Cross Country Skiing

[Bron]

That sounds good. Skate lessons are really worth it - I wish I'd gone on a course when I started rather than trying to teach myself. I am now very slowly undoing all of my bad habits but it is taking a while.

[roadie gal]

2+ on skating lessons. I did not find it an "intuitive" sport. I'm not very coordinated on my best days, so I never would have been able to do it without lessons.

This year I'm finally feeling pretty good about my technique. I'm beginning to sort of get that "glide" thing down. I won't win any prizes, but I don't redline every time I'm on my skis. In fact, I've almost talked myself into signing up for the Great Race in Tahoe City. It's a 30km race on the first Saturday in March. It will be my first time trying it (if I do it).

[Bron]

That sounds like fun, go for it!
How many people do you get at races like that?

[roadie gal]

That sounds like fun, go for it!
How many people do you get at races like that?

It's become very popular, especially since it's also a fundraiser for the Nordic Search and Rescue group. I think it gets about 2500 people.

[Bron]

That's a lot of skiers. Most races round here are in the hundreds, apart from the big Worldloppet ones.

I raced both days this weekend - a total of 80km and I'm stiff all over today!

[Crankin]

Went skiing again today. I think it might be the last time for awhile... we got a lot of snow Wednesday, but then it rained. There's ice everywhere. When I called the conditions line at the local touring center, it said conditions were great and the rain hadn't hampered anything. But, it wasn't great. Not bad, but not great. Let's just say it was slick and fast and going uphill was more of a problem than going down. I just couldn't get a good grip when I was climbing (I have waxless skis). But, I did the whole outer perimeter of the center by myself and it was just beautiful out. I was unzipped even though it was only about 30. When I finished the perimeter, I did some of the easy loops on the way back to the center. I did avoid the one black trail, which, while I have skied more difficult terrain, becomes quite horrible in icy conditions. The last time I was on it, last year, not only was it icy, but there were exposed rocks and roots. Since it was getting warm out and there was some melting, I decided that I didn't want to risk falling when I was alone. Oh and then there's the little humiliating mountain bike incident on that trail, that I didn't have to think about...
Unless I get out tomorrow (I am signed up for spin class) or Sunday, I think the local snow will be going away on Tuesday when it will be 42 and raining.

[Aint Doody]

Went to the mtn. yesterday with a fun group. They had their classics, but since the trails were freshly groomed I opted for my skate skis. It was terrific skiing and no wind. We were having fun, as I'd zip along and then stop and wait for them or double back. Then it was getting time to head back to the car. We hit the main trail back and YIKES!! That hadn't been groomed yet. It was too far for me to back-track. I slogged along and feared it would be dark before I got back to the parking lot. With their classics they zipped right up the hills. Then----I heard a sound behind me--the grooming machine!!! Yippee!!! It was fun, but I was one worn-out ole lady!!

[Crankin]

What a great day to ski here in New England. We had about 3 inches of powder yesterday, over a good base, and it's beautifully sunny and about 25 out. My husband is away, so I had to shovel snow for about an hour before I went skiing. So I started out tired, with my back sort of aching. Wow, I haven't shoveled that much snow for awhile, since usually he does the snowblower and we have a guy plow the shared driveway. But, it wasn't enough for the plow guy to come, so I did half of that, plus in front of my house.
When I got to the touring center, there was my friend, Brant, one half of the couple we ride and ski with. He had already skied one loop, thankfully, so at least I could keep him in sight! He's very speedy, but I could tell he was tired. We did the whole perimeter, most of the black diamond trails (we cut out one climb as we were both fading fast), and I am now exhausted.
But it was great. It's supposed to be 50 this weekend! I was planning to go out to central/western MA to ski, but I hope the conditions will be OK.

[Bron]

Well I was in alpinerabbit country last weekend for the Engadine ski marathon - wow what a great event. My time was a little slower than I would have liked, but that's what being ill for three weeks does for you.

Since a picture can tell a thousand words, here's the link to the official slideshow (warning, it has sound too):
http://www.swiss-image.ch/slideshow/...kimarathon2009

Anyone else still racing? We have our final one this weekend.

[Skierchickie]

Cool pix, Bron! How big is that race? What is the terrain like (most of the pictures seem to be right in the beginning)? Looks like it could be ridiculously hilly, but maybe it stays in the valley? I can't remember how long that one is? What was the temperature like - looks like some people were wearing extra layers? Of course, it was 30 here yesterday, and I saw one girl out skiing with all the same stuff on that she wears when it's 5, including a big scarf over her face.

I need to get my passport!

I did a 50k race (a tad smaller than yours - under 500 people total for 3 event, and 172 in the 50) last Sunday. The conditions were really fast, so I was able to do it under 3 hours (although, as always, I went too hard on the first lap, and slowed sown significantly on the 2nd). My first 50k race since, I believe, 1995! I usually get a couple of 50s in training every season, but 20-25k has always been a better race distance for me.

We're going to do a little 19k race tomorrow, and then that will be it for this year. It's supposed to be in the 40s all next week, and the grooming will get more sporadic, so I'll start mixing in some running soon. I hope to be biking in April. Actually, the high in the area where the race is is supposed to be 46 tomorrow - so I'm hoping the 6" of snow we just got has transformed, or it will literally suck! It should be mid to upper 30s during the race.

[eclectic]

Bron - thanks for posting the pics! they were very cool to watch!

[Bron]

I thought they were too good not to share although as my brother pointed out, stunning scenery and access to a helicopter gave the photographer a lot of help.

It was the Engadine ski marathon (42km), as far as I know it is the biggest race in central Europe with around 11 000 skiers on the start. It's part of the Worldloppet and the FIS marathon cup so people come from everywhere in the world to take part.

Terrain, overall it's downhill and the start is completely flat as it's on a frozen lake. There is a climb at around halfway and three hills at the end which shouldn't be that nasty, but are because everyone is tired by then.

Feel free to PM me if you're thinking of taking part and have any questions.

It was fairly cold at the start (around -8°C as far as I can remember) but sunny and it was very cold when I went out at 6 am to put my skis out. I was fine in my normal racing suit once we got going.

I did a 50k race (a tad smaller than yours - under 500 people total for 3 event, and 172 in the 50) last Sunday. The conditions were really fast, so I was able to do it under 3 hours (although, as always, I went too hard on the first lap, and slowed sown significantly on the 2nd). My first 50k race since, I believe, 1995! I usually get a couple of 50s in training every season, but 20-25k has always been a better race distance for me.

Well done! I've not quite managed to break 3 hours for a 50k although maybe I will next season.

We had our last races this weekend too. 30k skating on Saturday which went quite well apart from falling over in front of all of the spectators as I was racing for the finish. Yesterday was 42k classic where the weather was horrible and I was late for the start (how could I be so stupid?). Now we have to wait for the final standings in the ski series to be published and think about getting our bikes out.

[Skierchickie]

So, Bron, how did your series standings go? Anybody who does 30k one day and 42k the next deserves some sort of recognition!

My last race went okay - it was really hard! It was an unusual format, where they had waves based on your age group, and the waves were arranged to try to equalize among ages and m/f, so the first person across the line wins. I was 28th or something, out of 72. My best friend is a couple of years older than I am, and started 2 minutes ahead of me. I made up about 1/2 of that, but couldn't catch her. She said she saw me several times, but I never saw her - I think that gave her a bit of a boost to keep me from catching her. If I'd seen her, who knows - maybe I would have gotten that boost? A minute is still a lot to try to make up when you're dying, though. I'd like to say it was fun, but MAN was that hard!

I haven't skied since last Sunday, on the crust. Work gets in the way this time of year, because I can't get out in the morning, before it warms up. It sounds like the trails are still being groomed, although this time of year it gets to be less reliable at one place. I think I'm ready for 50s and biking, but that may be a ways off. The singletrack is still snow-covered, so running is difficult. It's snowing right now and 18F.

Oh, and my 2:52 50k was purely due to the fast conditions and mild course.

[madscot13]

um, I have a question: how do you train for this sort of thing?

[Skierchickie]

um, I have a question: how do you train for this sort of thing?

Hi Madscot!

Ski races? 50ks? It would be easiest if you didn't have one of those pesky jobs.

By skiing as much as possible, possibly doing intervals, etc., just like running or biking. If you mean training for long distances, I gradually work my long skis up over several weeks - this year I got a couple of 50+k training skis in a few weeks beforehand. I've never figured out how people do ski marathons in January, though. Lots of roller skiing in the fall, I suppose.

And I really don't know how Bron raced 30k one day and 42k the next - she's awesome!