Mcgee Scott J - Basic illustrated cross-country skiing

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FALCON GUIDES

Copyright 2012 Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

FalconGuides is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press.

Falcon, FalconGuides, and Outfit Your Mind are registered trademarks of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.

Photos by Luca Diana Photography except those by Scott McGee: pp. 1, 2, 5, 7, 11 (top left), 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 27, 31, 32, 47, 53, 71 (bottom), 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 104; Craig Panarisi: pp. 30, 66, 71 (top); Jackson Ski Touring Foundation / Andy Canniff: p. 84; and Chariot Carriers: p. 89.

Text design: Karen Williams

Project editor: Julie Marsh

Layout: Sue Murray

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McGee, J. Scott.

Basic illustrated cross-country skiing / J. Scott McGee ; photography by Luca Diana.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-0-7627-7764-8

1. Cross-country skiing. I. Title.

GV855.3.M42 2012

796.93'2dc23

2012022976

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The author and Globe Pequot Press assume no liability for accidents happening to, or injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book.

When I was 12 years old, a board game called Othello showed up under our Christmas tree. Its the game with an 8-by-8-inch board and chips that are black on one side and white on the other. The games tagline was, and still is, Minutes to Learn. A Lifetime to Master.

This friendly learning curve is also true of cross-country skiing in that the simplicity of the sport belies the elusiveness of mastering the simplest of ideasto balance while gliding on one foot. So, while newcomers to cross country skiing can be doing it withinliterallyminutes, mastering the one-footed gliding balance of advanced technique can take years. This holy grail of classic cross-country technique may take a few years of practice, though with guidance and training the gifted and athletic may pass this milestone sooner. One skiing truth I live by is this: No matter how good you are, you can always get better. This is a challenge and a reminder that skiing need never be boring.

As a youth the first book on ski technique that I can recall leafing through was one from my fathers shelfFrank Days If You Can Walk, You Can Ski. It seemed like a sound premise then, and its still true today, though an apt corollary follows. If you can walk into the Nordic Center or ski school sales office and get formal instruction, you can ski better and farther, have more fun, and work less. Yes, you can ski if you can walk, but skiing better is where its at.

The easy-to-try aspect of classic cross-country skiing provides a big welcome mat for beginning skiers and snowsport participants, and offers continual rewards, even for the expert as higher levels of mastery are reached.

While other activities compete for our time, few can address our cravings for challenge, nature, exercise, and/or social time in quite the same way. However, there are obstacles that keep many Americans from clicking into bindings for a ski outing: travel to the snow, winter clothing, equipment, access to trails, and good grooming. As for money, there are smart ways to keep skiing affordable. Great deals on equipment can be found online and at your local consignment store, especially in snow country. Whatever the hurdles, clear them. You will be well rewarded by many cherished memories.

While, arguably, this book can save you money on lessons, knowhow can be another hurdle to clear in optimizing your enjoyment of cross-country skiing. Professional instructors across the country are ready to help you get grounded in your new sport. Skilled guidance in the early (and later) stages can catapult you to new levels of mastery and help you make the most of every ski experience.

Cross-country skiing is family friendly, affordable, and a great option for exercising and keeping in shape. The secret lies in finding or bringing cross-country closer to where you live, or taking the time and making the effort to get yourself and your family to the skiing. Some people have made skiing an integral part of their lives, such that it is literally out their backdoors.

With good information, a little preparation, and some winter manna from heaven, youll be skiing before you know it.

No introduction to cross-country skiing would be complete without pointing the way to the wealth of resources that are out there to inform and guide the developing skier. Whether its racing, recreational, light touring, or backcountry skiing; teaching or coaching; or getting your kids (or parents) going, there are books, magazines, and other resources that can enrich your knowledge and understanding of technique, equipment, waxing, training, and much more.

Here is a brief list of the best books, magazines, websites, and video resources to help fuel your passion for cross-country skiing:

Cross-Country Skiing: Building Skills for Fun and Fitness, by Steve Hindman, 2005. Hindman, a twelve-year member of the PSIA Nordic Demonstration Team, brings together his accumulated knowledge about skiing and learning to ski. This compilation of all aspects of Nordic skiing is an in-depth reference for skiers of all levels.

Training Cross-Country Skiing, by Katrin Barth and Hubert Bruhl, 2006. Translated from German, this book has detailed illustrations and would be a great gift for the budding cross-country youth competitor.

Nordic Technical Manual, published by PSIA, authored by PSIA Nordic Demonstration Team members, 2005. This handbook of teaching and technique for cross-country and telemark instructors goes in-depth on skiing models and skills and introduces the Stepping Stones model, a teaching method for matching a tailored progression to the needs, desires, and abilities of a given student.

Ski Trax, North Americas Nordic Ski Magazine, publishes four issues a year with cross-country racing as its primary focus. Backcountry, destination areas, and equipment topics are also covered and there are great columns on technique, training, diet, US Ski Team vignettes, and much more. See www.skitrax.com.

Cross Country Skier, a US-based publication, covers equipment, technique, and XC ski reports and claims to be the oldest journal on recreational Nordic skiing in the world. See www.crosscountryskier.com.

Master Skier, a newsprint-turned-color-glossy-journal magazine is aimed at serious Nordic racers of thirty-plus years. Racers stories and news of innovations in training, technique, and equipment are included. See www.masterskier.com.

Cross Country Ski Areas Association is the nonprofit organization for a network of 270-plus member areas. This extensive site has detailed videos, podcasts, and articles on how to get started, where to ski, plus links to resorts and grooming reports for the public and pages for suppliers, member areas, and the press. See www.xcski.org.