XC Skiing?

[floatingyardsale]

I know this forums is mosly dedicated to alpine skiing, but the kids and I recently discovered XC skiing and my 7yo declared it the best thing every and "more fun than normal skiing." (We're working on it, lol.)

Is there a good similar forum for xc skiing? I'm interested in learning more about gear options.

 

[MissySki]

There are some threads on cross country here, especially from when some of us were looking for gear to start. Though obviously not at all as numerous as the downhill stuff.

 

[floatingyardsale]

Why don't the skis have metal?

 

[geargrrl]

Why don't the skis have metal?

Some XC skis do have metal - usually light backcountry touring gear. In general you are skiing a groomed track so you don't need the metal for stiffness or edges.

I am an avid Nordic skier, both skate and classic. In addition to alpine of course. I don't know of a nordic ski board, sorry.

 

[RachelV]

It's true that there aren't a ton of XC skiing threads, but there are some! A quick google popped up these that might be useful:

Anybody here do any backcountry Nordic skiing?

I know this is a more alpine focused forum but was just wondering if anybody here does any backcountry Nordic skiing? I was looking into getting an inexpensive BC Nordic set-up to just putz around the state parks, rails-to-trails, and fields here in the Northeast when mother nature allows. If...

www.theskidiva.com

Old one but maybe useful?

Thinking about getting cross country gear - advice?

DH isn't particularly enthused about spending money, but it sounds like I could do this much more cheaply than I'd originally thought. I'm thinking I might just go get a package of boots and skis at REI, and use my back country poles to save money. I feel like there was a thread already on this...

www.theskidiva.com

 

[RachelV]

p.s. google is often better than the site search when looking for threads like this, but it only returns publicly visible threads (so, nothing in the Divas Only section):

Google Search

 

[floatingyardsale]

Ha ha, the second Google hit is my home xc ski area. Maybe @Sheena has a lead on where to get kids' gear. It probably makes more sense to rent but it makes spontaneous trips a bit harder.

 

[geargrrl]

For kid's gear, a local ski swap can be a good choice. It's a little late this year for swaps. We have several in our area... a couple run by various ski patrols that sell all kinds of ski/snowboad/xc gear, and then the local fitness store that sells XC equipment has their own Nordic specific swap in the fall. If there is a local Nordic club (most trail centers have an affiliate club) that could be a good way to connect as in, "looking for....". Kid's packages should be relatively inexpensive. Your local club may have a good ski program for kids and junior. I know our club does and in fact several of our "Nordic Kids" have gone on to be OIympians. Renting gets expensive (and time consuming) if you do it more than a few times.

 

[geargrrl]

Back to the metal... . I asked my nerdy husband what his thoughts are. He said, "edges not needed for groomed track or skate decks and the metal would reduce flex and weight down the skis." Backcountry touring where you are breaking trail is where you will find metal edges, sometimes. In fact, lighter weight is what you strive for. Top of the line Nordic skis have carbon fiber in them.

 

[Sheena]

IF you are not sure about investing in gear, I think diamond peak might have a rental program. Also,. we did the jr. learn to ski program through Ogden Nordic, paid for the ski rental and got to bring them home and use them when they were not in lessons. https://www.ogdennordic.com/

My kids were especailly excited because they got out of school early on Tuedays for the lessons LOL

 

[floatingyardsale]

We've been renting through Weber, but Diamond Peak is open Sunday which is a good day for us. Ogden Nordic discontinued its rental program outside of lessons (and I'm not clear if they allow season rental after the classes.)

 

[Pequenita]

Back to the metal... . I asked my nerdy husband what his thoughts are. He said, "edges not needed for groomed track or skate decks and the metal would reduce flex and weight down the skis."

Generally what I was thinking, too. You're not turning the same way on xc skate or classic skis the way that you are when downhill skiing; therefore, you don't need the same kind of edge. On the other hand, this means that there's a lot of power-wedging going down hills that would be easy on alpine gear.

 

[floatingyardsale]

My experience here was a) skiing at night b) forgetting how to stop on xc skis and c) in boots two sizes too big and d) forgetting that I needed to power wedge instead of the lazy alpine wedge.

It was, uh, fun.

 

[Verve]

I started cross country skiing last year (lifetime downhill skier) and it was so fun & humbling. It really reconnected me to what it’s like to be outside your comfort zone as a learner and I hope will make me a more compassionate ski teacher going forward . I like to explore off trail so do have metal edged scaled cross country downhill (xcd) skis. I think those might actually be a fun choice for you @floatingyardsale bc they are more similar to downhill skis, maybe easier when wrangling the kiddo and open up more terrain options. Much less glide-y however. Always the trade off!

 

[geargrrl]

I disagree about xc off track being easier for kids..... They are small, they will sink, they most certainly won't be very happy breaking trail (most kids) .... just my experience, mom of two. I would think you will have to cherry pick your snow conditions to take kids off the track.

 

[floatingyardsale]

My two goons skied on the groomed part, skipped the railroad tracks, and then took their cross country skis into the trees because they assumed it was just like doing little offpiste hits on the side of a groomed alpine run.

It totally wasn't but they had fun.

 

[Verve]

I disagree about xc off track being easier for kids..... They are small, they will sink, they most certainly won't be very happy breaking trail (most kids) .... just my experience, mom of two. I would think you will have to cherry pick your snow conditions to take kids off the track.

Great point! I guess I meant more for parents I imagine you could keep up ok with the kiddos on their classical skis but have options if you get out there without them. I’m also biased bc I can fall over on those skinny classical edgeless ski from a standstill so was also thinking about stability.

 

[floatingyardsale]

I started cross country skiing last year (lifetime downhill skier) and it was so fun & humbling. It really reconnected me to what it’s like to be outside your comfort zone as a learner and I hope will make me a more compassionate ski teacher going forward . I like to explore off trail so do have metal edged scaled cross country downhill (xcd) skis. I think those might actually be a fun choice for you @floatingyardsale bc they are more similar to downhill skis, maybe easier when wrangling the kiddo and open up more terrain options. Much less glide-y however. Always the trade off!

Which brand of skis do you have?

The rental skis I had didn't glide at ALL. I had to pole down nearly everything.

 

[Verve]

Oh that’s a bummer! Sometimes if the snow is very sticky scaled skis don’t slide great but I would have hoped your rental spot would hook you up with some extra glide wax if that’s the case. I have Fischer southbound 98s with 3 pin bindings and I ski them with a stiffer leather boot (and sometimes a plastic telemark boot if I’m really adventuring but this is not as good for the glide or comfort). I bet any scaled xcd ski would feel similar - one thing I learned is that the number on these skis is the width of the shovel at the front, not the underfoot like downhill skis. So my 98s are actually very skinny! If you want to do mostly groomed places and be very efficient (ie, lots of glide) you may prefer a classical ski as others have suggested. My skis don’t fit in the rail road track on groomed xc terrain. I see deals for both styles of xc ski pretty regularly on Craigslist and ski swaps - this technology isn’t as rapidly evolving as say downhill so the old stuff can be almost identical to new skis.

 

[geargrrl]

Which brand of skis do you have?

The rental skis I had didn't glide at ALL. I had to pole down nearly everything.

Even waxless skis need a base treatment now and then.