Here's a nice series from the folks at FastWax on getting your skate skis ready for the season. Similar approaches can be used on the glide surfaces of classic skis (tips and tails) if you want to go extra fast.
For most of us the steps outlined in the first two videos are all that need to be done to get ready for the season. The final two videos are more for race prep.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
Join the new Burg Nordic Club!
12/03/14 Update
Please check the update here.
Information on the new Burg Nordic Club is posted here. Remember, we have ten sets of classic skis available for free for the high school kids, and the Outdoor Resource Center (ORC) at BYU-I has both classic and some skate skis for rent on a daily basis (first come, first served).
Please check the update here.
Information on the new Burg Nordic Club is posted here. Remember, we have ten sets of classic skis available for free for the high school kids, and the Outdoor Resource Center (ORC) at BYU-I has both classic and some skate skis for rent on a daily basis (first come, first served).
No previous experience is required, truly. As Jeff said, those who know a little more will be there to help those who know a little less. Come have fun, learn new skills, get in fantastic shape (if you feel like pushing yourself), and learn to love winter like never before. Join us on Dec 6 for the Nordic Ski Kick-Off. We will coach the high schoolers at 4pm-ish (come when you can) on Mondays and Thursdays, starting December 8th, at the Teton Lakes Golf Course, but anyone can show up to ski.
Note, there are no additional fees for the Monday/Thursday ski club. You bring yourself and your equipment, and just show up and have fun. Any extra activities (like races) are completely up to you.
Nov 24 Ski Report
It's 10:45am, just finished skate skiing at the golf course. The base track is firm and icy, but the new snow from the weekend is cushion enough to make for some fun stretches. It's actually like spring crust cruising. There are a lot of bare patches. Don't try to do everything. Stay off the Cow Pasture for sure, and avoid the Clover Leaf. There are some good areas, but enough bare spots to not make it worthwhile on the Clover Leaf. The best skate skiing is on The Boot, especially the south side.
Also, be aware that someone rode their bike down the first half mile or so of the Perimeter (from the parking lot, to the West side, and straight north). I caught my skis in that rut several times. Please spread the word that bikes are not allowed on the skate track. They're even worse than classic skis (which aren't good for the skate track either), since the bikes leave a much deeper rut.
The descent at the northeast corner is very ice, so take it easy there.
If you get out before it gets warm, I think you'll have a satisfactory ski.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Nordic Skiing Stunts
For anyone who thinks nordic skiing is boring...
(Thanks for sharing this, Dave).
P.S. No, we will not be doing this. Yet.
(Thanks for sharing this, Dave).
P.S. No, we will not be doing this. Yet.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Nov 21 Track Report
Teton Lakes Ski Report
I skate skied this morning and was surprised and pleased that the track had held up since yesterday. After yesterday's warming, I thought there would be little left of the track, and that anything left would be too icy to be fun. But it actually was practically identical to yesterday morning's conditions - not icy, a little soft, but slippy enough for a good skate. Snow and rain are predicted this weekend, so we'll see how things turn out at the golf course.I was really happy to see a couple of ladies I know out there classic skiing this morning - they are regulars and I saw them lots last winter. I also ran into a friend who was scoping out the skate track. It's pretty early in the season to have any sort of track or to have people interested already, so this is pretty exciting and it will only get better. I think this will be a great year for the Nordic community (as long as there's snow!) with hopefully lots of people joining in the sport and spreading enthusiasm. The more the merrier!
Reminder
Don't forget the upcoming Cross-country Kick-off! If there's no snow, then we'll figure something out, maybe just getting fit for skis, some basic instruction on dry land, and outfitting the High Schoolers with the city skis that we have.Ski Festival
Also, a lot is going on in West Yellowstone this weekend and next week. Check out the West Yellowstone Ski Festival to get an idea of how interesting and popular this multi-day event is. We will take our kids up for the one-day kids clinic (and a clinic for ourselves) next Saturday. It'd be fun to see any of you up there if there are slots still available!Thursday, November 20, 2014
City Offering Family X-Country Ski Clinics
The City of Rexburg is going to offer a clinic for families. Tom Anderson is spear-heading this event. He is a great skier with lots of experience. He will definitely make it a fun activity for all ages (bring the kids!). Here's the info:
Beginners Cross Country Ski Clinic
If you have always wanted to give cross country ski a chance, now is the time. We will have 2 family clinic days in January. You must provide your own equipment: equipment can be rented at the ORC at Brigham Young University – Idaho. Come out and give it a try. We will have instructors there to help all ages. Make it a family night out and come out and enjoy the snow.
Dates: January 12th & January 26th
Day: Monday
Time: 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Where: Teton Golf Course
Activity Fee: $20.00 per family
Or
$10.00 per person
Roller Ski to Skate Ski Transition
I need to report on how a summer of roller skiing helped with today's skiing:
I had my first ski of the season today. Randy groomed the course two days ago, and I stayed off it yesterday to let it set up (well, truthfully I stayed off just because I hadn't prepped my skis yet). This morning I spent too much time scraping off the storage wax Jeff had put on my skis at the end of last season, then applying a couple of layers of new wax. I was anticipating a third application when Randy called to tell me I'd better just go ski before it warmed up too much. So I finished scraping and brushing and buffing the second layer, then drove to the golf course, a little worried that the track wouldn't be skiable. But it was great (I skated on CH7 wax), especially for so early in the season. The base had set up well in many areas, although there were plenty of bare places I had to step around. Do the snow dance, everyone! It won't take much more snow to even out the track.
So for my inaugural ski, I was interested to see if it would take much time to find my ski legs again. Usually it takes me a fair bit before I feel comfortable again at the beginning of each season. Three years ago it was a couple of weeks; two years ago it was a couple of days; last year it was about two hours (improving with age!). But this year I have a whole summer of roller skiing under my belt, and I was really hoping I'd have zero trouble transitioning to snow. Well, I think roller skiing helped because today, although not zero minutes, it did only take about 15 minutes on the snow before I felt stable. However, I was still surprised at those first 15 minutes. I slipped and slid and caught my tips and wobbled all over the place like I'd never skated before. I had to relearn to lift my ski higher than a roller ski and remind myself what it feels like to skate on slippery snow rather than skate on bumpy asphalt (I prefer snow any day. It doesn't hurt when you fall). I had to practice skating without poles, and then with poles. Then the most bewildering moment was when I wanted to stop to adjust my gloves. I leaned back on my right leg and waited for the stop to come. It was a confusing moment as I kept gliding, until I realized I was trying to lean back into a non-existent roller ski brake.
Roller skiing is not the same as skate skiing. The motions are extraordinarily similar, but there are still differences, even if only subtle ones. Anyway, when I stopped acting as if I was roller skiing on the snow today and started skating in earnest, I had a great time. There were some really good, long stretches of fast track (mixed in with some patches of grass and gravel). I can tell I am not as strong now as I was at the end of last season, but the fitness will come back. Still, I was pleased that roller skiing has made me better at V2, and also doing V2 Alternate on my right side. Last season I spent probably 90% of the time doing V2 Alternate, pulling only on my left side, and never felt entirely comfortable switching sides or switching to V2. Roller skiing also made me better at pulling on both sides of V1 when climbing hills. Finally, I noticed that roller skiing has helped my arm and core strength go from negative to just-barely-positive (I'm a wimp!). Previously, I've skated with most of the power coming from legs only, even skating pretty much the same speed with or without using my arms. That's not good. So although I felt like my legs weren't as strong today, I think my whole body was more balanced. Improvements in form, and yet a loss of fitness, made for a moment of mixed feelings. But then the euphoria of just being out there trumped everything.
Roller skiing was a ton of fun this summer, and like skate skiing, it makes me feel like I'm flying. It helped me get ready for winter, and it was fun, but nothing is as fun as actual on-snow skating. And how nice is it that we have the golf course just a few minutes away? Thanks to Randy for grooming and making this possible.
I had my first ski of the season today. Randy groomed the course two days ago, and I stayed off it yesterday to let it set up (well, truthfully I stayed off just because I hadn't prepped my skis yet). This morning I spent too much time scraping off the storage wax Jeff had put on my skis at the end of last season, then applying a couple of layers of new wax. I was anticipating a third application when Randy called to tell me I'd better just go ski before it warmed up too much. So I finished scraping and brushing and buffing the second layer, then drove to the golf course, a little worried that the track wouldn't be skiable. But it was great (I skated on CH7 wax), especially for so early in the season. The base had set up well in many areas, although there were plenty of bare places I had to step around. Do the snow dance, everyone! It won't take much more snow to even out the track.
So for my inaugural ski, I was interested to see if it would take much time to find my ski legs again. Usually it takes me a fair bit before I feel comfortable again at the beginning of each season. Three years ago it was a couple of weeks; two years ago it was a couple of days; last year it was about two hours (improving with age!). But this year I have a whole summer of roller skiing under my belt, and I was really hoping I'd have zero trouble transitioning to snow. Well, I think roller skiing helped because today, although not zero minutes, it did only take about 15 minutes on the snow before I felt stable. However, I was still surprised at those first 15 minutes. I slipped and slid and caught my tips and wobbled all over the place like I'd never skated before. I had to relearn to lift my ski higher than a roller ski and remind myself what it feels like to skate on slippery snow rather than skate on bumpy asphalt (I prefer snow any day. It doesn't hurt when you fall). I had to practice skating without poles, and then with poles. Then the most bewildering moment was when I wanted to stop to adjust my gloves. I leaned back on my right leg and waited for the stop to come. It was a confusing moment as I kept gliding, until I realized I was trying to lean back into a non-existent roller ski brake.
Roller skiing is not the same as skate skiing. The motions are extraordinarily similar, but there are still differences, even if only subtle ones. Anyway, when I stopped acting as if I was roller skiing on the snow today and started skating in earnest, I had a great time. There were some really good, long stretches of fast track (mixed in with some patches of grass and gravel). I can tell I am not as strong now as I was at the end of last season, but the fitness will come back. Still, I was pleased that roller skiing has made me better at V2, and also doing V2 Alternate on my right side. Last season I spent probably 90% of the time doing V2 Alternate, pulling only on my left side, and never felt entirely comfortable switching sides or switching to V2. Roller skiing also made me better at pulling on both sides of V1 when climbing hills. Finally, I noticed that roller skiing has helped my arm and core strength go from negative to just-barely-positive (I'm a wimp!). Previously, I've skated with most of the power coming from legs only, even skating pretty much the same speed with or without using my arms. That's not good. So although I felt like my legs weren't as strong today, I think my whole body was more balanced. Improvements in form, and yet a loss of fitness, made for a moment of mixed feelings. But then the euphoria of just being out there trumped everything.
Roller skiing was a ton of fun this summer, and like skate skiing, it makes me feel like I'm flying. It helped me get ready for winter, and it was fun, but nothing is as fun as actual on-snow skating. And how nice is it that we have the golf course just a few minutes away? Thanks to Randy for grooming and making this possible.
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