The XC Skiing thread

[dutchess]

No kick wax. After a few decades of storage there was no wax pocket left once the wood dried out. It was either grass drills up a sledding hill or full glide wax to work on double poling with no concerns for the equipment being ruined. There did turn out to be a local BNS with BC skis if conditions would have made them worth owning.

From the ankles up I was considerably better equipped.

[Mark Kelly]

As someone who never learned how to properly turn on xc skis, that's horrifying!
But I bet it would be a blast on a fat bike.

I raced Intervarsity in XC, one of my fellow team members (now Australia's National Coach) used to get us out on the downhill slopes on XC racing skis to practice so we would be faster on descents. It was OK for him, only bloke I've ever seen do Wedeln on racing skinnies, terrifying for the rest of us. Maybe it worked, we won IV two years in a row.

[caleb]

I developed an interest in exploring actual cross country skiing through the countryside as nature sculpted it.

Love it. Well told.

[dutchess]

Thanks, hope you didn't think I was picking on you. I suspected the photos you've posted were from T.W. park. Perfect blue plus skiing in December and January. Who'd have guessed.

It still looks like pond hockey and the luminary loppet are a bust this year. The week of near 40 and sunny starting today look like the end of any hopes for them going to program.

[caleb]

I've mostly been skiing Theo Wirth and Hyland the past two winters since the snow has been so bad. Are you in MSP?

[dutchess]

Ya, you betcha.

[lumpy]

That luminary loppet looks really fun. What a great idea.

I skied at Trapp Family Lodge on Saturday. Just classic. Wish I had brought my skate stuff but I thought it was going to be much bonier.

[teleguy57]

Time to bring this thread back to life for the upcoming season. After not having roller skied since 1982 I picked up a nice used set two weeks ago and have started some double poling workouts for upper body strength. Will start some striding as well soon (classic skis since I'm a classic guy).

One question for the racer types here. Looking for a recommendation for a GPS/HR monitor while on the trails. I've played with my Garmin 800 in a pocket or an armband and found it less that satisfactory. What wrist models have people found to work for them? Also thinking of going to the Schosche Rhythm + optical strap rather than a chest strap too. All advice welcome!

[lumpy]

We got four or five inches of snow last Thursday, which was enough for five laps of our back field. October skiing FTW.

[teleguy57]

Time to bring this thread back to life for the upcoming season. After not having roller skied since 1982 I picked up a nice used set two weeks ago and have started some double poling workouts for upper body strength. Will start some striding as well soon (classic skis since I'm a classic guy).

One question for the racer types here. Looking for a recommendation for a GPS/HR monitor while on the trails. I've played with my Garmin 800 in a pocket or an armband and found it less that satisfactory. What wrist models have people found to work for them? Also thinking of going to the Schosche Rhythm + optical strap rather than a chest strap too. All advice welcome!

Bueller? (bad form to quote yourself?)

We got four or five inches of snow last Thursday, which was enough for five laps of our back field. October skiing FTW.

October skiing FTW indeed! Color me envious (I think the color would be snow white). I remember back in my racer days chasing snow in northern WI. Did laps at Telemark on a 2km loop of manmade snow on the golf course with Audun Endestad and other US Nordic team studs on Oct 12 one year. Well, "with" may be overstating it; probably more appropriate to say we were skiing on the track during the same time of day. Humbling experience when they cruised past us -- which happened a lot on a 2km loop!

[DCT]

FYI - Lake Placid has plenty of snow and the trails are groomed.

[lumpy]

Prospect too, but I've been getting mine in the backcountry.

[DCT]

NEWS FLASH: Minnewaska State Park in New Paltz, NY is grooming!

[C.Dyer]

XC skiing with a toddler in a hiking backpack: sketchy or ok? Please discuss...

I'm aware they make those sled trailers, but we've got enough bullshit in the garage already.

[lumpy]

XC skiing with a toddler in a hiking backpack: sketchy or ok? Please discuss...

I'm aware they make those sled trailers, but we've got enough bullshit in the garage already.

Totally ok.

[christian]

XC skiing with a toddler in a hiking backpack: sketchy or ok? Please discuss...

How good a skiier are you? I would feel ok with it, but I'm reasonably confident on xc sticks.

[C.Dyer]

How good a skiier are you? I would feel ok with it, but I'm reasonably confident on xc sticks.

Decent. I learned that there's a place we can rent the sleds tho. I'll probably just do that.

[lumpy]

I've been making the most of this winter so far. There isn't that much snow on Mt. Greylock but the skiing's been super. Got a nice twilight tour last night:


And skied up to this scenic little beaver pond this morning:


I'm hoping no snowshoers passed over and chopped up the ski track today; I'm going back up tomorrow for another taste before rain comes in later this week.

[caleb]

Northug still has an extra gear (start at 38:46):

[t-hoe]

XC skiing with a toddler in a hiking backpack: sketchy or ok? Please discuss...

I'm aware they make those sled trailers, but we've got enough bullshit in the garage already.

not only is it legit, it's a 900 yr old tradition!
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