SU and I have XC skiis, but they are about 30 years old. The shoes are really falling apart - skiis are OK, but I got waxable ones because I was a purist back then (and waxless wasn't all that good then) and they are kind of a pain. The last time we went was in our yard, I fell down in the driveway and got the largest, nastiest bruise on my butt that I have ever seen. XC skiing is GREAT exercise though!
Anyone else XC-ski?
Does anyone else cross-country ski? How often? I bought some Rossignol XC-skis, bindings & boots about 6 years ago so that whenever we have snows of 4"/10 cm or more, I could use them for taking Puff on our morning walks in the nature preserve.
Some winters there's not enough snow to use them at all. Last winter we had two periods of over 2 weeks long when I used them every morning.
No one was happier to see the last of the snow melt than me. I was getting exhausted.
Yesterday afternoon, Puff and I went for 1 mile/1.6 km trip, me on the skis for the first time this winter. I was a little tired at the end but not bad.
This morning, since our great Parks & Rec dept had just plowed the parking lot where Puff and I usually begin and end our morning walks, we set out again, me on XC skis, Puff on foot.
The temperature has been very cold, near 0ºF/-18ºC, and the snow's formed a firm crust (not glassy) that nicely supported my skis and almost supported Puff's feet.
We went about 1½ miles/2½ km this morning and I didn't feel exhausted by the time we got to the car.
But now, about 4 hrs later, it seems like I can feel almost every muscle in my arms, shoulders, neck, back, and even some in my butt! And I regularly attend a 3X/week physical fitness class that builds strength in most muscles.
Ooof!! I'll feel very relieved to have a few days of above freezing temps to melt the snow.
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Some winters there's not enough snow to use them at all. Last winter we had two periods of over 2 weeks long when I used them every morning.
No one was happier to see the last of the snow melt than me. I was getting exhausted.Yesterday afternoon, Puff and I went for 1 mile/1.6 km trip, me on the skis for the first time this winter. I was a little tired at the end but not bad.
This morning, since our great Parks & Rec dept had just plowed the parking lot where Puff and I usually begin and end our morning walks, we set out again, me on XC skis, Puff on foot.
The temperature has been very cold, near 0ºF/-18ºC, and the snow's formed a firm crust (not glassy) that nicely supported my skis and almost supported Puff's feet.
We went about 1½ miles/2½ km this morning and I didn't feel exhausted by the time we got to the car.
But now, about 4 hrs later, it seems like I can feel almost every muscle in my arms, shoulders, neck, back, and even some in my butt! And I regularly attend a 3X/week physical fitness class that builds strength in most muscles.
Ooof!! I'll feel very relieved to have a few days of above freezing temps to melt the snow.
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I downhill ski because I'm too much of a speed demon, but even on DH skis on the longer runs, you still have to work quite a bit when the hill is more flat.. I can't imagine XC skiing - I think I would get mad that it took so long to get somewhere! And my legs would probably fall off.
And my legs would probably fall off.
I grew up in Vermont and our skis, wooden then, had bindings that held only the toes so our heels could lift. They were somwhat similar to today's Telemark or military skis -- multipurpose downhill & XC.
After moving to Kansas, I started going to Colorado 3-4 X/year, especially Winter Park and Vail (close friends in Vail), but also A-Basin, Copper, Keystone, Breckinridge, Aspen's slopes, Snowmass, Buttermik, etc, I adapted to downhill and loved it and still have all equipment.
My orthopedic surgeon prohibits me (after 2 TKRs) from downhill skiing again but I think I might sneak a few runs down some green (the easy) slopes since I'm a fairly experienced downhill skier.
There's not much downhill skiing in Kansas. Some years there's a small slope with a rope tow operating in Lawrence and another near Atchison. They've made their own snow when it's cold enough. They're no fun to ski but I have used it to help newbies adjust to having those stange boards on their feet before taking them out to Colorado for a ski adventure. It replaces their first day there so they start on a day 2 instead of day 1.
I much prefer Alpine/downhill to XC. But, since our nature preserve is mainly level, I sure would rather ski 2 miiles on XC skis than use my downhill skis and boots. (Downhill/Alpine boots are attached toe and heel to the ski -- skiing over level ground is something I do as little as posssible; IMO, it's more comfortable to take the skis off and just walk there if it's much over 100'/30 m.).
The weather forecast for the week ahead has no periods above freezing and some light snows are predicted. I'll just have to suck it up and XC this next week, consoling myself that the exercise is ultimately beneficial and chanting "no pain, no gain."
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After moving to Kansas, I started going to Colorado 3-4 X/year, especially Winter Park and Vail (close friends in Vail), but also A-Basin, Copper, Keystone, Breckinridge, Aspen's slopes, Snowmass, Buttermik, etc, I adapted to downhill and loved it and still have all equipment.
My orthopedic surgeon prohibits me (after 2 TKRs) from downhill skiing again but I think I might sneak a few runs down some green (the easy) slopes since I'm a fairly experienced downhill skier.
There's not much downhill skiing in Kansas. Some years there's a small slope with a rope tow operating in Lawrence and another near Atchison. They've made their own snow when it's cold enough. They're no fun to ski but I have used it to help newbies adjust to having those stange boards on their feet before taking them out to Colorado for a ski adventure. It replaces their first day there so they start on a day 2 instead of day 1.
I much prefer Alpine/downhill to XC. But, since our nature preserve is mainly level, I sure would rather ski 2 miiles on XC skis than use my downhill skis and boots. (Downhill/Alpine boots are attached toe and heel to the ski -- skiing over level ground is something I do as little as posssible; IMO, it's more comfortable to take the skis off and just walk there if it's much over 100'/30 m.).
The weather forecast for the week ahead has no periods above freezing and some light snows are predicted. I'll just have to suck it up and XC this next week, consoling myself that the exercise is ultimately beneficial and chanting "no pain, no gain."
I cross country ski 4-5 days/week when there is enough snow cover in Wisconsin. Bob, when you cc ski are you able to follow a groomed trail or at least a trail that you have previously broken the day before? Following in your previous tracks, (or someone else's) will make the glide so much easier. Tomorrow try an out and back and follow your same tracks. With all of your exercise routine and dancing, you will do well and you will make Puff happy. (Isn't that our goal: making our dogs happy? )
I ski both on groomed trails where I cannot take Payton, and on trails where Payton can run with me while I ski.
One important tip is using the wrist straps properly on your poles. Grip the pole by fishing your hand up UNDER the wrist strap and THEN grasp the handle of the pole. By doing this, you are actually pushing off the wrist strap and getting a better angle. (The strap will be lying on the palm of your glove and the loop of the wrist strap will be encircling your wrist.) Have fun and give it another try before it all melts. The season is way too short.
We also love downhill skiing and my husband is on ski patrol here in WI. My car license plate says FUN 2 SKI
(Isn't that our goal: making our dogs happy? ) I ski both on groomed trails where I cannot take Payton, and on trails where Payton can run with me while I ski.
One important tip is using the wrist straps properly on your poles. Grip the pole by fishing your hand up UNDER the wrist strap and THEN grasp the handle of the pole. By doing this, you are actually pushing off the wrist strap and getting a better angle. (The strap will be lying on the palm of your glove and the loop of the wrist strap will be encircling your wrist.) Have fun and give it another try before it all melts. The season is way too short.
We also love downhill skiing and my husband is on ski patrol here in WI. My car license plate says FUN 2 SKI
Thanks for the tips -- I do use the straps and poles the way you described.
There is a spider web of trails through the nature preserve where a few others also XC ski but the greater number just tramp through with boots. It's usually much easier to use the path left by a skier (mine or someone else's) but many of the NP's trails are marred by the bootmarks left by walkers slogging through. And they seem to favor walking where a skiier has compacted the snow a bit more. In doing so, they leave large frozen "boulders" that aren't fun to ski over. Fortunately, many of the trails are wide enough to ski adjacent to the bootmarks and disturbed snow. PLUS the current zero and near-Z F. temps have made the crust substantial enough so there's almost no trail to make (no extra effort) by doing that. (And that will be true all next week until next Saturday or Sunday a week -- the first time that temps are predicted to be even slightly above freezing.)
I started using some ibuprofen for the sore muscles and that does help quite a bit. Judging by the weather forecast, I'll be skiing every morning for at least the next week.
I apply "Musher's Secret" to Puff's paws each time before we go out and that nicely defeats any snow or ice balls forming between her pads and toes.
(My license plates read LAB CAB ).
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There is a spider web of trails through the nature preserve where a few others also XC ski but the greater number just tramp through with boots. It's usually much easier to use the path left by a skier (mine or someone else's) but many of the NP's trails are marred by the bootmarks left by walkers slogging through. And they seem to favor walking where a skiier has compacted the snow a bit more. In doing so, they leave large frozen "boulders" that aren't fun to ski over. Fortunately, many of the trails are wide enough to ski adjacent to the bootmarks and disturbed snow. PLUS the current zero and near-Z F. temps have made the crust substantial enough so there's almost no trail to make (no extra effort) by doing that. (And that will be true all next week until next Saturday or Sunday a week -- the first time that temps are predicted to be even slightly above freezing.)
I started using some ibuprofen for the sore muscles and that does help quite a bit. Judging by the weather forecast, I'll be skiing every morning for at least the next week.
I apply "Musher's Secret" to Puff's paws each time before we go out and that nicely defeats any snow or ice balls forming between her pads and toes.
(My license plates read LAB CAB
).
Walking on ski trails is my pet peeve.
Yes, take the Ibuprofen routinely three times per day for a few days and report back on how the skiing is tomorrow. Crusty snow does make it harder to get a good bite for a nice glide.
Unfortunately when the snow is unbroken or not compacted, XC ski trails make walking much, much easier and I am guilty of walking in ski ruts at the dog park.Walking on ski trails is my pet peeve.
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