Ski Storage

Question... I've always appreciated your recommendations/tips for summer storage wax on skis.  I recently bought a new pair of skis and they have not yet touched the snow.  Do they need to be "summer" waxed too? Anticipating next season!

A

Dear A,

Yes you should apply summer storage wax to your skis even though they are new. If you have an exposed base it is is always better to cover it with wax. Skis have a thin layer of wax applied at the factory but these are very thin so one can still see the base. It is always better to apply more base coverage for summer storage.  

Andy at SkiPost

Summer Ski Storage 

Clean the base cover the Base

1)  Cleaning: Use wax remover and Fiber wipe to clean the kick zone and also the glide zone.

2)  Use the finest Steel brush to clean excess dirt from base.

3)  Apply layer of Start Base (or Service or soft non-fluoro glider like SG2) to glide zones.

4)  While wax is still soft use scraper with low pressure to "hot wipe" wax and further dirt away.

5)  Follow with Fiber wipe and then finest steel brush again to remove dirt while refreshing base further. Repeat steps 4 and 5 as necessary until no more dirt is seen coming from base. 

6)  If you suspect your skis have any base damage (i.e. base sealing) consider having the skis stoneground to reveal a fresh base in the spring before summer storage.  A fresh base is the most import feature in a skis ability to hold wax and to glide. Ski shops in most every ski town offer great stone grinding services.

7)  Once you have a clean and refreshed base it is time to saturate the base with a summer storage wax.  In the glide zones melt in a thick layer of Start Base (or Service or soft non-fluoro glider like SG2) and let it cool. If all the wax has been absorbed into the base at any point add another layer on to. Let cool leave it on the ski all summer.

8)  Skis should be storage in cool, dry place, out of sunlight and not near heating elements nor not near the roof where temperature can rise over 50C degrees. Skis should be stored loosely strapped with no pressure on camber so that there is no risk that heat and pressure can alter any of the skis camber characteristics.

9)  Better to do something than nothing. So at the very, very least crayon your softest glide onto your glide zones right now. 

CXC Season Finale Auction is Open!

First Days on Snow

I have found that it takes perhaps a week of skating on snow to recover ones strength. For the first few times on snow I need to stop and rest frequently while climbing. Is there any way to speed up this acclimatization process? Perhaps one should roller ski on very slow wheels prior to the shift to snow.

Thanks

B B

BB,

Yes doing as much ski specific training in the fall will help. Hill bounding, spenst training, running with poles, plyos all will help prepare you. For sure rollerskiing with wheels that simulate skiing speed will help. We like the Swenor Rollerskis  for this reason.  But you should slow down and enjoy your that first week. Slow down and work on technique. Ski without poles to work on weight transfer. It is OK to take your time. 

Andy at SkiPost

What to Eat Before an Endurance Race

So you've decided to tackle an endurance race-maybe a marathon or half marathon, maybe a triathlon, century ride, all-day hike, or some other multi-hour effort. Of the many tough decisions you'll make that day, one of the first is: What should you eat for breakfast?

There's only one right answer, in a sense, and that is: Whatever you practiced during your training. Race day is not the time to try anything new, because you'll be living with the consequences for several (possibly agonizing) hours. Still, you have to start somewhere, so here are some of the things you'll want to keep in mind to prepare the best breakfasts.

Ned Preaches Intensity

from Velonews

I turned 59 in 2014, and I have maintained a high level of fitness since I first began endurance racing in the late 1970s. Training with an emphasis on high-intensity intervals has been my preferred method of preparing for events throughout my career, which includes racing mountain bikes, road bikes, cyclocross, and Xterra triathlon. I made a few forays into long-distance events such as the Leadville 100 mountain bike race and the Ironman triathlon, but my preference is racing for one to four hours.

I embrace a higher-intensity/lower-volume regimen partly because I love to suffer but also because of the race results I've achieved with this philosophy. I have a short attention span for training rides. I like the excitement of pushing the pace both on the climbs and descents as opposed to riding at a slower pace for a longer ride. A long ride for me is about three hours, and I rarely do more than one a week.

velonews.competitor.com

More on intensity

Gene Goldenfeld found the following materials on-line that are really interesting and timely in terms of training for a variety of dryland activities.

Stephen Seiler's Talk or an article discussion of it, at the 2013 INSEP conference.

A link to the video of his talk at Entretiens de l'INSEP 2013, "Managing the distribution of training intensity: the polarized model" Video.

Seiler's comments at one of the round tables are worth watching 

video. 

14:44-17:20 (Seiler on individual differences)

23:48-29:05 (Seiler & Ingham on why does polarized training work)

31:29-end (Seiler on state of predictive models for coaches)

 Salomon Carbon?

Jessie Diggins won her World Championship Silver on a pair of Carbons

What is the hype Salomon is putting about their Carbon ski? Don't all ski have Carbon?

DS

Dear DS,

Salomon launched the Salomon Carbon this winter with breakthrough race results from athletes and rave reviews for neutral testers as well. The Salomon Carbon is unique in that the entire wrap is carbon rather then just comprised of some carbon. And while it is incredibly light its most notable attributes are how it glides, feels underfoot, and reacts. All this make it a fast ski. But as I work with Salomon I will let two neutral commentators  (Gear West and Caldwell Sport)  share some of their thoughts on the ski. 

Andy at SkiPost

Gear West - Jan Gunther gearwest.com/blog/salomon-carbon-skate-lab 

Jan states "My 28th birke year and I feel I am always learning a little something new about skiing, technique, and skis......the Carbon were my ski of choice for the Birke. ........ My conclusion? There are a lot of really great performing skis in the hi-end race category and now Salomon offers one more. Beyond being unbelievably light, their new Carbon ski offers significant stability in firm snow conditions ( to all skiers who can ride one ski using open field / V2 technique) and a soft tip for floatation in sugar snow given a hard track underneath. Enjoy! read the complete Story here  gearwest.com/blog/salomon-carbon-skate-lab  

 From Caldwell Sport-  Zack Caldwell www.facebook.com ...Salomon has just made the next ski that I'm aware of to embrace carbon as a primary structural element, and I think this may be a game-changer. ...I've skied on one pair of these (and been impressed), and have just received four more for grinding. These skis have been showing up all over the World Cup this season. 

Read more www.caldwellsportfacebook

Salomon Carbon Ski Video Here

Salomon Carbon Skate Lab Ski

Woodski March Madness Sale!

Start and Finish Sale!  The start of dry land training and the end of a great winter!  Woodski is celebrating by throwing a huge sale!  20% off every and any item we make or carry!  From now until the last day of March!  Use the code "marchmadness" to get the discount.    Tell your friends that it is time to get the best roller skis on earth or the best wax table on the planet.  While supplies last...

Andy,

I used the Start Wax Chooser app for the Great Bear Chase and my skis were spot on.  Wish I had found it earlier as it is simple and intuitive.  It picks wax based on only snow type and temp, just as I learned for my beloved coach, Igor Badamshin.  

Thanks for you helpful insights,

Kick like a mule

Why? Because this isn't a drill that you "get" the first time. Instead, you must practice and practice this drill, mastering and refining your timing, balance and glide, until, after many reps, you blend the principles of the drill into actual classic diagonal stride.

Patience Is Half Of Valor

Just getting the drill right takes time and patince, affording many skiers frustration and heartache. When I introduce this drill in a typical clinic format, there isn't enough time to learn, practice and develop mastery. Consequently, the drill often creates frustration.

Getting the drill right is NOT enough. Extracting the subtlety from this drill, translating the drill into your technique, requires that YOU understand the progression of learning. ....More here 

Classic Nordic Skiing, Diagonal Stride: Skipping for Better Grip

Enjoy and...

Ski Fast!

David Lawrence

XCSkiAcademy.com 

Scavenger Hunt  

Osceola Tug Hill XC Ski Center 

For Sale

Camden NY

 www.uxcski.com

Incorporated in December of 1980 and still growing 10-12% a year after almost 35 years.  40k of trails for skate and classic on 225 acres of land.  In addition to the ski center we have an adjacent camp that we rent to skiers.  Complete financials available. Asking price is $560,000 without the camp and $597,000 with the  camp. For more information contact

Hugh Quinn

Osceola Tug Hill XC

uxcski@gmail.com

315 599 7377

Mansfield Nordic Club

Development Team Leader Position

Mansfield Nordic seeks to hire a Development Team Leader to drive our top youth skiers toward higher level skiing on our Competition Team. This Team Leader will be a high-energy skier with strong communication abilities among individual athletes, groups, parents and volunteers. As a motivating and enthusiastic presence, the person who fills this leadership role will be an individual who is supportive, enthusiastic and ready to make a positive difference in the lives of skiers both on and off the trail.

The ability to motivate athletes and coordinate workouts, games, races and other events is key, as is creativity and adaptability in regards to weather, snow conditions and training venues.

Effective coaching is a key component of this position. Primary responsibilities will include:

• Coaching the MNC Development Team, comprised of 8-12 fast, motivated skiers age 12-16
• Providing motivation, technique development & race savvy in a fun & energetic manner
• Sharing a passion & joy for skiing, as well as encouraging determination & hard work among athletes
• Collaborating directly with the MNC Bill Koch League team & Competition Team
• Providing race support at 4 NENSA Eastern Cup events, BKL events & more (EHSC qualifiers, out-of-region JNQs)
• Designing individual training for athletes, & working with them to develop both long & short-term goals
• Actively communicating & coordinating with parents & other ski team coaches

This position is also rooted deeply in the MNC group as a whole. Secondary responsibilities may include:

• Serving as an assistant coach for the MNC Masters program
• Organizing/leading wax clinics for parents/skiers, & leading & training parental wax teams
• Working to bring "Celebrity Guest Coaches" to team events & practices
• Leading MNC initiatives for social media, website enhancement, event promotion & more

Salary will be commensurate with experience & past coaching success (& influenced by skier enrollment) but will range between $8,000 & $12,000 for leading up to 5 training sessions per week from May through March, as well as providing coaching, waxing and support at 6+ competition weekends during the winter.

About MNC

Mansfield Nordic is one of the largest and most diverse ski clubs in New England, with programs for over 200 skiers ranging in age from 7 to 70+. Our home training facility is the Ethan Allen Biathlon range in Jericho, Vermont. This location features snowmaking, lighted trails, Pisten Bully grooming, challenging terrain, a large lodge and a 5-kilometer paved rollerski system. MNC also trains at Trapp Family Lodge, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and other top-level facilities around the state. Our members range from recreational skiers to top racers. MNC youth, junior and collegiate racers have recently been on the podium at the NENSA BKL Festival, USSA Junior Nationals, NCAA Championships and Masters National and World Championships.

To inquire about this position, please submit a resume and cover letter to Adam Terko: adamRterko@gmail.com