Cross country skiing/Nordic skiing/#nordorking

[adampaiva]

I got out twice when we got that nice blizzard two weeks ago here in the Catskills. Hopefully I get more snow this year and get out on the skis a bunch. This was Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and Flugertown snowmobile trails.
Maybe I need to make more of an effort and do some road trips up to the Adirondacks.

[paredown]

This thread makes me nostalgic for my long-lost XC skis and boots.

Did a bit when I was younger, did a lot of downhill. Now I are older, and I have never gotten back into either sport.

There is something really special about being off by yourself, hearing only your breathing, and making your way through the winter wilderness.

I may have to reinvest and get started again.

[sparky33]

I’ve got my daughters in the local xc program this year. The COVID cancelled our usual alpine ski VT situation, so this is a great year to sell them on nordic skiing. So far so good.

Probably I need an xc ski gear refresh too.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

Is XC skiing the same gear-intensive rabbit hole as bikes? Has to be

Not quite as gear intensive, but you can spend the better part of an afternoon, applying, removing, reapplying, scraping wax...

Almost enough to push you to waxless skis...which should always be the 3rd or 4th set in your quiver, just for those challenging days with sun, shade, changing temps, etc...

The good news is that you can have a fairly complete set of skis (multiple), boots (multiple), poles, outfits, etc. for roughly the cost of a single racing bike.

[livesadventure]

Glad so many are getting out skiing. Today was day 6 in a row, we’ve had pretty consistent snow in the Tahoe area with a few more feet on the way. Where I ski, they are limiting entrances and enforcing masks, with limited access to facilities. Once you get a mile from the trailhead, the trails are almost deserted.

@Clean, it can be as gear intensive as you want. Equally easy to ski with a hand me down set up as it is to by different skis for different snow types, race poles and daily poles, elaborate wax benches, weather tailored kit and more...


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[sparky33]

Originally Posted by livesadventure

This looks spectacular. Where in Tahoe is it?

[thwart]

Got an 8" dump Wednesday, and a free day today, so...

It'll be the first day on the skis this winter.

Re: gear.
I'm still using the vintage Landsem classic style skis and low Salomon boots and bindings, as well as the Swix poles we bought way back in the late '80's. My wife has upgraded her boots/bindings, but still using same vintage Skilom skis.

Had to re-glue the P-tex bottoms back on the Landsems a few years ago, but they've held up well since. Delamination will stop you dead in your tracks.

Well, OK, may be time to refresh. Yet the stuff still works great.

And wax? For our usual outings on decent condition snow with temps between the high teens and about 30° F, we try to keep it simple and easy. We default to blue, and it usually works out fine.

[teleguy57]

Thwart, I have a set of mid 80s skate skis; I'm thinking the L is red instead of blue but that's a very familiar view Always was a fan of Landsems; had a pair of classics that I loaned to teammates who were on better form than me and everyone loved them.

The Noquemenon Trail at the Forestville Trailhead in Marquette has less snow than usual for the UP, but still great skiing today. If the rest of 2020 was like the last day of the year it would have been a marvelous year.

My new knee said "hmm, what is this you're asking me to do?" and then decided it was ok. Heart and lungs....

Tomorrow is supposed to be just as nice, then the temps tick up a hair above freezing so I'll have to decide on skate skis or classic with magic wax.

Kinda like deciding which bike to ride for the day; great choice with which to be faced!

[thwart]

Originally Posted by teleguy57

... or classic with magic wax.

Klister wax/glue.

Stay away from that stuff.

Brings back some bad memories... a bit like trying to manage tubular glue with really cold and stiff fingers.

[November Dave]

Tried skate skiing for the first time 2 weeks ago in perfect conditions, got instantly hooked. Just today bought used skis and boots from the local pro shop (Woodstock VT), got a lucky score.

Now it just needs to dump snow so more trails reopen.

So much fun.

[Andy sti]

Originally Posted by November Dave

Tried skate skiing for the first time 2 weeks ago in perfect conditions, got instantly hooked. Just today bought used skis and boots from the local pro shop (Woodstock VT), got a lucky score.

Now it just needs to dump snow so more trails reopen.

So much fun.

Awesome! Keep with it, it’s so fun.

[JAGI410]

I finally bought my setup and went XC skiing today. 2nd time ever on skis of any kind, and first time on my own gear. I obviously need to work on my form, but damn I must admit I had a blast.

[thwart]

Yep.

If we have decent snow, XC skiing makes winter very, very tolerable.

Even look forward to it.

Almost.

[Andy sti]

This is a bike forum but starting the year on snow was way more fun than on a bike!

[Andy sti]

Originally Posted by JAGI410

I finally bought my setup and went XC skiing today. 2nd time ever on skis of any kind, and first time on my own gear. I obviously need to work on my form, but damn I must admit I had a blast.

It’s mandatory if you’re in Minnesota