I skied yesterday!

[Arnold Babar]

...Um, okay so it was cross country in a field and it was almost completely flat , but it was powder and I made fresh tracks and there was a gentle snow falling as I kicked and glided in 3/4 mile figure eight laps around this field at a state park near my home. And I went for about an hour and I felt str-ONG! And it was gooooood, and soon I'll be touring through the woods, and then making turns . I am gonna mt. bike so much so hard so well this summer, DAMN! I don't want to be injured ever again. That is all.

[Mrs Roo]

NICE ONE, mate!!!

[milton]

>>okay so it was cross country in a field and it was almost completely flat

Still, i am raging jealous!!!!

3 weeks post op, the knee is feeling good....but i'd really like to do somethings simple such as go for a walk. Going a bit stir crazy, ya know?

[divegirl]

Congrats, Arnold! Way to get after it!!

I think Legoskier is itching to go cross-country skiing with his new brace (pics...?), but I told him that I'd rather he wait and I go with him on his first time out since his injury.

Wait.....

That sounded a bit harsh.....was that mean of me?? Actually, I'm just concerned about his knee, and would like to be there if anything goes wrong.

I'm so lame. Now that it's in type, I sound like an overly-concerned girlfriend. Lego - just go skiing. Get your ass out there. You'll be fine!! (just be careful and take your cell phone)

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

...Um, okay so it was cross country in a field and it was almost completely flat , but it was powder and I made fresh tracks and there was a gentle snow falling as I kicked and glided in 3/4 mile figure eight laps around this field at a state park near my home. And I went for about an hour and I felt str-ONG! And it was gooooood, and soon I'll be touring through the woods, and then making turns . I am gonna mt. bike so much so hard so well this summer, DAMN! I don't want to be injured ever again. That is all.

YES!! FKNA! my man!

[LegoSkier]

Lego - just go skiing. Get your ass out there.

Yes ma'am.

[Arnold Babar]

Went out again today! Rail Trail + plus snow = 2hrs of xc fun. I saw deer tracks and birds and felt cold air on my face and in my lungs. Can there be a better activity for the knees/quads than cross country skiing? I say go get it gimps if you have the chance and feel stable enough.

[Arnold Babar]

Got some more xc today. It feels awesome to have skis underfoot again. I started following some snowmobile tracks into the woods, but then the terrain started getting twisty and hilly, and I thought better of it, went back to the rail bed. Better safe than sorry, but it was tempting .

[Nohillsnearby]

Way to get after it. I went downhill yesterday and the knee did great!

The Gimp Central should be clearing out soon.

[Snow Ranger]

nice going on the xc.

I've never xc'd before but have all the gear. The doc wants me to wait till I'm 4 month post op before I xc. I might wait (2.5 more weeks) or I might go out this weekend. Anyway, how do those things feel? Stable or edgy? The skis are so skinny I worry that I might roll the edge and my knee.

[Arnold Babar]

Went out again today, 2hrs. Felt great. Snow Ranger, as long as you stick to flat terrain and don't have to do a lot of turning, you should be fine. I'm pretty experienced xcer so I have no problem with the skinniness or rolling over etc. You're more apt to roll an ankle than a knee, really. I started xcing at about 3mos. post op. It does wonders for the quad and hipflexers. Stay on flat don't turn too much, you'll be fine. They're more stable than they look, and it's not exactly that complicated of an activity.

[altagirl]

Glad to hear you're doing so well!

I tend not to do much XC unless I'm rehabbing, so I wouldn't say I'm all that used to the skis. They're a little weird to get used to because they're skinny, but it's only an issue when you're going downhill or turning. My doc had me wear my knee brace just in case. Stick to something flat and easy and you don't have to worry about it. And I absolutely agree it's a great leg-building workout.

[Snow Ranger]

I think I'll give it a try this weekend.
AG - I am hoping you have been out on different courses around Utah. Of these courses which would you say are the most flat PC, Solitude Nordic Center, Alta or Snowbasin? Or if you have another suggestion. Perhaps should I take this question over to epic ski, hehe.

[SPREAD EAGLE]

SIC Babar!! I can only meditate about having such an experience. I'm with Milton though...just a walk would be nice two weeks post op.

[Arnold Babar]

You'll get there, Spread. One cool thing about surgery is how much you appreciate the little things (like going for a walk). I'm lucky to live near a converted rail trail that is completely straight and only a 2% grade. Boring as hell, but in my current condition it's a dream to just cruise along with skis underfoot. Next month I'll be returning to the scene of the crime (Tuckerman Ravine) I won't ski, but I'll hike up and watch my friends rip it up. I think I'll bring my daughter so she can see the place that put daddy on the couch all winter.

[altagirl]

I think I'll give it a try this weekend.
AG - I am hoping you have been out on different courses around Utah. Of these courses which would you say are the most flat PC, Solitude Nordic Center, Alta or Snowbasin? Or if you have another suggestion. Perhaps should I take this question over to epic ski, hehe.

I'd say the easiest is out in Park City - the White Pine touring nordic center out on the golf course on the right hand side of the street when you come into town. There are some hills even on the beginner course, but they're shallow enough and it's groomed well enough that you should have no problem just staying in the track and cruising through them. Alta is easy if you stick to the loop by the transfer tow (though it's a short loop, and you do have to watch out for people flying out of Eagle's Nest and such.) Not to mention, their grooming is... well, what you'd expect at Alta. This may be a first, complaining about grooming, but trying to ski in a track that's sometimes there and sometimes not, or is half covered in snow so you can't tell quite where it is... I gave up and tried skate skiing the third time I XC'd at Alta. PC is nicely groomed - which makes it easier when you can stay in a nice even track. And they have a beginner, intermediate, and advanced trail, plus they're long enough to not feel like you're just going in circles. That's where I started out and where I think works best for starting out.

I haven't been to Snowbasin or anything up that direction for XC so I don't know about that. Maybe they have something even better.

Solitude was nice, but I do recall some hills and stuff - haven't been there in a couple years.

Hope that helps!