Cross Country Skier articles from December 2003

Cross Country Skier archives from December 2003

If not you, who? Make your voice heard.(fresh snow)
December 1, 2003... They say every snowflake that falls from the heavens is unique. Urban legend or scientific fact, it's a statement most people can live with. Compound snowflakes into snow, and unanimous agreement starts to falter as people react to the first...

Waxing.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I have enjoyed the magazines' content and articles very much. Thanks for the article on the different waxes, and particular Ian Harvey's article on waxing for kick. In that light, I would offer the following: how about an article on waxing skis...

Go West.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I am hoping, and trusting, that--in your forthcoming next season issues--you will be able to provide a good deal more Western ski information, articles, advertisements, etc. In the past, as in your current efforts, the emphasis seems to be...

Bravo bill.(Letters To The Editor)
December 1, 2003... I've been reading X-C Skier for years and the journal just gets better all the time. You're doing a great job, and what a bravura move on your part to haul McKibben on board. He's a brilliant guy and joy to read. After writing those pieces for...

We must be doing something right ...(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... Just got the latest issue of Cross Country Skier in the mail today. Once again I was impressed. I really think you have done a fantastic job with the magazine. My wife has enjoyed your magazine as well which is a compliment to you since she is...

Homemade ski racks.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... In response to an inquiry about homemade ski racks... Dear Cross Country Skier, We recently built some wooden ski racks. They can be wall mounted or stand alone. We used 2 x 12s and 1 x 3 firring strips. Tile racks can easily be...

No fluff.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... Whew! You guys had me worried. No new mag, no updates to the website, then I look through the day's mail, junk, junk, bill, Jackpot! New issue of CCS mag! How cool! We skied Sunday River last year, it was great; and the year before the...

Likes Jackson.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... Tom Eastman's November 2003 article "Skitowns: Jackson, NH" was right on the money. Thom Perkins and his crew do a masterful job of grooming local trails and providing personal support at Jackson's ski center. We have stayed at the Wildcat Inn...

White Grass fan.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... When your Jan/Feb 2003 issue arrived, I took one look at the cover, and said, "That terrain looks awfully familiar". Sure enough, it was West Virginia. As a transplanted Yankee living in the metro DC area, I have come to love the skiing in the...

Spare parts included: skiing after joint replacement surgery.(balanced Life)
December 1, 2003... Ron Caple was feeling, if not triumphant, then certainly proud when he crossed the finish line at the National Masters in Anchorage last February. Sure, he came in last of eleven in his age group of 65 and up. But with an artificial hip joint,...

Improve your skiing through core awareness.(technique & Training)
December 1, 2003... You've seen them on the trails--skiers skimming over the snow, passing you with no apparent effort. Perhaps her rhythmic pole plants first caught your eye, but what left a lasting impression was how she used a V-2 on a hill you always climbed...

Advanced glide waxing tips.(kick & Glide)
December 1, 2003... Assuming that you already understand the basics of glide waxing, there are a number of things you can do to enhance the performance of your skis. Here are a few tips that can make your skis run faster or help you anticipate wax conditions and...

Snow bright, snow light.(frozen World)
December 1, 2003... Everyone knows, of course, that snow is bright. Just how bright didn't really dawn on me until the day I prepared to climb my first big glaciated peak, Washington's Mt. Rainier. My friend and rope team leader watched as I slathered on...

Ancient art revived: building wood skis.
December 1, 2003... In an age of computeraided design, state-of-the-art engineering and technologically advanced plastics, Mark Hansen teaches students to build wooden cross country skis by hand. It's not a common art. And few people would think about making their...

Have snowshoes, will travel.
December 1, 2003... Snowshoeing is about as silent a "silent sport" as you can find. As you make your way through the woods in the deep snow, the soft pad of your snowshoes and your own heartbeat are about all you can hear. When more than six inches of snow...

Snowshoe buyers guide.
December 1, 2003... How nice--a sport that doesn't require any waxing, can be done on any snow-covered surface, and rarely involves falling! With a learning curve about as flat as a frozen pond, snowshoeing is one of the most simple and affordable sports, if you...

Illinois skiing: it's not an oxymoron.
December 1, 2003... Ski Illinois. It's not an oxymoron. Ask any one of a hearty breed what it would take for a cross country explosion in the Land of Lincoln, and the answer is simple. "All it takes is snow." But that doesn't always happen. If you want to ski, you...

Of Bison, backcountry & bigdog: an expedition into Yellowstone National Park.(Cover Story)
December 1, 2003... Yellowstone National Park--our country's first and perhaps most revered national park--is a monument to the conservation ethic and vision of our predecessors who saw fit to set it aside for eternity. Yellowstone provides geologic wonders,...

Marathon Canadien De Ski: Canadian Ski Marathon: a different kind of ski event.
December 1, 2003... In my teens and twenties, I entered hundreds of cross country ski races. They ranged in distance from short sprints to 50 km marathons, but shared one thing in common. With the final results being the most important aspect of the whole day,...

English Nordic novice takes on the worldloppet.
December 1, 2003... Where I live on the south coast of England a flurry of snowflakes is enough to cause my class to rush to the window abandoning their biology lesson. "It's snowing, miss, it's snowing" Just as excited, I think about waxes. After 15 minutes with...

Nordic racing: North American status report.(competitive Edge)
December 1, 2003... While the international race scene enters its 2003-04 season with a fanfare of up and coming racers, the North American race picture continues to blaze with stars. Major North American race events will highlight domestic talents in this...

2003-2004 events calendar.(Calendar)
December 1, 2003... This calendar was compiled from information provided by race organizations, clubs, and web sites. Not all event information was submitted or available at press time. While we hove attempted to be as comprehensive as possible, we realize that we...

Memorable ... cross-country skiing ... discover spectacular vistas.(Quebec: unique in North America)
December 1, 2003... QUEBEC'S ABUNDANT SNOWFALL, SPECTACULAR WILDERNESS, AND LONG SEASON FROM DECEMBER TO APRIL MAKE FOR SOME GREAT AND VARIED CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING EXPERIENCES. With a30 major cross-country ski centers and 4,000 km (2,500 mi.) of well marked...

Craftsbury Outdoor Center.... Craftsbury, Vermont.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... VERMONT'S UNSPOILED NORTHEAST KINGDOM! Craftsbury Outdoor Center, the renowned four-season destination for cross-country skiing, biking and rowing, has accommodations for 90 guests. Eighty-five kilometers of scenic ski trail are...

The Lodge on Lake Clear.... Lake Clear, New York.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... RUSTIC ELEGANCE FOR THE SOUL Updated 1886 lodge with rooms,suites and private chalets, some with jacuzzi baths and fireplaces. "Adirondack Alps" decor and cuisine. Miles of backcountry and groomed trails out your door, 20 min. to Lake Placid....

Palmquist's "The Farm".... Brantwood, Wisconsin.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... DISCOVER WHY guests return to Wisconsin's oldest cross country ski destination! Enjoy our northwoods inn featuring cozy, handcrafted log lodging with fireplaces, 35K of gently rolling trails, home-cooked meals, Finnish saunas, sleigh tides, and...

Tahoe XC.... Lake Tahoe, California.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... STUNNING VIEWS OF LAKE TAHOE, 16 trails, 65 km groomed for skating and striding, friendly, personal service. Just a few reasons that Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area is a favorite among North Lake Tahoe visitors. Tahoe XC is the perfect destination...

Forbush Corner.... Frederic, Michigan.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... WORLD CLASS TRACK! Come experience the largest fleet of Nordic-only groomers in the Midwest. Forbush grooms over 20 km of trails, "like the Olympics," says Antonina Anikin. Lessons and clinics available with a performance ski shop nearby....

Maplelag.... Maplelag, Minnesota.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... VOTED #1 XC SKI RESORT IN NORTH AMERICA! Featuring main lodge and folk art museum with memorabilia from all over the world. Top notch skiing over 60 k's of professionally groomed trails. Spa, saunas, steam rooms, ski lessons, massage, ski...

Sunday River Inn & XC Ski Center.... Newry, Maine.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... FRIENDLY MOUNTAIN HOSPITALITY featuring a family style inn, 40K of professionally groomed Nordic ski trails, kids' programs, terrain play area and 12K of wooded snowshoe trails. Including a professionally staffed Nordic ski shop, ski and...

Viking Nordic.... Londonderry, Vermont.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... "SOME OF THE SWEETEST SKIING ANYWHERE", says leading ski and travel writer Jonathan Wiesel. Come glide Viking Nordic's 35 km trail system, voted #1 in Vermont in the 2003 XC Ski Restart Poll. Easy to get to in Southern Vermont. New kid's ski...

Rainbow Resort.... Waubun, Minnesota.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... NEAR THE HEADWATERS of the Mississippi River and beautiful Itasca State Park, Rainbow Resort offers 20 km of groomed private trails adjacent to Tamarack National Wildlife Refuge. Accommodations include new deluxe, lakeside vacation homes, a...

The Sterling Inn.... Poconos, Pennsylvania.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... THE PERFECT WINTER RETREAT... cozy fireplaces, gourmet candlelight dining, hearty country breakfasts, excellent service. Winter fun includes miles of tracked cross country ski trails, x-c shop and lessons, sledding, lakeside bonfires, ice...

Crested Butte Nordic Center.... Crested Butte, Colorado.(Destination Guide)
December 1, 2003... GORGEOUS SCENERY on 35K groomed trails PLUS endless back-country to explore. Crested Butte Nordic Center for winter fun: cross country, snowshoeing, ice skating and sledding. Colorado mountains, historic mining town, friendly atmosphere....

Ski town: Keweenaw Peninsula, MI.
December 1, 2003... The Keweenaw--meaning "portgage" in the Native American Ojibwe language--is a tiny isthmus on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The northernmost point in the state, excluding any off-shore islands, the Keweenaw protrudes into the vast inland sea...

The Catamount Trail: Vermont end-to-end.
December 1, 2003... Now why is simple geography so deceptive? Let us consider Vermont's Catamount Trail, running north to south along the state's long axis. It is, in fact, billed as North America's longest cross country ski trail. I find this fascinating....

Heatmax adhesive heat patches.(New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts)
December 1, 2003... The new patch combines Heatmax warmer technology with an adhesive backing and can be applied directly to the skin. Activated by opening the package and exposing it to warm air, the patch begins to work immediately reaching a temperature of 104...

Backcountry access Micro-Stash hydration pack.(New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts)
December 1, 2003... The most important design element of the Micro-Stash is its integrated "Stash" hydration system. The system's hose and bite valve are concealed within an insulated shoulder strap and accessed through a stormproof zipper. Body heat and the...

Prana women's Powder pant.(New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts)
December 1, 2003... Made from Polartec Windpro, the high performance cold weather Powder pant provides excellent windblock properties and unrestricted movement. It is water repellant, abrasion resistant and very soft against the skin. Features include a contoured...

Prana men's Thermal Titan pant.(New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts)
December 1, 2003... The Thermal Titan is a versatile medium weight winter pant. It blocks wind, dries quickly and is full of features including side and top entry cargo pockets, two front mesh-lined pockets, a nylon web belt system and an inseam for unrestricted...

Osprey Helios 14 pack.(New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts)
December 1, 2003... Pack the Helios 14 before heading out on a long Birkebeiner training session. The Helios features an external access hydration pocket, adjustable harness and a laminated foam hip belt that fits comfortably. Other well thought out design...

Scientifics Geko GPS.(New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts)
December 1, 2003... The Geko is small, lightweight and very easy to use. Designed for the navigation novice, the waterproof Geko features one-touch waypoint function, 250 waypoint storage capacity, PanTrack function and PC connectivity. When you've arrived at your...

Contour Pak cold therapy.(New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts)
December 1, 2003... Pak[TM] features an innovative design to deliver cold therapy to treat sore bodies after a hard workout or injury. The unique, patented "Maltese Cross" shape of The Pak[TM] and its Velcro[R] strap system allow it to contour comfortably to any...

Crazy Creek ThermaBands handwarmers.(New stuff: a collection of the newest gear and apparel for winter enthusiasts)
December 1, 2003... Cold days mean cold hands. Crazy Creek's ThermaBands keep your hands warm by holding a heating pad against the radial and ulnar arteries in your wrist. Warming the arteries improves blood flow and keeps your hands and fingers warmer. The...

Fireside.
December 1, 2003... Stepping from downhill into cross country skis when he was 25, Drew Barney never looked back. Instantly, the Utah native fell in love with the sport and began racing soon after. Sixteen years ago, Barney assumed race directorship for the...

Winter triathlon 101.
December 1, 2003... A decade ago, winters saw only a handful of triathlons in North America. Not affiliated with any national governing body, the events were community driven with no standard disciplines, distance or sequence. Instead, every winter motion was...

Cross Country Skier magazine partners with Winter Wildlands Alliance.(Nordic News)
December 1, 2003... Cross Country Skier is pleased to announce a three-year partnership with Winter Wildlands Alliance to preserve and protect the solitude of the Nordic skiing experience. The partnership makes Cross Country Skier the exclusive print media sponsor...

American plans first U.S. unsupported solo trek to North Pole.(Nordic News)
December 1, 2003... Wave Vidmar will attempt to become the first American to reach the geographic North Pole--solo and unsupported. When Vidmar reaches the North Pole he will be the third person in history to accomplish this feat, and the second person ever to...

Ski For Light seeks volunteers.(Nordic News)
December 1, 2003... Ski For Light (SFL) is a weeklong cross country skiing experience for active adults with visual and mobility impairments. Ski For Light draws more than 250 adults from all age groups and occupations. The 29th annual event will be held February...

Geno Marsolek--Team Rossignol skier killed in plane crash.(Nordic News)
December 1, 2003... Geno Marsolek, 52, member of Team Rossignol, died on October 10,2003 when his Pitts S2D stunt plane crashed into Island Lake near Duluth, MN. Jim Fredericks, Rossignol Racing Director, commented." Geno attacked life with a passion in everything...

Beckie Scott receives belated silver medal.(Nordic News)
December 1, 2003... The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Cross Country Canada (CCC), members of the Canadian sport community and hundreds of cheering supporters joined together at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary on October 21 to celebrate Beckie Scott's upgrade to...

Weather report.(Nordic News)
December 1, 2003... So are we going to have some ski-able snowfall this winter for a change? There are no pesky El Nino or La Nina conditions out there to spoil our fun. At least one weather guy out there seems to think that, yes, maybe we might actually see more...

Weather.com gears up for ski season 2003/2004.(nordic news)
December 1, 2003... Weather.com, one of the most popular sources of online weather information and the web site of The Weather Channel, is already gearing up for this year's ski season. The site's ski section, located at www.weather.com/ski helps skiers...

ABR Trails.(Comings and Goings)
December 1, 2003... ABR Trails, Ironwood, MI continues to add and improve its popular Upper Peninsula trail system with the widening, leveling reworking of several of its 40 km of trails.

Enchanted Forest XC.(Comings and Goings)
December 1, 2003... Enchanted Forest XC in Red River, New Mexico is planning an expansion into new terrain to the east of its current acreage this winter. The new property would add 5 km of beginner trails increasing the trail system from 26 to 31 km.

Flagstaff Nordic Center.(Comings and Goings)
December 1, 2003... Flagstaff Nordic Center, Flagstaff, AZ is for sale, but will continue operation this winter until it is sold.

Hanley's Happy Hill.(Comings and Goings)
December 1, 2003... Hanley's Happy Hill in Eagles Mere, PA is no longer offering cross country skiing.

Lakeview Hills Resort.(Comings and Goings)
December 1, 2003... Lakeview Hills Resort, Lewiston, MI in being sold and will no longer be offering cross country skiing.

Lapland Lake XC Ski & Vacation.(Comings and Goings)
December 1, 2003... Lapland Lake XC Ski & Vacation Center, Northville, NY is also for sale, but continues "business as usual" until a buyer is found.

Oxbo Trail.(Comings and Goings)
December 1, 2003... Oxbo Trail in Winter, WI has been closed due to lack of use, according the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Porcupine Mountain Ski facility in Ontonagon.(Comings and Goings)
December 1, 2003... Previously run by the State of Michigan, the Porcupine Mountain Ski facility In Ontonagon is undergoing a privatization process. At a recent meeting of the Friends of the Porkies, the new operator said he would probably be grooming the trails...

Salmon Hills.(Comings and Goings)
December 1, 2003... Salmon Hills in Redfield, NY has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors and is no longer in business.

Smugglers Notch, VT.(East)
December 1, 2003... Smugglers Notch, VT is upgrading its children's rental equipment and will be able to accommodate kids as young as three years old this season. Instruction will include group lessons, private lessons, and Mom or Dad & Me lessons for children...

Ice Age Challenge returns to Madison January 4.(Midwest)
December 1, 2003... The MadNorSki Subaru Ice Age Challenge, a 15 km freestyle and classic ski event will make a return appearance on January 4, 2004 in Madison's Elver Park. If snow is scarce, organizers will convert the event into a running race. Elver Park,...

Sugarbush Cross Country Ski Trail system renovated.(Midwest)
December 1, 2003... The Sugarbush Cross Country Ski Trail system near Lutsen/Tofte, MN is undergoing a substantial renovation project in preparation for the winter season. Over 70 km of groomed cross country ski (skate & classic), snowshoe and skijoring trails...

Cooperative agreement reached in Breckenridge.(West)
December 1, 2003... On September 9, 2003, Breckenridge, Colorado officials entered into an agreement with Gene and Therese Dayton, long time Nordic advocates and operators of the Breckenridge Nordic Center. This new agreement will facilitate a coordinated...

World Cup coming to Silver Star.(West)
December 1, 2003... There will be a World Cup event at Silver Star Resort in British Columbia in early December 2005. The exact dates are yet to be confirmed.

Sundance Resort and Soldier Hollow collaborate on Season Pass.(West)
December 1, 2003... The chills, thrills and spills of the Olympic games come rushing back to life with a new combined pass between Sundance Resort and Soldier Hollow. This new and exclusive joint "Unlimited Pass" offers all the privileges of Sundance Resort's...

Maroon Creek Bridge--second longest span in the State of Colorado constructed.(West)
December 1, 2003... A new pedestrian and recreational bridge, designed by Carter & Burgess, Inc., has been constructed over Maroon Creek in Aspen. The 606-foot-long steel deck arch bridge replaces the old Maroon Creek Bridge. It will provide a vital link between...

Training update.(U.S. ski team News)
December 1, 2003... U.S. cross country racers recently completed an intensity bloc in their preseason training, according to Coach Trond Nystad, and returned to on-snow training in Alaska for workouts and the first SuperTour races. All of our training has...

X-C SuperTour: twenty-three days of racing.(U.S. ski team News)
December 1, 2003... The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is introducing the $100,000 Nor Am SuperTour. The tour consists of 23 days of cross country racing, from late November to January including an expanded Nor Am schedule that includes the U.S. Cross Country...

USST fundraising takes its show on the road.(U.S. ski team News)
December 1, 2003... The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation fund raising season is underway with its annual round of ski and snowboard balls from coast to coast. A mix of other activities--including a concert November 6 by entertainer Sheryl Crow at the NewYork...

With a bullet and climbing.(U.S. ski team News)
December 1, 2003... Frozenbullet.com is well known for its translations of Norwegian articles about the sport of biathlon, but is also becoming a force in reporting news in the United States and Canada. The late summer saw numerous American-themed articles appear...

K2 acquires Tubbs and Atlas brands.(sno biz News)
December 1, 2003... On October 20, 2003 K2 Inc. announced that it had acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of WinterQuest LLC, which is the leading marketer and manufacturer of snowshoes through its Tubbs and Atlas brands, with the #1 and #2 market...

Winter Trails 2004 to be held January 17, 2004.(sno biz News)
December 1, 2003... SnowSports Industries America (SIA) and American Hiking Society (AHS), will present the 9th annual Winter Trails event on Saturday, January 17, 2004. This program is part of SIA's Winter Feels Good, a nationwide public awareness campaign that...

Bear Valley Cross Country.(California)
December 1, 2003... Nestled in the super scenic High Sierra and surrounded by two wilderness areas, Bear Valley Cross Country offers some of the finest striding and skating anywhere! With impeccable grooming, expansive meadows, scenic ridge tops, snowshoeing,...

Kirkwood Cross Country Center.(California)
December 1, 2003... Above all the rest with a base elevation of 7,800 feet and 80 kilometers of machine groomed trails; Kirkwood Cross Country offers the most spectacular scenery and the most exciting terrain in the west. Cross country day lodge, ski school, ski...

Montecito-Sequoia Winter Sports & XC Ski Resort.(California)
December 1, 2003... Ski 85km of groomed trails and miles of marked backcountry trails. PSIA instruction, tours and rentals. Snowshoeing, tubing with handle tow, outdoor spa, children's programs and dog sled rides. Comfortable lodging and delicious meals, mid-week,...

Royal Gorge.(California)
December 1, 2003... 330km, 90 trails create North America's largest cross country ski area. Spectacular vistas, two interconnect trails, four ski lifts, 10 warming huts, four trailside cafes and two overnight lodges complete this extraordinary resort. P.O. Box...

Crested Butte Nordic Center.(Colorado)
December 1, 2003... Gorgeous scenery on 35K groomed trails PLUS endless backcountry to explore. Crested Butte Nordic Center for winter fun: cross country, snowshoeing, ice skating and sledding. Colorado mountains, historic mining town, friendly atmosphere....

Glen Eden Resort.(Colorado)
December 1, 2003... Surrounded by high country cattle ranches and National Forerst, this small resort north of Steamboat Springs offers the best lodging value in NW Colorado. More than 80km of perfectly groomed skiing. Unlimited backcountry trails and world class...

Vista Verde.(Colorado)
December 1, 2003... Romance and adventure await at a secluded Western ranch 25 miles north of Steamboat Springs. 30km of groomed trails, unlimited backcountry in the surrounding National Forest, plus sleigh rides, horseback riding and more. Beautiful log cabins,...

Sugarloaf/USA Outdoor Center.(Maine)
December 1, 2003... Tucked away in the woods just minutes away from the Sugarloaf/USA Resort Base Area, the Outdoor Center is home to the state's largest Nordic trail network and the site of limitless adventure. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are welcomed on...

A Place in the Woods.(Minnesota)
December 1, 2003... Cozy, secluded, and newer log cabin resort on beautiful Turtle River Lake, Bemidji, MN is the perfect setting to enjoy nature and your favorite winter activities. 20 km xc ski trails begin at your cabin's door. Ice fishing, ice skating,...