weanswer@SkiPost.com

How does one ski easy and still properly.

Let me try to answer your question.

Over my experience working with Olympic athletes and beginners and masters, I always find this phenomena you are describing: in fast and powerful skiing many and almost all skiers with certain experience in this sport look good. At the Olympic races you find justification of almost any technique (within a reasonable level) and almost all skiers from the rest of the world can copy this or that skier for a little bit. Now, the trick is when these Olympians ski slow. Interestingly enough their technique and what is most important - balance is not changing much. They still gliding looks like effortless on one ski and their movements are very "fluid". They do not kick hard, but use lots of momentum and / or pendulum swing forward advantage. I almost ready to say, I enjoy watching great skiers at their OD practices - that is when I find them so GREAT and unique!

Now, going to your question: most likely you are suffering lack of balance, or ability to stay and glide on one ski without too much energy spent to maintain your position. This is why you compensating it with more and more power (or most likely tempo) and as a result more speed. Obviously your HR is going up and you can only ski that way so far or so long. It is like effect of riding a bike: the more experienced riders can maintain straight line at a very slow speed and less experienced have to go fast.

So, with that said, what can I suggest to you in your pursue of proper technique and not racing every training session? First, spend more time doing balance and dryland exercises. Especially effective I found, is just standing in basic skier position, swing your arms and one foot back in force like in classical style. Make sure your balance point is always above the ball of your foot. Trust, this is the most common used exercise World Cup skiers are doing. I recently observed Justina Kovalchyk doing this for almost an hour a day at her summer training camp in New Zealand!

Second one: ski with one pole (again in classical style). It is much easier than with no poles, but gives you almost similar effect. Try to focus on a motion of your free arm - if it is smooth and actually propels you forward and over your gliding foot on a swing forward - you doing a fine job. Again - it was the most used exercise by Nikita Kryukov and Alexander Panzhinskiy in their training on snow in NZ.

I am almost positive: doing these two drills will help you to ski more efficient, balanced and eventually will give you ability to ski technically correct at much slower speed.  

Please let me know if it worked and good luck in your skiing!

Alexei Sotskov,  

New Zealand National Team coach, 

Vermont Academy Nordic Head coach 

 Start's Answers to Waxing Questions 

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Start's Weekend Racing Wax Recs

to Spoil your Skis and Yourself

Seeley Hill Classic 00 Seeley Hills WI is ON!!!!!

Start Guru Evan Pengelly will be at the Seeley Hill Start Line ( get it) to help racers with Start Kickers. He will also host a Friday Clinic at Riverbrook  with special kickers just arriving for the race.

SiSu Ski Fest ABR Trails to Downtown Ironwood, MI 

ABC Relays Theodore Wirth Park, MN Jan 14 

AMH Anchorage Cup Duathlon Kincaid Park AK Jan 15 

Great Lakes, JOQ Jan 14-15 Boyne Valley Lodge MI 

Frosty Freestyle & Huron Invite Brighton, MI Jan14 15 

TD Eastern Cup Farmington ME Jan 14-15

Steamboat Stampede, CO Sunday Jan 15

RMN JOQ & CU Invite Steamboat Springs CO 

Teton Ridge Classic, Tutonia/Driggs, ID Jan 14 

The New World Wax table is a top of the line team table at an economy price.  Super rugged and stable, with the largest range of accessories of any brand, this is a table for everyone!  From innovative parts such as the spring loaded cam clamp, to handy standard items such as the power strip and small parts bag, the New World table will delight the veteran waxer as well as the novice.  Frustrated by the poor quality of medium priced tables, and equally frustrated by the over-priced team tables, Woodski, Inc. took on the challenge to create a new table that meets the needs of everyone while keeping the price to a point where even individuals will buy one for themselves.

The table starts at $395 and accessories range from the $15. spring loaded wire clamp to $69. for a custom cordura travel cover.  Other accessories include a garbage bag holder, ski rack, iron holder, and lower shelf.  The table comes in two heights (and custom heights are available upon request!)  and can be used by one or two waxers. The frame is welded aluminum tubing (doubled on top for strength and accessories) and the hinges and fasteners are stainless steel.  The table top is tough Baltic birch ply.   More information is at the website www.woodrollerski.com

 Check out more at  woodrollerski.com

41st annual Marine Obrien Ski Race 

Jan 29th 

3rd Annual Rendezvous  March 3, 2012

Great Skiing in West Yellowstone!   

The Rendezvous Ski Trails in West Yellowstone, Montana are in great shape with the entire trail system groomed for both skate and classic skiing.   Elevation and natural snowfall have been our friends this season, and skiers here have been spoiled with fantastic, mid-winter conditions all season.

Make plans now to enjoy some of the best skiing in the world, and mark your calendars for the 33rd annual Yellowstone Rendezvous Race, on March 3, 2012, sponsored by Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

The Yellowstone Rendezvous Race is a cornerstone of cross-country skiing in West Yellowstone, and is part of the American Ski Marathon Series.  There are six different races offered for skiers of all ages.  Marathoners can enter the 50 kilometer freestyle race, which consists of two laps around the perimeter of the Rendezvous Ski Trail system.  Racers can enter the 25 kilometer events under classic or freestyle technique, with the 10k as a great choice for those preferring a shorter distance. The 5k and 2k races are geared for kids... bring the whole family!

The Rendezvous Race is a fun, festive event in a unique location.  The camaraderie at the start is evident and follows racers along the course.  To support racers in the 25 or 50k division, local community groups staff feed stations along the trails, and the theme this year is "Pirates".  Look for eye patches, hooks, hats, and of course, treasure.  Bragging rights are on the line.  Racers vote for their favorite feed station and the winners gloat for the rest of the year.

For most skiers, crossing the finish line is the goal.  The fastest skiers will be rewarded with medals and cash prizes at the awards ceremony on Saturday evening.  All racers are invited to treat themselves to the complimentary desert bar at the Holiday Inn after the race. 

For more information, please visit: www.rendezvousrace.com.  

Concept2 HOLIDAY Challenge Raises over $31,000

to Support Disaster Relief Organizations

Participants in Concept2's 12th Annual Holiday Challenge not only rowed or skied millions of meters between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, they also helped raise over $31,000 for disaster relief organizations, including one that supports the company's home state of Vermont in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. 

Every year, Concept2, the leading manufacturer of rowing machines, hosts a Holiday Challenge, asking its customers worldwide to row or ski either 100K or 200K between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Over 5900 individuals rowed or skied their way to fitness during the challenge while supporting organizations whose mission it is to offer disaster relief to affected people around the world. Nearly 1.3 billion meters were completed.

More details here:

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