Cross Country Skier articles from December 2002

Cross Country Skier archives from December 2002

Cross country skiing, snowmobiling and alco-tourism. (Fresh Snow).
December 1, 2002... On the surface, recreational cross country skiing is not a sport prone to conflict or controversy. Yet, the skier versus snowmobiler conflict is one topic that often surfaces and is something we address in this issue. I can understand the...

Letters to the editor: the only way for us to know what's on your mind is to hear from you. Keep the letters coming.
December 1, 2002... In reference to the letter by Bob Frassinello (October 2002). I have a pair of "Janoy--Norse" skis which were given to me. They are beautiful wood skis and in very good condition. I got them to hang on the wall. They are the only "Janoy" skis...

Head in the clouds: high altitude skiing requires time, attention. (A Balanced Life).
December 1, 2002... Going to the mountains for the weekend, flatlander? Great. Just be prepared and take your time, because skiing in high altitudes requires more than a plane ticket. I'm speaking from experience here. A couple years ago, I grabbed a...

The basics of going up hill. (Training & Technique).
December 1, 2002... Not even the best skiers can climb every hill with the diagonal stride. The alternatives, the herringbone and the side step, appear to be simple techniques, but, in fact, many skiers struggle to use them effectively. Herringbone The...

Glide waxing: beyond the wax charts. (Kick & Glide).
December 1, 2002... People frequently ask me whether flex, structure, or wax is the most important factor in having fast skis. In fact, the skis are the most important factor. Some skis would be slow if you coated them in Fluorocarbon, weighted them with a...

Black Hills white magic.
December 1, 2002... When the autumn nights in the Black Hills return with their characteristic crisp chill, and I wake to see powdered ponderosa pines, I'm reminded of why I love living in the highest reaches of this ancient mountain range. The beginning of each...

Cross country skiing with your dog: cross country skiing in Maine is becoming a doggy affair.
December 1, 2002... While cross country skiing is an old pastime in the Maine hills, a relatively new trend is taking hold among those who practice it; more and more skiers are bringing their dogs along. Dogs leaping through the snow at their owners' sides is...

Winter Wildlands Alliance.
December 1, 2002... Winter Wildlands Alliance is the only national nonprofit organization promoting and preserving winter wildlands and a quality human-powered snowsports experience on public lands. Founded in June 2000, Winter Wildlands is already active in 19...

Snowmobilers enjoy the great outdoors. (Snowmobilers and Skiers).
December 1, 2002... Snowmobilers, unlike most Americans, look forward to the cold snowy days of winter and cherish the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors when the temperature hovers near the zero-degree mark. National studies conducted by the Recreation...

When snowmobilers meet others on the trail. (Snowmobilers and Skiers).
December 1, 2002... All winter trail users have the right to enjoy their chosen outdoor recreational experiences and their commonality is that they do not want their rights restricted in any way. In the winter, trail encounters between snowmobilers and other trail...

Try Colorado's alpine Nordic.
December 1, 2002... Mention Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, and downhill skiing immediately leaps to your mind. Maybe you ought to think again. The cross c6untry skiing in central Colorado is as good as the downhill. Not surprisingly, skiers and resort managers are...

The National Ski Hall of Fame.
December 1, 2002... In the premier issue of Cross Country Ski magazine (Times Mirror Magazines) in 1980, writer Casey Sheahan criticized the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame for its lack of balance with regard to its Nordic inductees. He cited the notable absence of...

For the U.S. XC Ski Team, the future is both now and later. (Competitive Edge).
December 1, 2002... After the tremendous U.S. Cross Country Ski Team success at the Salt Lake Olympics, continuing the trend is the number one challenge. The 5th place finish by the Men's Relay Team, coupled with a top fifteen and several top twenty performances,...

What makes a ski fast?
December 1, 2002... Flying down a perfectly groomed trail in a winter wonderland is an image many of us fantasize about. As the ski season begins, many racers are trying to find ways to go faster. Perhaps you are going for your personal best in this year's 30th...

The fine art of skiing.
December 1, 2002... The image of cross country skiers enjoying their sport has not been one of the most pervasive themes in fine art over the ages. In what we hope to be an annual feature, Cross Country Skier has assembled a collection of paintings, prints, and...

Duchesnay: apres-ski on the rocks.
December 1, 2002... One of Quebec City's nicest cross country centers just got a lot prettier. A big spring snow is falling as we step out of Duchesnay's three-Story cross country lodge. It's the kind of snow the Quebecois call la neige des sucres (a maple sugar...

Northwestern Minnesota Maplelag, Rainbow Resort & more.
December 1, 2002... I glided down the Wavy Gravy ski trail in a blurry world of snow and trees. The tracks ahead of me were a glistening ribbon through the forest. I hit the striding rhythm that is the essence of classic cross country skiing--kick and glide, kick...

Craftsbury Outdoor Center.
December 1, 2002... We're a colorful caravan on an epic journey: wildebeest trekking across the veldt, a throng of elegiac elk crossing the tundra. Well, OK, actually we're just some 600 cross country skiers in gaudy Lycra, rustling wind pants or wool, and the...

Impressions of Beaver Creek. (alpine nordic).
December 1, 2002... I felt somewhat like a fish out of water at Beaver Creek--a diehard Nordic skier in the middle of one largest, swankiest alpine ski resorts in America. While that feeling lingered for much of my visit, I quickly learned that Nordic sports are...

Magellan SporTrak. (New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts).
December 1, 2002... The days of feeling lost on the trail may be over with Magellan's SporTrak, a handheld Global Positioning System device. SporTrak's receivers lock to satellites, and provide maps, routes, a compass and position. SporTrak also includes...

Suunto X6. (New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts).
December 1, 2002... Suunto introduces a wrist instrument for outdoor enthusiasts. The Suunto X6 offers a compass, stopwatch, altimeter and barometer, as well as the time, date and the option of three daily alarms. The X6 is water resistant and equipped with a...

Timex Ironman Speed and Distance System. (New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts).
December 1, 2002... American watchmaker Timex created a watch that uses Global Positioning System technology to measure speed and distance. The Ironman Speed and Distance System incorporates a GPS receiver, which is either worn on the upper arm or clipped into a...

Brunton Nomad. (New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts).
December 1, 2002... The Brunton Nomad is a new category of compass, allowing users to wander deep into the wilderness and stay on track more easily and safely. The Nomad has a compass menu that is displayed in digits, Cardinal points or on the compass rose; a...

Motorola FreeCharge. (New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts).
December 1, 2002... Motorola FreeCharge is an emergency cell phone power source that can be used anytime and anywhere. This self-sufficient power source can be charged up by either winding the crank on the side or by a DC power adapter. Sixty seconds of winding...

Tracker DTS. (New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts).
December 1, 2002... Tracker DTS, by Backcountry Access, is a new kind of avalanche beacon, using digital distance and direction displays to simplify and shorten searches. Tracker is equipped with dual receiving antennas that eliminate "grid" and "tangent"...

The tempest. (Mother Nature).
December 1, 2002... "They sicken of the calm who know the storm"--Dorothy Parker I have a profound appreciation for a perfect winter day. I love the steel blue sky with only a whisper of wind, and the silky snow, neither squeaky nor wet, which offers...

Chris Frado. (Fireside).
December 1, 2002... Chris Frado and Angie Holloway are the only two full-time employees of the Cross Country Ski Areas Association. They work out of Chris' home in Winchester, NH, and always are in the company of her dogs. Chris became president of the Association...

Subaru Factory Team seeking Nordic ski technician. (CCS Nordic News).
December 1, 2002... The Subaru Factory Team is seeking a full time assistant wax technician to work on the team ski gear from Fischer, Salomon and Swix. The Subaru Factory Team is a race team competing throughout the United States and Canada in events ranging from...

Beckie Scott on CD. (CCS Nordic News).
December 1, 2002... Watch Beckie Scott's Gold Medal performance at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics. Offered by XCZone, the CD-ROM contains 17 Quicktime MPEG 4 Movies, 100+ photos and 80 pages of text including a biography of Scott and a World Cup Diary. The cost...

Banknorth Partners with New England Nordic Ski Association. (CCS Nordic News).
December 1, 2002... Banknorth Partners has assumed title sponsorship of the nonprofit New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) for the 2003 season. As the main sponsor, Banknorth will serve as lead supporter for more than 20 NENSA events this season. NENSA is...

Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon plans for 5th Anniversary on January 25, 2003. (CCS Nordic News).
December 1, 2002... The Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon and Ski Hall of Fame Half Marathon held in Marquette County, Michigan will be celebrating their 5th anniversary on January 25, 2003. Attracting over 700 cross country ski enthusiasts its first year in 1999,...

No Nordic on OLN TV. (CCS Nordic News).
December 1, 2002... Contrary to earlier reports, the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) will not be broadcasting any Nordic skiing events this winter. OLN will provide coverage of FIS alpine and snowboard events only. No specific reason was given for this shift in...

Soldier hollow update. (CCS Nordic News).
December 1, 2002... Soldier Hollow, the 2002 Olympic Nordic skiing venue, is moving rapidly ahead with its plans to become a full-blown Nordic skiing and winter recreation facility. According facility director, Howard Peterson, Soldier Hollow has joined with the...

Team back on snow in Fairbanks. (United States Ski Team News).
December 1, 2002... United States Ski Team Coach Trond Nystad reported the cross country racers had an outstanding training camp at Birch Hill Recreation Area in Fairbanks, Alaska as they headed toward the first round of Nor Am Continental Cup races. The...

Community grants available for nonprofit xc ski groups. (West).
December 1, 2002... The American Cross Country Skier (AXCS) organization and Subaru of America have joined together to offer $1,000 grants to three nonprofit cross country ski organizations. The grants are earmarked for fixed asset purchases/expenses such as...

Methow Valley is the Northwest's fun loving Nordic ski Mecca. (West).
December 1, 2002... The Methow Valley Winter Trails in Winthrop, Washington has a winter of events lined up starting with the Ski Rodeo on December 29. Fun races held in Mazama for the whole family including 1k, 2k, 3k, 5k, and 10k distances. The Ski to Eat tour...

Crested Butte celebrates the Backcountry. (West).
December 1, 2002... The Crested Butte Backcountry Carnival is scheduled for January 24-February 2. The free heel events include softball in the snow, an avalanche beacon competition to beat the dogs, wilderness medicine clinic, weather forecasting and prediction,...

Life-Link Dynafit Randonnee Rally for cash and prizes. (West).
December 1, 2002... This series of ski mountaineering competitions follow skiers up, down and across mountain trails to test their alpine touring skills, endurance and equipment. $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. Sponsors include Life-Link, Boeri,...

Sun Valley serenade. (West).
December 1, 2002... Sun Valley, Idaho offers 300 km of groomed xc skiing between the town of Ketchum and the Galena Summit. The newly built Boulder Yurt is a Nordic skier's hangout that the local cross country ski community rebuilt after it burned down. It is only...

It was nice knowing you. (West).
December 1, 2002... South Fork Lodge in Swan Valley, Idaho, will operate its 35km nordic trail system this winter, but will not open it lodge and restaurant. Owners commented that the lodge may open in the winter again in the future, but trying to establish the...

Jackson Hole telemark festival and other activities. (West).
December 1, 2002... On February 4-9 Jackson Hole Nordic Center in Jackson Hole, Wyoming will host camps, kids clinics and a free skiing competition. The camp includes a tour, early tram, and banquet. A women's telemark weekend is scheduled for January 24-26 and a...

Maplelag magic. (Mid West).
December 1, 2002... There is a reason that Maplelag in Callaway, Minnesota was voted as the "best area in the central US" in the 2002 Cross Country Skier magazine Best XC Resort Poll--the family magic that can be had at the resort. Take "The Plunge" into the lake...

Git along you doggies on the Gunflint Trail. (Mid West).
December 1, 2002... The Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais, Minnesota features 100 km of groomed xc ski trails and features dog sled rides into the Gunflint Trail area. A one-hour ride is $58 per person and two-hour rides are $98 per person. Stay overnight at the...

Wild wolf vistas. (Mid West).
December 1, 2002... Giants Ridge in Biwabik, MN has 65 km of xc ski trails including 20 foot wide skating lanes, diagonal striding trails with warming hut destinations stops, and backcountry ski and snowshoe trails. The huts overlook wild wolf packs and there are...

Trollhaugen opens Troll Hollow. (Mid West).
December 1, 2002... The Trollhaugen alpine ski area in Dresser, WI will offer fulltime xc skiing in "Troll Hollow" with 1.6 kilometers of lighted classic/skating trails that will be groomed daily and supported by 100 percent snowmaking. (715)755-2955.

Brule River State Forest adds new trail mileage. (Mid West).
December 1, 2002... The Brule River State Forest and Brule Valley XC Ski Club have built 9 kilometers of new trail designed for both classical and skating on the Afterhours Ski Trails. The system is west of Brule, WI. The trails are known for exceptional grooming...

New developments at active backwoods retreat. (Mid West).
December 1, 2002... ABR in Ironwood, MI announced that it has added 5 kilometers of new trails and the New River House now has electricity, plumbing and a rental addition. They have also improved camber corners, drainage and improved trail base. Another new...

The Gunstock Nordic Association. (East).
December 1, 2002... The Gunstock Nordic Association in Gilford, NH is looking for a coach. Since the season has started, they have come up with two possible options allowing for a greater difference in coaching experience. Option 1: a full time year round Nordic...

Jackson Ski Tour Foundation announces free goodies. (East).
December 1, 2002... The entire village of Jackson, New Hampshire is into cross country skiing. The Ski Touring Foundation is initiating a free shuttle bus system around the village on weekends and holidays to bring skiers to four different trailheads in its...

Wilderness Trails into the Gorge. (East).
December 1, 2002... The Wilderness Trails in Quechee, Vermont wind through the terrain of the Marshland Farm past the spectacular Quechee Gorge and waterfall, beaver dams and fox dens. Skiers need to have advanced skills to ski down the trail to the bottom of the...

Lake Placid gives free xc intro. (East).
December 1, 2002... A program that gives a free introduction to xc skiing to third graders in the Lake Placid, New York area has reached 2,500 students, teachers and parents in three seasons. The Verizon Sports Complex Cross Country Ski School coordinated the...

The Ultimate Groove in New Hampshire. (East).
December 1, 2002... The Ultimate Groove telemark clinics offer women instruction on telemark technique, while emphasizing adventure, camaraderie and fun at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Heather Paul, former US Telemark Team member and X Games competitor...

Salvation Army outfits the people. (East).
December 1, 2002... From opening day to December 31, Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH and Waterville Valley Resort in Waterville will be collection sites for winter jackets and pants that the local Salvation Army affiliates will forward to others in the region. If you...

Hermitage wins another award. (East).
December 1, 2002... The Hermitage Inn and XC Touring Center in Wilmington, Vermont, which has won Spectator Magazine Awards for its wine selection every year since 1984, has won the DiRONA Award (the distinguished restaurants of North America). There are 2,000...

Far Hills Inn, Quebec's premier private xc resort. (Canada).
December 1, 2002... The Far Hills resort in Quebec offers 75 rooms, outstanding dining and wine, indoor pool, six full time xc ski instructors and 100 km including groomed classic and skating trails and ungroomed backcountry trails. (800)567-6636;...

Hotel L'Estorel--grand old Quebec. (Canada).
December 1, 2002... The Hotel L'Esterel is only 55 minutes north of Montreal and has all the snow sports fun you could want with xc skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating on the lake and many kilometers of trails The hotel has 125 rooms, an indoor pool,...

Discover cross country skiing at Cypress Mountain. (Canada).
December 1, 2002... Cypress Mountain outside of Vancouver, British Columbia features a multitude of Discover XC Skiing programs. The 19 kilometers of groomed trails offer snowy mountain forests and spectacular views. Cypress also has 7 km of lighted trails for...

Mont Sainte Anne, Canada's premier xc area. (Canada).
December 1, 2002... Only 30 minutes from Quebec City, the walled city with terrace cafes, restaurants, boutiques and that old country' feeling, Mont Sainte Anne is a picturesque, diversified network of trails known for exceptional snow conditions. The Nordic...

The Christmas Curse. (Off Track).
December 1, 2002... My husband Sinan and I have lived under the shadow of the Christmas Curse for years. Nevertheless, we still pack up our skis every December and head for the Sierra Nevada. I've decided we either love cross country skiing beyond anything words...