going nordic = going ghay?

[ex-powderbroker]

last year we had a big group hammering the trails on the mountain by headlamp a few times. flying through the woods with friends at night was a pretty fun way to stay fit. this year it’s all solo action, but i’m still pretty happy there are extensive free networks in town. nice way to pass the time while the gf had some checkups at the hospital today. canada, eh

[Harry]

Update: mom is home, resting comfortably. Doc says surgery successful. Thanks everybody.


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[BCMtnHound]

Glad to hear all went well Harry!

Our skis hills are still closed due to the lockdown but the nordic trails are open. Finally got enough snow for them to open, been a very snow free year here. I'm usually cross country skiing solo. I love when the sun is streaming through the trees, maybe (hopefully) it's snowing, it's so quiet and peaceful. And with any good descents it goes from quiet bliss to real excitement. Love it.

Thing is, after a few years of getting out maybe 8 times a winter, I absolutely suck going down hill. I have zero confidence, and if the trail going down has curves that I can't see around I generally chicken out and walk.

For alpine skiing, I've been on stiff-as-fuck Moment M1's for over a decade. I'm a decent alpine skier, nothing really scares except unexpected ice. I can handle steep stuff with confidence.

I wonder if my stiff downhill skis have sort of taught me some bad habits that are carrying over. I just can't adapt to my xc skis.

My skis are a touch short for my height and definitely not a match for my (heavy) weight so that could be part of it. My plan was to get better appropriately sized skis this year but I've had zero luck finding something that isn't out of my price range.

In the mean time, does anyone have any advice for someone who is sketchy AF going down hills? I ski the same places every season, and at first I'm walking down most hills, and after a few sessions I get marginally better, but nowhere near where I want to be. My confidence always resets itself to zero every fall.

8 times a season isn't going to help you improve your technique. And having skis that aren't matched for your weight definitely will not help. I didn't catch if you are talking classic or skating, but the same general principle applies - you have to match your weight to the camber. Length is secondary, with going as short as the camber will allow for skate (maneuverability outweighs speed), and as long as your technique allows for classic (in set track, maneuverability takes a backseat to length of stride for speed).
And as mentioned, your tips set up the stride, plowing/skating with the outside ski and steering/stepping with the inside.

But no matter how good you are, steep icy track will always get the heart pumping. If you really get sketched on a downhill, with standard classic poles you can put them together under a thigh and (lightly!) use them as a brake. Harder to do with long skate ski poles, that often having specific constraining wrist straps. Don't forget to bend the knees - at least as much if not more than your back. Hard not to tense up, but do your best to stay supple on those wild descents.

[Danno]

Our skis hills are still closed due to the lockdown but the nordic trails are open. Finally got enough snow for them to open, been a very snow free year here. I'm usually cross country skiing solo. I love when the sun is streaming through the trees, maybe (hopefully) it's snowing, it's so quiet and peaceful. And with any good descents it goes from quiet bliss to real excitement. Love it.

Thing is, after a few years of getting out maybe 8 times a winter, I absolutely suck going down hill. I have zero confidence, and if the trail going down has curves that I can't see around I generally chicken out and walk.

In the mean time, does anyone have any advice for someone who is sketchy AF going down hills? .

On classic long skinnies, downhills are always sketch as fuck! Accept that you may have to sit down/fall sometimes. Fast feet are your friend, step turns work well. And nothing wrong with a gorilla stance snowplow!

[XXX-er]

I've known a few xc ski racers who post xc ski racing got into touring and the BC, the V02 max conditioning from years of ski racing from when their parents made them walk around on them misery sticks make for some awesume performance on the skin track

[BCMtnHound]

[bodywhomper]

Captain Nordic of truckee was always an inspiration. His BC skate ski exploits were amazing. I remember v1’ing once up a hill at royal gorge trying not to yack while he smoothly v2’ed past me. I knew him a little, some on this board knew him well.

My 15 yo needs new gear. He’s a sprout! We often shuffle around nearby but have passes this year to royal gorge. Any input on where to find used gear in the truckee area? We missed all the ski swaps this fall due covid.

[old goat]

Pizza! Pizzza! (Or whatever they call it in Estonia)

[BCMtnHound]

The greatest part is not the pile-ups, but the individual bails. The catalyst guy in blue at 30sec and last couple near the end, as the camera pans. Misery sticks indead.

[new yabyum]

This just in this AM: Jessie Diggens takes a first over Johaug of Norway ( Yes that Johaug, ye of little faith) Best year ever for there USA women.

[ex-powderbroker]

This just in this AM: Jessie Diggens takes a first over Johaug of Norway ( Yes that Johaug, ye of little faith) Best year ever for there SA women.

https://m.soundcloud.com/thedirtbagd...e-races-behind

if you find yourself wanting to listen to a pod about competitive xc skiing. it’s a classic.

Update: mom is home, resting comfortably. Doc says surgery successful. Thanks everybody.


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great news.


p.s. nordic is super, thanks for asking.

[Thaleia]

Hey thanks guys for the tips, that is greatly appreciated. Heading back out to hack at it this afternoon, and redoubling efforts to upgrade skis.

Good to hear news Harry.

[XXX-er]

redoubling efforts to upgrade skis.

the local xc ski & bike store got part of their order of xc skis in and they gone really quick so i'm hearing there is a shortage of skis along with bikes and just about every other outdoor rec product

[plugboots]

the local xc ski & bike store got part of their order of xc skis in and they gone really quick so i'm hearing there is a shortage of skis along with bikes and just about every other outdoor rec product

Back in December I was driving through Spokane, and was gonna buy some snowshoes for Mrs. Plug at the REI. They basically laughed and said they hadn't had snoeshows in stock for months.
My local shops have lots of skis FYI. For example: http://www.nordicultratune.com

[tellybele]

When I lived in FoCo I thought Eldora was expensive so I paid my $15/yr to the Medicine Bow Nordic Club and just hit Happy Jack. Awesome trail network and a mellow/casual WY type of gig(think opposite of Boulder and similar jellyfish zones). Saw a guy pull up in an F350 with a Heeler hanging on the spare gas tank. He took off his insulated Carharts and was wearing a UW Nordic team kit. He had it all, handlebar moustache, a cowdog and a nice "How you doing" kind of WY greeting when he walked be me trying to put my boots on in negative temps and 40mph winds.
RE: technique, it is a daily gig. I either check a YouTube or think of one of the many tips I have gotten over the years, get to the TH, get my mind straight and then head out for high heart rate trip slippin through the woods. For the DH, Nodic skis don't really turn, they do not have the camber for it. You either step turn or initiate little hockey stops, there just isn't any arcing happening. But like a multitude of other other endeavors you will go where you look so keep your head up and eyes ahead. It all just takes practice and knowing when to stop and rest to get yourself back together. You do not want to reinforce bad habits by just struggling to keep up or something....practice makes permanent!! For those that don't have NordicCenters, look into your local 'Biler club. I have 100s of miles of Biler groomed roads with 45' of my door. I prefer the 'Biler roads.

[romeo tango]

i decided to exit the closet today and let my inner-nordork rage
BC snowpack is a little twitchy lately, so, opted for a trail system....

the wind whispered through the fir and cedar,
little brown birds serenaded me from the tree tops,
furry forest animals scurried to get a better view of the creature
that dared disturb their winter domain,
it was serene as fuck!

.

[huckbucket]

i decided to exit the closet today and let my inner-nordork rage
BC snowpack is a little twitchy lately, so, opted for a trail system....

the wind whispered through the fir and cedar,
little brown birds serenaded me from the tree tops,
furry forest animals scurried to get a better view of the creature
that dared disturb their winter domain,
it was serene as fuck!

.

Awesome! Sounds like you didn’t even need lube.

[romeo tango]

the only time i needed lube
was when your sister was pulling that train in the bomb shack

.

[huckbucket]

the only time i needed lube
was when your sister was pulling that train in the bomb shack

.

Well played

[romeo tango]

thank you Sensei

.

[wooley12]

Hey thanks guys for the tips, that is greatly appreciated. Heading back out to hack at it this afternoon, and redoubling efforts to upgrade skis.

Good to hear news Harry.

Same here Harry.

Thaleia, Forget pretty much everything you learned about carving turns on stiff as fuck DH skis. And your skis are not a handicap. You need a new toolbox of turns to handle different snow conditions and steepness .
Step turn, Snowplow turn, Stem Christie, Hop turn, mini Telemark, true Telemark and the all important Sitz turn.

[Shredhead]

the wind whispered through the fir and cedar,
little brown birds serenaded me from the tree tops,
furry forest animals scurried to get a better view of the creature
that dared disturb their winter domain,
it was serene as fuck!

.

[VTskibum]

Bit of XCD attempt at one of my local mtb spots

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[Name Redacted]

Been getting out on the neighborhood singletrack on my three pin XCD setup. Might be a bit overkill with plastic boots but a lot more fun than I was having in leathers. Felt like my weight and size just couldn’t control these little skis.

Anyway, for a season where the snow kinda sucks at the resort these things have really been a life saver. Great workout and we hardly see anyone out there. Wish we had a dog and then the scene would be complete.

[skysos]

I've been having some fun weekend days at the Kirkwood XC center with my dog. It beats long lift lines and my best friend gets in on the action.



I've got a full backcountry setup, but in the end I'd usually rather hang out with him on the XC trails since he's a bit too old to charge through powder.