When Scarpa’s T3 died I was disappointed. When TX was killed I protested. When T-Race died, I didn’t lament personally, but I shared the grief of those who demanded the performance it delivered. Now that Scarpa has decided to relegate T1 to memory lane, there’s no denying the clock is counting down on the death of all 75mm duckbilled plastic telemark boots (PTBs).
Blame NTN
Why is Scarpa abandoning the T1? In a succinct text Kim Miller, president of Scarpa USA, said there was, “just not enough demand.” The same stroke that felled T-Race killed the market for T1 — NTN. TX-Pro does the same thing T1 was built for, only better. The reality is, high performance heavy telemark equipment is better served with an NTN connection that delivers more torsional rigidity for better edging, especially on hardpack, the dominant condition under the lifts. With the announced end of T1, in-bounds telemarkers will be forced to update to an NTN system. When you’re forced to migrate, you may have to try a few different rat traps to find which combination is best for you, but the good news is you will figure it out.
75mm destined for leather
The Nordic Norm that defines the geometry of the classic, 75mm wide, asymmetric, duckbilled sole isn’t going away. There is still a fair business in rugged touring, where telemark proficiency isn’t required. Not that it isn’t possible, but the emphasis is on touring mobility, turns are secondary. In fact, in the 75mm realm leather boots will be the norm. There isn’t much cuff to impede ankle movement in this genre, or much cuff to restrict it if you wanted to. Back in the day it was enough. It still is if you don’t set your sights too high.
T2 lives on
For the moment, T2 is safe. It is legendary. You might argue so is T1, but for different purposes. T2 is still the best PTB for touring Scarpa makes. If you want better, you need to make a Franken-TX with a custom cuff ripped off an AT boot. Otherwise, and especially if you’re a “duckbills or die” kind of guy, it’s time to make a last stand.
Retiring a Legend
While the opportunity to exceed turn performance makes the death of T1 easier to bear, it is the death of a legend. T1 is the second version Terminator. T2 came after Terminator, but when Scarpa turned their attention to revising the Terminator it became the T1.
The next T1, the bumblebee version, introduced Scarpa’s patented curved bellows. With the bumblebee version all the imperfections in the original Terminator were addressed. It wasn’t just one thing, it was everything. It had a rounder flex. The addition of the instep buckle locked your heel in the pocket. The liner was heat moldable. Ever since then the design has only seen slight changes, more buckles, different buckles, and more color schemes than I can keep track of, but the essence of the T1 remained the same.
In some ways the duckbilled T1 lives on. The T2 mold is based on the first black-on-black T1. It has the same horsepower as that early T1, but goes by the T2 name.
Although T1 has obviously been retired and extinction inevitable, it will remain visible for several years since we know PTBs don’t just die, they are abandoned, or given a life extension as hand me downs for newbies. They’re not truly dead and gone until they’re at the dump.
Nonetheless it is sad to see another telemark boot cut from the ledger. There’s only four left, and the two Crispi duckbill models, CX-R and CX-P, haven’t been seen west of the Mississippi in a long, long time.
The ranks of NTN boots aren’t growing either which begs the question of what the future holds for plastic Telemark boots. Will Scarpa be a one model Telemark boot company, or is there still a chance something will emerge from Scarpa’s skunkworks lab? How long would the wait have to be before it’s too late?
Long live T1. Long live the ducks.
© 2022
Ahhh, progress. Not always good. After a fall 30+ years ago that nearly tore my ankle off because the ski wouldn’t release, I swore I’d never ski tele without a releaseable binding. Thank goodness for the old Voile releasable, then the 7TM DIN-rated bindings.
Are there any releaseable NTN bindings, or do I need to go on a mad search for another replacement pair of 75mm T1s?
Nearly all NTN bindings are capable of releasing. The question is a matter of reliability. Rottefella’s Freedom and Freeride both have a documented history of releasability. The Meidjo is designed to release, and can, but hasn’t been around long enough to have a proven track record one way or the other. Neither Lynx or Outlaw claim releaseability, but it is known to occur. Same for TTS bindings, though there is even less evidence for TTS. Same for the Bishop BMF. If you want reliable telemark release the 7tm is the only telemark binding that is DIN certified. All others are a bit of a crap shoot. To be sure NTN bindings are theoretically releasable, but a lot depends on circumstances. They can, but you can’t count on it.
So bummed that our telemark boot options are diminishing in numbers. I would love to find a T1 in size 23.0. A long shot, especially given that they stopped making a women’s T1 in 2008. But one can hope. Please reach out if you have any leads for me.
The profit oriented short sightedness of this small telemark market prevents the growth practitioners AND manufacturers desire. Besides offering something for women with petite feet, if we desire telemark skiing to continue in perpetuity the industry MUST provide boots small enough for kids, i.e, down to mondo size 18. Those who did no longer do. That is a formula for extinction.
I will always have a space in my heart for the Duck Bills! So good for punching into firm snow while going up. Ive made the jump to NTNs. They good.
Anyone have an ear at Scarpa they can influence on this. If so, Scarpa please make a new line of 2-3 NTN boots, low to high stiffness such as T2, T1 and T Race equivalent in new plastic and materials (that likes that we drool over and see our AT friends using… AT boots are amazing designs these days!)
last i heard was Scarpa tinkering with new bellows for their boots and that was 3-4 years ago…
Scarpa can ya please Add the tech inserts to your stiffest boots and give us the option to sign a release of liability! I wont sue you.
I have a pair of NTN TX Comps that do the job however they are very heavy and use a similar mold thatz gotta be like 12 yrs old as they share the T1 and T Race design.
If you have anyones contact at Scarpa please copy this beacon of hope and share it with them. ✅
I feel as though I have completed my telemark journey. I just bought a new pair of T1’s this year, and I purchased my first boots either the first or second year that the Terminators came out. I was going to Western State at the time and skiing at Crested Butte where there was no higher pursuit than telemark. It is comforting to know that I have owned the first and last iteration of the boots. My life is complete. Long live Punk Rock and Telemark Skiing!
I’m with you on this Rob. It was fun looking at those photos and seeing the different models I skied starting with the purple monsters all the way up to this last iteration. I’m hoping these last ones will last the rest of my skiing career!
Alex
I agree, the NTN setup is just better in many ways, especially the firm stuff. I love being able to switch from T1 setup (Axl) to TxPro setup (OutlawX), depending on conditions. Also, when going back to back days, it affords the ability to dry liners, etc.
I’ll be looking for a T1 or Race in a 27.5 (Men’s).
I have stockpiled 75mm boots for years now; not easy when you wear a size 32! I also stockpiled Asolo Extremes and Alico leather boots. And, then, I hoarded Tua skis… you get the picture. I am not moving into the ‘future’. NTN is fine, but it is not telemark skiing as I learned it and still prefer it. Progress is never perfect– you gain and you lose things. But in the tech driven outdoor industry, the losses are often not counted. In my view, there is no better descent option on all terrain than original T2’s, Chouinard Expresso skis, and 3 pin bindings. Hoard old gear, or be forced to ‘upgrade’. You will gain from the upgrades (no doubt) but you will lose something, as well. Consider the losses and you might start haunting EBAY.
This is a good development….only if it opens room for a NTN-Tech touring boot in the line up (“F1 with bellows and a duckbutt”).
This is SO infuriating!!! First they got rid of the best boot ever made – the T-race. Then they “created a new” boot that’s NTN, made it look like the T-race on the top and basically hybridized it with a crappy, sloppy T2. Fine Scarpa. Just make things ONLY for people who want to go for a hike. Driven by money. If anyone has a 25.5 or 26 T-race somewhere I will happily take it off your hands.
I have both the original terminator and the bumble bee! Both were great in their time, but NTN is just so much better to ski in. It’s hard to make the upgrade since it costs so much for both boots and bindings, but in the long run, the skiing is just that much better.