a guarantee against delamination, making TKS the only manufacturer able to guarantee its skis in the world of telemark skiing. This is not just a simple improvement, but a real breakthrough, which has been adopted and validated by the 100% telemark brand L5S1, a major player in the sector.

By using skis equipped with TKS AREA Technology, telemark skiers can now enjoy their favourite sport with confidence, protected against delamination and tearing, two major technical problems. Thanks to this solution, TKS continues to establish itself as a market leader, combining innovation, performance and reliability for telemark enthusiasts.

2021: The universal external anti-lift solution: the Plate

Following the development of the internal plate integrated into TKS skis, the TKS Technology team wanted to go further by offering a universal solution compatible with all telemark skis, regardless of brand or model. The aim was to enable all skiers to benefit from effective protection against delamination and tearing, without having to change equipment or buy specific skis.

This led to the creation of the external reinforcement plate, an innovation designed to fit all telemark skis, while offering a simple and effective solution to this recurring problem. Placed between the binding and the ski, this plate slightly raises the telemark skier's position, while protecting the ski's structure from excessive stress.

Made from impact- and tensile-resistant thermoplastic, the plate combines lightness and strength. This material is perfectly suited to withstand the high pressures exerted on the bindings.

The team quickly nicknamed this innovation the ‘fuse’, in reference to the arm of a bicycle derailleur. Like a fuse, the plate distributes stress during prolonged pressure, absorbs stress without altering the natural behaviour of the ski, and thus protects it from delamination.

The external plate has been designed to fit all types of skis, making it a universal solution.

The external plate has been designed to fit all types of skis, making it a universal solution that allows every telemark skier, regardless of their equipment, to protect themselves against the risk of skis coming off.

Woody: a ski designed for telemark skiing!

Any alpine skier who has tried telemark skiing will have noticed that the pressure points change significantly when switching from alpine skis to telemark skis. In telemark skiing, the skier's weight is distributed differently, with increased pressure on the downhill ski, which becomes essential for maintaining balance and the dynamics of the turn. This fundamental difference prompted the TKS team to rethink the architecture of the Woody 90, a 100% wood ski, particularly the rear of the ski, to maximise telemark performance while ensuring unparalleled skiing pleasure.

The focus was therefore on the tail of the Woody, with the aim of offering a ski that facilitates turn initiation while improving the distribution of pressure between the downhill and uphill skis. To achieve this, the rear of the ski was designed with an asymmetrical shape, an innovation that optimises the grip of the downhill ski. This unique design ensures better transmission of force to the downhill ski during turns, making turn initiation more intuitive and responsive, thus offering increased control even on more difficult snow or in varied conditions.

The asymmetry of the heel allows for more efficient distribution of the forces exerted during the flexion phase, reducing the feeling of loss of control often experienced when turning in telemark skiing. The ski becomes more stable and manoeuvrable, while retaining its playful character. This design also ensures better lift in off-piste conditions, allowing the Woody 90 to maintain excellent glide, even in deeper or variable snow conditions.

This innovative tail design is not only about technical performance, it also contributes to the fluidity of the glide. The Woody 90 is a ski designed for telemark skiing, where every detail, from the 100% wood structure to the asymmetrical tail, has been carefully thought out to offer a unique experience on all types of terrain.

2025: the arrival of the TKS Area Touring...

With the arrival of new lightweight telemark boots, such as the SCARPA TX Pro and TX Comp, lovers of the great outdoors are rediscovering the desire to explore the mountains on telemark skis. Telemark touring is regaining its prestige, offering freedom on the ascent and the pleasure of genuflection on the descent.

However, while boots have evolved considerably, NTN bindings remain relatively heavy, weighing between 1044 g and 1200 g for the most common models, far from the standards of alpine ski touring.

There are lighter alternatives, based on the use of removable cables combined with low-tech front inserts, which are very competitive on the ascent (around 470 g per pair, cables in the bag), and therefore meet the criterion of lightness.

So what's the problem?

Delamination of lightweight skis remains a critical issue today. NTN boots, which are very powerful, generate significant stresses that sometimes exceed what lightweight ski constructions can withstand, especially when touring. This results in an increased risk of premature deterioration of the skis.

How can we reconcile lightness, performance and reliability in equipment?

It is precisely to answer this question that TKS Technology has developed the TKS Area Touring plate. Specially designed for telemark touring, this plate provides a reliable and protective base.

How can you combine lightness, performance and reliability in your equipment?

It is precisely to address this issue that TKS Technology has developed the TKS Area Touring plate. Specially designed for telemark touring, this plate provides a reliable and protective base for a lightweight telemark cable binding, combining efficiency on the ascent (around 460g per pair with cables in the bag) with enjoyment on the descent, without fear of damaging your skis under powerful pressure.

In the event of excessive stress—during a heavy fall, for example—the plate acts as a mechanical fuse: it absorbs the force and can even break to preserve the integrity of the ski. It is interchangeable and easily replaceable. And let's face it: it's better to replace a plate than to find that the ski has been used as a fuse... The images speak for themselves.

Rather than reinventing what already works, we have chosen to adapt the existing offering to specifically address the problem of delamination.

* To date, however, our field tests have not yet resulted in any broken plates or delamination of the skis, even with the new Scarpa boots!