Cross Country Skiing

[lph]

Ooo. Went skiing today in our local woods, after shuffling my feet for two weeks. It was excellent. Brilliantly groomed, even though the base is a bit hard and icy. I have new skis. Ooo. My 13 year old son is now an efficient and strong skate skier, almost as good as my dh, but I can report that I can still double-pole the h*ll out of both of them.

[Kubla]

This afternoon DBF and I took our skis and explored the conservation land behind my house. It was his first outing this year-and my fourth.

Our skis (Rossignol BC 65s) don't do well in in deep snow, but we were lucky enough to find some trails that had been packed down by snowmobiles, so it worked out ok.

We've been looking for backcountry skis that would handle the deep snow more efficiently. Does anyone have experience with the Rossignol BC 90, Alpina Lite Terrain or Madshus Epoch? We don't need anything too aggressive for steep downhill. We'll stick to trails and fairly gentle slopes.

[solobiker]

Whaaaaa...I didn't get to go out this weekend. I had a bad cold all week and by Friday just as I was starting to feel better I ended up with the stomach flu Oh well, There is always next weekend. Hope everyone Had a fun time. LPH way to go!!

[mudmucker]

This afternoon DBF and I took our skis and explored the conservation land behind my house. It was his first outing this year-and my fourth.

Our skis (Rossignol BC 65s) don't do well in in deep snow, but we were lucky enough to find some trails that had been packed down by snowmobiles, so it worked out ok.

We've been looking for backcountry skis that would handle the deep snow more efficiently. Does anyone have experience with the Rossignol BC 90, Alpina Lite Terrain or Madshus Epoch? We don't need anything too aggressive for steep downhill. We'll stick to trails and fairly gentle slopes.

I just saw this. Funny, I've been looking at the same 3 skis over the last 2 weeks. I don't have any personal experience but I've been doing some research and can offer some thoughts. Can see if it matches yours. I think our terrain and goals are similar...100% off trail use on rolling topography. No wilderness. No long gladed descents. No mountain type environment.

I too have a pair of older backcountry skis that have tip and waist similar to your Rossi 65s. I don't seem to want to do as much distance with those skis. And I'd like to better be able to carve out a couple of lazy turns in deeper snow if I want.

I'm looking for more float. Don't want anything too heavy.

I'm leaning towards the Epochs.

I have not seen any of these in person yet. I've called a couple of places to talk with the reps but I hope to go to a shop this weekend. The Alpinas have great float but appear to be more "telemarky" and I don't really have any extended long terrain that would warrant them. They are probably heavy because of it and I think there would be too much comprise of kick and glide.

The Rossi 90s on the other hand seem like they'd be lighter and have some control on the turns, and maybe better kick and glide on the level. But I'm wondering if the dimensions would actually offer that much more float over what I/we already have. Not sure if 26 mm extra of tip and 7 mm extra of waist would make that much of a difference with the deep snow that we have. Our snow usually has moisture and packs well but how comparable would it be? I'm thinking pretty similar.

So I'm leaning towards the Epochs. They have healthy dimension for float. A healthy sidecut for carving on a hill if you want that option. And I think still a fairly soft camber for quick responses for turning and navigating through tight trees for when I want to go through those areas. I have a lot of more open logging roads and access roads though that would probably be my predominant route but it's nice to have the extra option. You'd probably give up some kick and glide but I have fast skis if I want to do that. Can add skins I think if I want to climb something bigger. I don't mind slowing down for the remote and "no one's been through here yet or ever" experience that I'd like to get back to lately.

The verdict is still out for me. I hate to fork over all that money. I don't mind putting out for the skis. I already have an SNS system on my skis with a Salomon backcountry boot. I might be able to get away with that with the Rossi 90s but I probably would have to change out with the Epochs.

Let us know what you decide if you go forward with one of them.

[Crankin]

All this snow is making me dizzy! I cannot wait to get out there. Hoping to go out tomorrow after the storm ends.
We are going up to Franconia Friday for the weekend. I will be skiing at some places I haven't been to before, and the inn we are staying at is ski out the door.
On Saturday I said that I think I like x country skiing better than riding. My friends thought I was kidding, but I am not. I think it's because I feel more confident and I actually like the descents. I feel like I have more control descending on skis than on my bike, where I am a wimp.
I am not giving up cycling, obviously, but I am very happy with all of the snow that is falling, and I am sick of everyone else complaining about it.

[beccaB]

We just started cross country skiing, been out maybe 6 times. Is there a good source for learning stuff about it? There's quite a learning curve, and we just have cheap skis and even cheaper poles and sometimes my hands hurt. Maybe it's that death grip thing. I would like to know if I'm even using the right ski for the conditions. Not something I learned from growing up in Florida, that's for sure!

[Kubla]

I just saw this. Funny, I've been looking at the same 3 skis over the last 2 weeks. I don't have any personal experience but I've been doing some research and can offer some thoughts. Can see if it matches yours. I think our terrain and goals are similar...100% off trail use on rolling topography. No wilderness. No long gladed descents. No mountain type environment.

I too have a pair of older backcountry skis that have tip and waist similar to your Rossi 65s. I don't seem to want to do as much distance with those skis. And I'd like to better be able to carve out a couple of lazy turns in deeper snow if I want.

I'm looking for more float. Don't want anything too heavy.

I'm leaning towards the Epochs.

I have not seen any of these in person yet. I've called a couple of places to talk with the reps but I hope to go to a shop this weekend. The Alpinas have great float but appear to be more "telemarky" and I don't really have any extended long terrain that would warrant them. They are probably heavy because of it and I think there would be too much comprise of kick and glide.

The Rossi 90s on the other hand seem like they'd be lighter and have some control on the turns, and maybe better kick and glide on the level. But I'm wondering if the dimensions would actually offer that much more float over what I/we already have. Not sure if 26 mm extra of tip and 7 mm extra of waist would make that much of a difference with the deep snow that we have. Our snow usually has moisture and packs well but how comparable would it be? I'm thinking pretty similar.

So I'm leaning towards the Epochs. They have healthy dimension for float. A healthy sidecut for carving on a hill if you want that option. And I think still a fairly soft camber for quick responses for turning and navigating through tight trees for when I want to go through those areas. I have a lot of more open logging roads and access roads though that would probably be my predominant route but it's nice to have the extra option. You'd probably give up some kick and glide but I have fast skis if I want to do that. Can add skins I think if I want to climb something bigger. I don't mind slowing down for the remote and "no one's been through here yet or ever" experience that I'd like to get back to lately.

The verdict is still out for me. I hate to fork over all that money. I don't mind putting out for the skis. I already have an SNS system on my skis with a Salomon backcountry boot. I might be able to get away with that with the Rossi 90s but I probably would have to change out with the Epochs.

Let us know what you decide if you go forward with one of them.

We are really new to this so we're learning as we go along. Since the winter is zipping along, it will have to be a crash course. Neither of us minds checking out product reviews and FAQ information. After one outing/lesson, we were hooked enough to want to get away from renting and dealing with the 'traffic' at a resort.

But-like other sports we are involved with-(cycling, kayaking, etc.) it's hard to choose one set of equipment that will serve fairly well in multiple situations. We have touring bindings on our BC 65s (part of the package they came with) and touring boots. They do well on groomed/packed trails or a few inches of snow but flounder in the depth of white stuff we've been blessed with in the past couple weeks.

We'll probably skip over the backcountry bindings/boots option and go to a 3-pin setup with removable cables this time. Hopefully that strategy will serve us well in deeper snow and on hills. Our plans are similar to yours: trails in the woods, slogging through deeper snow and ungroomed trails in a state park or conservation land. No extreme or mountainous terrain. (At 57, I have no desire to fly down a mountain at warp speed. I do want to learn to navigate efficiently.) Turning and stopping would be handy skills...

John wanted to order the BC 70s, but I pointed out that they would not be different enough from what we have. I leaned toward the BC 90s at when the search began but-like you mentioned-they may not be aggressive enough. In retrospect (which is always 20/20), the 90s might have been a better choice for the first set of skis-although the 65s will still fit in a groomed track. We do like them.

I believe you can use either a backcountry or 3-pin system on the 90s, but think the Madshus Epochs require a 3-pin setup. Of course, this means another pair of boots, but it seems inevitable that we'll need another collection of equipment.

I don't know much about Alpinas yet, but the Madshus brand seems to be well-regarded. After what I've read (so far), the Epochs appeal most to me of the 3.

[mudmucker]

Since the winter is zipping along.......white stuff we've been blessed with in the past couple weeks.

YES we have been blessed. And it's quality snow too.

I liken our xcountry skiing to corn on the cob in our parts. Sweet and delicious, but the season is so darn short it's over in the blink of an eye.

I'm thinking of the 3 pin setup as well because I know it'll give me the versatility and experience that I'm looking for. Which means more cash for another set of boots and binding. Cripes I already have 4 different pairs of skis for various kinds of skiing and conditions. It's like bike math. N+1= more better

I am sick of everyone else complaining about it.

Just let it be. It's all part of the New England spirit. We'll complain about too much snow. We'll complain about not enough snow. We'll complain that the snow isn't good enough. We'll complain that there's too much snow on the roads, snow banks are too high, too much shoveling. Too cold. Not cold enough. Then we'll start complaining that it's too hot, too much rain, too cloudy, too humid. Then we'll complain that it's getting too dark earlier. Rinse and repeat.

[Cataboo]

I've got alpina cross terrain bcs & 3 pin bindings. And really, I mostly just take myself into the woods or up the ridge nearby and play. They're my first cross country skis and bindings, and I figured that set up would be the most versatile since i probably will not ever drive myself to a track.

I've been pretty happy with them, but I'm not going to say I actually know what I'm doing

[Crankin]

Yea, Mudmucker, I'm a native New Englander, so I understand the "complaining" psyche. But, I still am sick of it. I think it's more the reaction I get when I say I love the snow, for the very reason you stated... the season is so short here and I get to ski for about 5-8 weeks.
I guess I also have the perspective of someone who has lived in 2 other places where there was no winter. Believe me, endless summer does not solve all of one's problems, as most New Englanders believe.
All of this talk of back country skis is making me want to get some different skis! I ski at groomed areas, but sometimes I do go out in conservation land. While my skis have edges, they are pretty skinny and I don't find it that fun to ski in the woods. DH has the back country boots, but I still have the softer Rossignol ones, because when I tried the bc ones, my feet just got chopped up... serious blisters, cuts, and bloody feet. I really tried to make them work, but I took them back to REI.
This might start to be like cycling; how many pairs of skis can I have?

[Kubla]

Yea, Mudmucker, I'm a native New Englander, so I understand the "complaining" psyche. But, I still am sick of it...... All of this talk of back country skis is making me want to get some different skis!..... This might start to be like cycling; how many pairs of skis can I have?

I hear you on the issue of constant weather complaints. I'd much rather live in New England, where each change of season has something interesting to offer. With no offense intended to other areas of the country-I wouldn't want to live where I'd have to worry about finding a 10 foot Burmese python, giant rat or alligator on my back step in the morning. Forget long periods of humidity, too.

As a "late-blooming enthusiast", I'm realizing that having my own gear often blooms into a variety of equipment. Renting is a great option at first, but once on board with a sport, there is nothing like having your own "stuff" that works and fits correctly.

If someone had told me I'd ever need more than one bike, I wouldn't have been able to fathom the idea. But here I am with 4 (count 'em!)...and all are used during the season, depending on the ride.

I have one kayak for ocean paddling and another for flatwater. Like bicycles (and skis) the design dictates the best function; it's impossible to find one that does it all. Thankfully, I'm content with owning just one horse. (Not that I don't look wistfully at horses that have been placed in rescue due to the economy-and wish that I could save them all.)

As interests evolve, our goals often change-why not experience them to the max? Go get yourself some backcountry skis and enjoy...the end-of-season deals are pretty good right now!

[Cataboo]

I actually have boots & bindings for another 2 pairs of skis - one nnn boots & bindings, one nnn-bc boots & bindings... I'm somewhat waiting to find a great deal on some skis sufficiently different from my alpinas for them.

I do have a couple sets of sns-bc bindings that are new in box if anyone's interested. I'd bought them because they were labelled nnn-bc which was wrong.

[Kubla]

We just started cross country skiing, been out maybe 6 times. Is there a good source for learning stuff about it? There's quite a learning curve, and we just have cheap skis and even cheaper poles and sometimes my hands hurt. Maybe it's that death grip thing. I would like to know if I'm even using the right ski for the conditions. Not something I learned from growing up in Florida, that's for sure!

BeccaB, we are new to this, too. I have found the Onion River Sports site to have quite a bit of information. Their videos help demystify the equipment.

But-like bicycling-first you need to have an idea what style of cross country skiing appeals to you (groomed tracks at a resort?, skate skiing?, backcountry?, etc.) then you can focus a more on the equipment needed for the chosen discipline: http://www.orscrosscountryskisdirect.com

www.backcountry.com has a live chat feature that might help with your questions, as does www.skinnyskis.com (I'm sure there are others.)

There are XC forums out there too; the ones I've found so far are www.wintertrekking.com and www.xcskiforum.com

[roadie gal]

We just started cross country skiing, been out maybe 6 times. Is there a good source for learning stuff about it? There's quite a learning curve, and we just have cheap skis and even cheaper poles and sometimes my hands hurt. Maybe it's that death grip thing. I would like to know if I'm even using the right ski for the conditions. Not something I learned from growing up in Florida, that's for sure!

Do you have a cross country ski area (or a downhill area with XC trails) around you? If you do, I'd recommend taking a lesson. I've always found lessons so much more helpful than videos or books. There's a lot of technique to even simple striding. The better your technique the more you'll enjoy the whole thing. You can also try out better equipment to see if that makes a difference for you.

[roadie gal]

I went out for a skate yesterday. It was one of the few days that I didn't have a time limit. So I decided to go to one of the warming huts on top of the mountain that I've never made it to on my skaters, although I have on the striding skis.

Well, I huffed and puffed and stopped and went all of the way up to the hut. It seemed like it took forever. The only other person I saw was one of the nurses from work. She and I took turns passing each other and then stopping to catch our breath. At one intersection, she turned off onto a different trail and I kept going. I was VERY tired by the time I got back to the lodge, but I'm so jazzed that I made it! Maybe next time I can do it without stopping so many times...