Nordic Northeast Skinny Ski 2020 -2021 Quickie Reports

[Tony S]

This is a spot for quick trip updates that don't warrant an entire thread but which may have yielded some stoke-inducing pics or stories or whatever.

 

[Tony S]

Photo courtesy of @Wending from our visit to the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center last week:

 

[tch]

Whoa! Nice grooming. You're makin' me jealous.
A fair bit of snow here in NW Ct but not a lot of groomed stuff. Set your own track as soon as you can get out and then hope no one screws it up. I have to skate-ski on lakes.

 

[skiwv]

It's not pretty groomed trail, but a good time nonetheless.

 

[ScottB]

Here are some pic's from Ravenswood Conservation area in Gloucester MA. A local spot to get in the woods and walk the dog and make some tracks. Went on last Thursday afternoon, after 14 inches of medium density snow. I was on 60 mm (tip) classic x country skis, but I should have been on my AT gear. I was breaking trail and there was only sink, no glide. Took the 108mm (waiste) AT gear out the next day and stayed on top of the snow. Still not much glide, but that's AT for you. It was too deep for the dog, on Thursday, but we both slogged through. The dog was much happier following my wide AT tracks the next day than my xcountry tracks. There's a new way to make a ski choice for the day, which ski tracks will the dog prefer to follow me on? Maybe I need a dog with longer legs and not worry about ski choice. Less snow would not be a choice.

 

[Erik Timmerman]

Smuggler's Notch

 

[cantunamunch]

And ... how do you like skin skis?

 

[Erik Timmerman]

TBH I expected more grip from the skins. I'm sure it's mostly technique, but I was sliding backwards and had to revert to herringbone in the turns. I thought I'd be able to just cruise right up it. I've been watching some of the FIS tech talk videos and did some experimenting with stuff I've seen. Once the nordic centers are open I have some people volunteering to coach me. Oh yeah, and coming down the Notch was sketchyyyyy, not that it would have been better on skate skis.

 

[Tony S]

Oh yeah, and coming down the Notch was sketchyyyyy, not that it would have been better on skate skis.

Once you get up to that speed where you realize you mustn't fall, you can put all decision making concerns aside. I really hope there was some significant padding over the pavement.

 

[Tony S]

TBH I expected more grip from the skins. I'm sure it's mostly technique, but I was sliding backwards and had to revert to herringbone in the turns. I thought I'd be able to just cruise right up it.

Classic is just hard.

 

[Erik Timmerman]

Once you get up to that speed where you realize you mustn't fall, you can put all decision making concerns aside. I really hope there was some significant padding over the pavement.

There was not much padding. The snow was nice and smooth, but you could feel the poles clicking on the asphalt underneath.

 

[Wilhelmson]

Its as if only sheer willpower will get the skis to turn before you crash.

 

[Jersey Skier]

Its as if only sheer willpower will get the skis to turn before you crash.

I guess i was doing it right then. I've only tried XC once though.

 

[Wooley12]

My XC trails are lift served and I found myself at the top of a steepish polished blue inbounds slope on 60mm edgeless skis once. So I poledrag snowplow straight lined it. Did a perfect sitz stop some soft snow at the bottom when I slowed down enough.

Still have my Eastern Professional Ski Touring Instructors manual.

 

[Tony S]

My XC trails are lift served and I found myself at the top of a steepish polished blue inbounds slope on 60mm edgeless skis once. So I poledrag snowplow straight lined it. Did a perfect sitz stop some soft snow at the bottom when I slowed down enough.

Still have my Eastern Professional Ski Touring Instructors manual.
View attachment 120114

Love the knickers and the stache. Early seventies, right?

 

[Wooley12]

Yep. Still have my own doubleknit polyester knickers somewhere. And the stache. But seriously, the snowplow pole drag has saved my bacon more than a few times. My poles are 50 year old bamboo though. Not sure the new composites would hold up.

 

[tch]

Wow! I remember those pictures. They must have been re-printed in a booklet for skiers. I seem to remember it had a yellow cover.
Memories......

 

[ScottB]

I have used the pole between the legs many times. Works good until you hit the bumps. I now see from the picture I should have put my second hand in the middle of the pole and not sat on them wedged into my crotch.

 

[Erik Timmerman]

 

[Erik Timmerman]

Pretty decent snow at the Stowe XC Center. First time skiing in the tracks. It's still hard. I put some Homenkol Beta on the skis and I thought it was interesting to see how far forward the skins are on the skis. Interesting. This classic stuff is hard? Trying to learn when to be walking, when to be running and when to just double pole. Found some extra grip by adjusting the bindings. I tried more of a run on the steeper parts to be punching the skins down onto the snow, Trying to keep my chin up and not be looking right at the skin track. I was planning a post work skate tomorrow but just got booked on a private until 4. Maybe Tuesday will be a skate day.