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| Ashley Holden (left) and Christine post skate ski at Mount Washington |
Despite
dark cool mornings and precarious footing, Winter is still a terrific season to
be consistent in the pool and head out for purposeful runs. Cycling, however,
can sometimes take a back seat in favor of activities such as Skate Skiing,
Snowshoeing and if time, resources and accessibility permits, Backcountry
Skiing.
Skate
Skiing has been my sport of choice for the past number of years. Once I
invested in quality gear (good boots are essential) and learned my way around
the local Nordic Trail Systems, it made it easy to pack up the car and hit the
mountains a few times a week. From
observation, and as most great sports do, Skate Skiing has been quickly drawing
in many triathletes, cyclists and runners who live in four season climate
zones.
Nordic
Skiing is the umbrella term for both Skate and Classic styles of cross country
skiing. Classic Skiing is done in "tracks" and keeps your legs and
arms moving in a forward and backward plane. Skate Skiing is similar to ice
skating but with poles and is done in the middle of the trail where "corduroy"
groomed snow is best. Classic Skiing is far more cerebral where sound technique
is critical for enjoyment and improvement. Classic also requires more attention
to snow conditions such that the ideal wax is applied to the ski to prevent
slippage and tremendous frustration. Skate technique also calls for efficient
movement and appropriate wax but can still be enjoyable by the
"somewhat" fit to "very" fit athlete. Better yet, your day
won't be ruined if you don't have the ideal wax on for the snow conditions, you
just may not keep up with your buddies. The learning curve for Skate Skiing is
steep especially with regular practice and a few competent skiers to follow and
mimic.
Whichever
activity you choose, Nordic Skiing is highly aerobic, higher than running in
fact, and works the entire body from arms, back, core, gluts, hamstrings, quads
and calves. It transfers brilliantly to any endurance sports and makes hill
climbing on a bike or on foot seem easy.
Unless you can ski on a completely flat trail (impossible to find in
British Columbia), it does not offer an "easy" button option. Try as
you might to go for an "easy" Skate Ski considerable effort is
inevitably required for most Nordic terrain.
However, what goes up must come down so after a major hill climb you are
sure to be rewarded with a fun and fast decent.
Winter
is quickly becoming my favorite season thanks to my Nordic adventures and a
close group of friends that also enjoy the awesome trails in the Callaghan
Country (Whistler Olympic Park), Cypress Mountain (North Shore) and Lost Lake
(Whistler). Most of my ski outings are
between 90 minutes to 3+ hours. When feeling creative, I can manage to circle
the trail system without ever re-tracing my original route. When possible, I
aim to be one of the first skiers on the trails to christen the freshly groomed
snow and connect with the environment. The best conditions are minus 5 with a
crispy feel to the snow under foot. If
your skis are waxed and you're dressed appropriately, there is only one option...a heart pumping fitness building
magical day.
For
the competitive souls out there, Nordic Skiing offers a host of races (aka:
Loppets) to choose from. Most races offer a 15km, 30km and 50km option with the
30km being the most popular distance. Both classic and skate techniques are
usually offered as options and the start is very similar to a swim
start...mass, chaotic and body parts flying everywhere. Appropriate seeding and
a strong "kick" are helpful in order to get to the front and find
your own snow.
If
you have not yet tried Nordic Skiing, I encourage you to give it a glide. It
will humble you at first but with perseverance and maybe a lesson, you'll grasp
it quickly and yearn for more. Maybe you'll even sign up for a Winter Triathlon
(Mountain Biking, Skate Skiing & Running)!
See
you on the slopes.
Christine
