Cross-country skiing

In My Humble Opinion
1

I haven’t been alpine skiing (how I first destroyed my knees, BTW) in probably 10 years. Maybe I’ll get back into it, but I’ve too many other things going on right now. So. Except for the little hill down to the beach (which is a popular place for the neighbourhood kids in the Winter), it’s fairly flat here. Why not get some cross-country skis? Should be low-impact on the knees, I’d be able to get out when it snows, it should be decent exercise, and it should be fun. Been wanting to do it for years, only I was preoccupied with downhill.

Does anyone have any information they’d like to share?

(Incidentally, last year was quite snowy. NOAA is predicting a warmer, drier Winter this year. So I may not get to ski out my door this season.)

2

I only X-C ski now, too. It is fantastic exercise, quiet, and peaceful. Around here, there are tons of groomed trails. You should probably get an idea if you are looking at traditional (straight track) or Skate-skiing. I do the straight line due to bad hips and knees - that might be a better bet for you, too.

X-C is a bit tough if there aren’t trails - breaking a trail requires pretty consistant techniques if you want to use it again, or have anybody follow you.

In the absence of groomed trails, though - have you considered snowshoes? They can go anywhere. Skis are limited in that you do NOT want to cross roads, pavement etc. - you will trash the smooth bottom surface the skis need. But snowshoes are pretty much “all terrain” gear.

3

And I just loaded some Dropkick Murphys on the ol’ iPod. :slight_smile:

Can you skate-ski and straight-track on the same skis? On alpine skis I would skate on the flats.

There are no groomed trails here (though there are nearer Bellingham, I’m told). Snow is usually light, but often deep enough for skiing. Plowing doesn’t seem to happen much in this neighbourhood. At least, last year I didn’t see any on my street. The snow was well-compacted by people driving on it. (Not that there’s all that much traffic.)

4

[quote=“Johnny_L.A, post:3, topic:514246”]

Can you skate-ski and straight-track on the same skis? On alpine skis I would skate on the flats.

QUOTE]

You know, I couldn’t tell you. I’m still using the ancient “waxless” skis I got in my youth, and with my hips, I couldn’t even attempt to skate! You don’t want to ski if there is any salt or sand on the roads, though. Hopefully someone with a braoder knowledge base than me will be by!

5

Check local golf courses and parks - I’ve lived in several states and always found that golf courses and parks frequently had groomed trails in the winter.

I suggest starting out on groomed trails first until you get comfortable and achieve some technique. You will fall down some at first, and be a little cautious as injuries are still possible. Start with short sessions and work up endurance slowly. If you aren’t used to exercising in cold weather start with short sessions.

Wear many many layers. As you warm up you will want to (and should) peel some of them off, then reapply when you cool down afterwards. Do not work up a soaking sweat, that’s a recipe for hypothermia, which is a bad thing.

Take a cellphone - if you’re injured you’ll be able to call for help rather than waiting for someone to find you.

Either go with someone, or let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. This may sound like overkill if you live in an urban environment, or even suburban one, but people are less likely to be out and about in winter, and if you have to stop moving or get lost you’ll cool down dangerously quick.

Bring fluids - you are, after all, exercising and don’t want to get dehydrated.

I have had the same pair of waxless skis for… oh, gosh, 30 years now. Yes, three decades. It makes the gonzo, highly competitive types cringe but seriously, I’m just doing to have a good time, get out in the sun and air, and get a little exercise.

I second the idea of snowshoes, as well, but they are a different feel and not everyone likes them.

6

Not really, no. Skate skis are designed without a kick zone and different camber; they’re shorter and stiffer. To skate well you want a slightly different binding that allows you to transfer your power to the snow better. Alpine skis have metal edges which give you purchase when skating, regular XC skis don’t have that.

But, sure you can do some skating on “regular” XC skis. You’ll also want much longer poles for skating so you can really use your upper body. I’d concentrate on traditional diagonal stride for now and if you want you can rent some skate gear and try it out for the difference.

The single most important thing for ski gear is well fitting boots. Everything else pales in comparison. Find a store that has multiple brands and try them on with the socks you want to use for skiing. There are several different incompatible bindings, and you need boots that match. The two major ones are NNN and SNS, and they are essentially equivalent. Buy whateve boot fits best.

You’ll want waxless skis, but what kind will depend on if you plan to spend all your time in tracks or go into the woods away from set tracks. The more time out of the tracks the wider you will want the skis. Again, at your level the actual skis don’t matter too much.

7

I used to X-C ski a looong time ago. I recently got modern bindings for my ancient skis.

I don’t know very much about skate skiing (it wasn’t invented or at least popular when I learned to ski) other than:

  1. You need a groomed trail
  2. They make skate specific skis
  3. I’m pretty sure there are “hybrid” skis that aren’t very good at either skate or classic form
  4. I have no idea how good skate skis do in classic form.

Brian

8

I think concentrating on one or the other is the best approach.

9

HA! I knew there was somebody on the boards who had a X-C name! Thanks, Telemark!

10

I blew out my ACL in high school, and never fully recovered. A year later I lost my other knee in a car wreck. I can’t see myself on snowshoes.

Bindings seem to have changed a bit since I was in high school. (I worked in a ski shop after school and on weekends.) Back then all of the XC bindings were the three-peg type. When I looked today, they still had the three-pegs; but there were narrower ones too, that locked onto a bar in the boots’ toes.

Yes, boots are the most important part. I learned that my first time on (rented) skis when I was a kid. At least the XC boots look easier to walk in.

I plan to spend all of my time on hard-packed snow. No place here to go off into the woods unless I want to drive. Yes, I intend to get waxless.

I’m thinking I might get some used skis. They’re a lot cheaper than new ones. Of course the boots will be new.

11

Be aware that some people with knee problems also have issues with cross country skiing. Not everyone, and your mileage may vary, just be alert to the possibility.

12

My skis aren’t QUITE that old (they are at least 25 though), but they are wood and need wax. My snowshoes are also old school laced rawhide.

(My kayak is also wood, but its fairly new and actually about as light as a high end fiberglass 'yak)

Brian

13

XC bindings don’t use pins anymore, except when you get into 75mm 3-pin backcountry/telemark bindings, but you can ignore those for now.

NNN and SNS bindings (and all their variations) use the bar in front that the binding clamps on to. There are no pins. There are also grooves in the sole of the boot that match ridges on the bindings to give more stability. Some are step in like alpine bindings so you don’t need to bend over and play with them in the cold snow. The downside is they tend to ice up more but it’s probably not an issue based on what you plan on doing.

Used is good, but if you’re going to buy skis with bindings already on them you’ll need to make sure you know exactly which versions of the bindings they have. There are some variations and they all are incompatible.

You said hard-packed snow. Are you talking groomed snow or just hard, icy conditions? You might need something with metal edges if you are going to spend a lot of time off track or on ice.

14

The snow here tends to come down light and become compacted with use. We’re still talking about a rural neighbourhood, so there’s no grooming. The snow tends to turn into ice on the main road to the freeway since it gets the most use, but it doesn’t come all the way to the beach. My street is the main one in this neighbourhood, but it’s still a residential street and doesn’t really get compacted into ice.

15

Well, I bought two pairs of skis. One is a used pair of 200 cm Kneissls with Salomon bindings. The other pair is new 210 cm Fischers. Hey, they were cheap and the seller combined shipping. I’ll try to get over to REI this weekend to get fitted for boots and choose bindings (possibly for both pair of skis).

16

I plan to buy boots at REI. The local store only has one style of Alpina or Atomic (I forget which) on display, so I’ll have to go to the Seattle store. Obviously, the only boots to get will be the ones that fit and feel the best. But where do I start? Out of these boots, which do you recommend?

Which of these bindings should I consider for the Fischers?

The Kneissls have Salomon ‘automatic 2’ bindings, probably from the early-to-mid-'90s. Will those bindings be compatible with any of the boots in the first link, and will the boots work with the Salomons as well as whatever bindings I get for the Fischers?

More questions to follow later…