going nordic = going ghay?

[3PinGrin]

Anyone have a recommendation for a ski or a lead on a cheaper ski for my wife?

Basically skiing a road that can be packed down as it does have minimal snowmobile traffic. No skating, only classic. No grooming but definitely a few sleds a day going in and out. In Wyoming kind of near Jackson (not nearly as much snow). My wife does NOT want to tour or go off into the woods, just classic ski the ungroomed road. Assuming metal edges (partial)is a plus and does NOt want to fiddle with skins. About 180 lbs.

60 width?

If it’s not groomed specifically for skiers and she is new to skiing, unless it’s quite flat she may have a terrible time on skinny long classic skis in refrozen snowmobile tracks. Unless she is real actively fit and up for a challenge.

Something wider and more stable would be a better option imo. Icy versus fresh conditions will also make a difference. If she isn’t a skier I would recommend something like the Altai Hoks, especially for fresh conditions unless she wants something faster. My ex absolutely loved her Hoks but hated classic skis for what you describe and later venturing off trail as she gained confidence.

[3PinGrin]

Slope grade also makes a difference. If it’s out in the flat valleys there, classic might be fine. If some grade/downhill is more what I was thinking in my first response.

[NBABUCKS1]

lots of hills, some steeper than others. I present the hoks solution but she grew up in Anchorage and skied there. She runs a lot but is not a speed demon. I think her mind will be dead set on skis. I don't think it's refrozen crud too much as it usually stays below freezing out here (at least I think). Thanks for the suggestions!

[~mikey b]

So….signed up for the Birkeneiner race in Feb., 30 miles of skiing in Wisconsin. Going to skate it, never done anything this long before but looking forward to having something to train for. Will need lots of recs on anything and everything to do with an xc race, and this seems to be the place.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

fun!

[Laps]

That is my hope, but somewhat uncharted territory for me. I am hoping biking/running fitness will translate into ski fitness.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MagnificentUnicorn]

lots of hills, some steeper than others. I present the hoks solution but she grew up in Anchorage and skied there. She runs a lot but is not a speed demon. I think her mind will be dead set on skis. I don't think it's refrozen crud too much as it usually stays below freezing out here (at least I think). Thanks for the suggestions!

Hoks would be fine, but the Koms might be better if she’s skied before. They’re really stable, almost flat and the tips float up in fresh snow. Really easy to just shuffle along or kick and glide a bit


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[atree]

Is there any way to change this thread title? Lots of good info shared here over the course of the season.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[3PinGrin]

lots of hills, some steeper than others. I present the hoks solution but she grew up in Anchorage and skied there. She runs a lot but is not a speed demon. I think her mind will be dead set on skis. I don't think it's refrozen crud too much as it usually stays below freezing out here (at least I think). Thanks for the suggestions!

Does she have any Nordic or freeheel experience? If not I still thing maybe a wider ski like some of the Voile waxless options (although I prefer waxable in cold dry conditions) or the Kom mentioned. Lots of folks new to skinny classic skis flounder even if they have downhill alpine experience given the soft boots and limited control.

Snowmobile tracks are notorious for rutted conditions that can redirect a ski quickly. But if there is fresh powder on the edge that she can ski probably fine on classic gear for the downhill portions. Sometimes snowmobile tracks can be a harrowing downhill on steep narrow trails with no edge buffer between tracks and trees. But an experienced alpine skier should be able to wedge enough to control speed at least.

[NBABUCKS1]

Thanks 3pin and Magnificent.

I showed her this thread and the hok sounds like something she's into. Like that it's slower on downhills. I have some voile v6 bc skis and they can struggle in the dry cold snow so I think the skin of the hok is the way to go vs the Kom with the scales.

Just need to figure out boots and binders now....and score a hok.

back to your regularly scheduled skate skiing talk. Side note we do have a greyster from a sled dog kennel in MN and and it's serious cheat codes when you put on the fast skinny skis.

[3PinGrin]

Off course the upside to classic Nordic gear is that you can find a used setup (skis/bindings) for about $20 at local thrift stores. She could give that a whirl to see if that works for her.

If looking new, I would suggest Akers (akers-ski.com). Skinny Skis in Jackson used to be a great resource for all things nordic if they are still around.

[romeo tango]

.... Like that it's slower on downhills....

slower.
period.

.

[3PinGrin]

Thanks 3pin and Magnificent.

I showed her this thread and the hok sounds like something she's into. Like that it's slower on downhills. I have some voile v6 bc skis and they can struggle in the dry cold snow so I think the skin of the hok is the way to go vs the Kom with the scales.

Just need to figure out boots and binders now....and score a hok.

back to your regularly scheduled skate skiing talk. Side note we do have a greyster from a sled dog kennel in MN and and it's serious cheat codes when you put on the fast skinny skis.

Missed your post earlier, I bet she will love those Hoks.

[WhetherMan]

That is my hope, but somewhat uncharted territory for me. I am hoping biking/running fitness will translate into ski fitness.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It absolutely does. Large portions of nordic ski training consist of running, biking and resistance training even at a very high level. Of course actual skiing stacked on top of that at some point is also important, but you can do a ton of training off skis and still see benefits.

The birkie is a great race! It's a massive event, but well run and the course is awesome (and relentlessly hilly). Doing it for the 3rd time this year and I am psyched. If you're fit and starting from the last wave you'll be passing people all day, which can be annoying but also kind of motivating to blast past so many people


Sent from my Pixel 5a using Tapatalk

[Laps]

Thanks for the info, Whetherman. Hoping to ski as soon as we have snow, which has been later and later past few years and pretty inconsistent snow pack until Feb-march (the joys of living in vt). I’ll keep running and biking as much as I can until then.

Starting in the very last heat (10) and having rabbits to chase will help…as long as I don blow up!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[buttahflake]

I can’t even imagine the deep sand that the snow is going to resemble from the last row. Do they groom after a few heats or?

[Harry]

So….signed up for the Birkeneiner race in Feb., 30 miles of skiing in Wisconsin. Going to skate it, never done anything this long before but looking forward to having something to train for. Will need lots of recs on anything and everything to do with an xc race, and this seems to be the place.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dude! I live right near there. The Birkie is a huge event around here, motels booked solid miles away. I would offer up my guest bedroom but I am planning to be in Jackson/Big Sky during that month.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Thanks 3pin and Magnificent.

I showed her this thread and the hok sounds like something she's into. Like that it's slower on downhills. I have some voile v6 bc skis and they can struggle in the dry cold snow so I think the skin of the hok is the way to go vs the Kom with the scales.

Just need to figure out boots and binders now....and score a hok.

back to your regularly scheduled skate skiing talk. Side note we do have a greyster from a sled dog kennel in MN and and it's serious cheat codes when you put on the fast skinny skis.

I have Hoks and Koms. I think the Hoks would be great for someone wanting slower. They climb great and are super easy to control. I think they do best with pins and a sturdy leather boot or lightweight plastic like an Excursion or similar.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[John_B]

I can’t even imagine the deep sand that the snow is going to resemble from the last row. Do they groom after a few heats or?

They didn't the year my wife did it. If I remember right she said the first 5k or so was all double poling due to the quantity of people.

[Laps]

Yeah, my buddy did it in the last wave last year. He said it is a shitshow snowise, but the upside is there is almost no way to go out too hard. He said it was great to habe to shuffle the first 4-5 miles and then enjoy passing people for the rest of the race.

Harry, thanks for the offer, already have lodging set.

If any mags are out there for the race, ask for change if you see a nordork on old school rossi Xiums!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[buttahflake]

I always watch Birkie vids on YouTube. I’m envious, wish I was going.

[arild]

Back to fishscales; hot wax in some graphite, hot scrape, let cool, brush aggressively. I find it a lot easier to brush initially from one side to the other, then finish brushing the right way. Helps remove the excess wax that you can't really remove by scraping.

Wax the rest with some sweet ch7.

Or.. just use spray wax and buff.

Sent fra min LE2123 via Tapatalk

[romeo tango]

let's get it started!

.

[BCMtnHound]

FKNA!

[Harry]

x2! [emoji3][emoji106]

[lowsparkco]

I always cork kick wax into the scale pattern appropriate for the coldest conditions I will encounter. Wax that’s harder (for colder snow) than conditions just grips less acting more like glide wax, while soft wax on cold snow is no bueno aka freezes snow balls to the bases.

If you’re putting it on thin and corking it in you shouldn’t have to dig it out of the scale pattern. I typically take a couple cans and a cork, maybe a scraper if there’s a lot of variability.

This forum used to have a ton of seasoned Nordic skiers that recommended this technique. Only recently with more scaled skis and carpeted kick zones has wax wizardry been lost.

I usually do the same with BC skis if there’s any low angle groomed or track set in the approach. At times it has been mission critical to not spending hours on skins and skipping transitions.