Thanks Wahine! I know I'm not crazy to want to do this. I've got good strength but as always with any new cardio related exercise you have to build up to it. I'm burning up way too much energy trying to put technique together. I figure as I can pull that together, I will become much more efficient and then it should start to be fun and have flow.

Our instructor was great. DH has a lot of not-great-for-skate-skiing "skating" techniques that he's used/invented over the years as a ski patroller on tele gear that he needs to unlearn: the old muscle vs finesse thing. Me, I'm just not real coordinated. He got the skate stride already, but I was better than him in poling. It was kind of fun taking a lesson together. I don't think we've ever done a lesson for something new before, in all our years.

During the two hour private, another couple came by that are students of this gal. They were NON skiers before they started with her. After four sessions, they are already doing loops on the trail system. Talk about good marketing...

Speaking of a two hour private, the two of us for $80 including rentals, total. What's not to love about that? Day rental is normally $29 for a package.