Myriad options for cross country skiers

Cross country skiing is a muscle-powered means of travel over snow while enjoying the sensation of gliding.

It's also a lot more.

It's about freedom from the mechanical world and leaving behind the bothers to daily life. It's about the ability to be out in the winter environment on an outdoor adventure. It's about the thrill of an active sport and sharing simple pleasures with family and friends.

There are many aspects of cross country skiing: Participants range from the hard core Olympic athlete to the skier who just wants to wander around the yard watching birds.

What's unique about the sport is that it offers such a variety of experiences. From the aerobic workout that involves climbing mountains to a casual stroll, there is an opportunity to perform it on cross country skis.

The experiences may vary, but the tools have some basic similarities. The tool is the ski to transport one on the snow. All skis have a base that allows one to glide, float and maneuver on the snow surface. The ski is long and narrow with a shovel (upward curve) at the tip.

Beyond the basics, the skis vary quite a bit. Racing skis are thin, light and technologically advanced.

Backcountry and telemark skis are quite dynamic. Each year the skis are wider, shorter and have more shape to them. Most of us ski on something that fits in the midrange - preferably, a waxless, plastic base ski that's wide enough to balance on, but not so wide that it's heavy.

Heavy skis take more energy to move on, which means more of a challenge to maneuver, turn or stop. Midrange skis vary in length, width, construction and shape. The choices in this category can be overwhelming. There are a lot of brands and models to choose from.

The good news for the midrange skis is that skis have come a long way in recent years. New technology has improved the learning curve on cross country ski skills. Stiffer boots and shorter and wider skis all equal easier skiing. Days of floppy boots with the heel hanging off the ski are gone.

Cross country skiing covers a lot of different disciplines. That means it takes a huge variety of skis to partake in the different aspects of the sport.

For us ski junkies it's nice to have lots of different skis. We thrive on having the right ski at the right moment. A well-rounded skier needs a full quiver of skis. Many avid skiers of today enjoy all disciplines of skiing, which leads to the need of numerous pairs of skis.

Cross country skiing can be divided into four main disciplines:

-- The casual skier: These cross country skiers are known to wander tracks and take in the nature around them.

-- The track skier: This is someone who likes to move fast with strength and endurance.

-- The avid backcountry skier: They enjoy traveling over snow much like hiking in the summer, off trail in roadless areas.

-- The telemarker: This skier enjoys the downhill aspects and engages in traditional Nordic telemarking.

Different disciplines

Sounds simple? The catch is that each discipline requires a different ski. Then within the disciplines there is a variety of skis to cover all different snow and terrain situations.

The middle of the road or casual skier usually has a pair of waxless, medium skis and most likely something a little wider for deep snow, possibly another pair of waxable skis. A waxless ski has a pattern under the foot, allowing one to grip the snow and kick off to the other ski. A waxable ski needs to have wax applied to that zone daily. Wax skis are more complete, as there are many different waxes for varied conditions.

Backyard skis are not too high-tech; they are created for the spontaneous skier who enjoys an afternoon cruise. They tend to be "beater" skis - old skis whose base is somewhat scarred from lots of past skiing in skimpy snow conditions.

Boots will be sturdy but not too extreme; low-cut leather boots work. Or the newer boot/binding systems tend to provide more stability and support. If you still have a wonderful old pair of wood skis, keep them in your quiver as a conversation piece. Consider replacing old skis with new, shorter skis designed to maneuver and turn with greater ease.

The track performance skier requires skis for the classic technique as well as the skate method. For classic skiing - the traditional kick and glide technique - a waxless ski for those icky days is needed.



Ski skating

Ski skating is a divergence of the diagonal stride. In the skate method there is no grip under the foot of the ski. Instead of striding forward with a grip to move from one ski to another, one pushes off the edge of the ski to glide on a flat ski. The skis are in a "V" formation in the glide phase. Weight, balance and glide are still equally important as one moves forward with a slight angle of the skis. Ski skating is done on machine groomed snow or firm snowpack as corn snow. A skate ski has a smooth base that must be kept well waxed for the optimum glide. Both disciplines require skis for soft and hard snow conditions - several pair of each to wax differently for race day. Racers have lots of skis. Even if you are just an occasional track skier, you will want a pair of high performance skis to enhance your gliding power.

Quiver musts

The avid backcountry skier needs are many, depending on conditions and the terrain of choice that day. For starters, a good pair of waxless, metal-edge skis is a must for your quiver. A pair of shape skis for turning is a must for those perfect powder mornings.

Next on the list is something a little wider and stable for carrying a heavy pack. A wide, sturdy ski is needed for multiday trips. A pair of light-weight cruisers for crust days is part of the quiver. Be sure to keep the old retro skis just in case you want to take them out to see if you can still turn them, or not!

For telemarking on the mountain, one needs skis for powder snow, hard pack, corn snow, bumps, crust and so on. There are lots of choices, lots of skis. At least a good pair of shaped skis and a pair of Salomon cut skis.

For telemarking in the backcountry the ski needs to be more versatile and lighter. Don't forget a comfortable pair of plastic boots so you can handle the bigger skis. For mountaineering usually a stiff and a soft pair of shaped skis will do. Naturally there is more to it, but usually a stiff pair of skis will do with a softer pair for those fresh snow days.

As the avid cross country skiers' interest expands, so does the desire for skis for the right situation. The above quiver includes about 16 pairs of skis. Count your skis! Are you prepared for all conditions and disciplines? I'm embarrassed to say that my quiver is full. And I enjoy every pair of skis I own. Some I just enjoy looking at and others I ski on daily.



- Debbi Waldear is director of Kirkwood Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Center, and is no slouch to the concepts of fitness and training. She has won eight World Master Championship gold medals in recent years.