|
X-Country (Cross-Country) skiing, aka
Nordic Skiing is a sport that takes coordination and stamina.
Don't let that scare you; you can develop both and find that
your winter outdoor experience goes way beyond what you'd
encounter on a normal hike. The trick to it is learning to
push off and glide along the snow, making long strides to cover
a lot of distance in a relatively short time. If you
really work at it, you will develop a solid technique on your
own, but a lesson from someone who is experienced will help at
first.
The skis, boots and poles are different
from those used in downhill (alpine) skiing. Skis are long
and thin with a texture underneath to help grip the snow.
The boots are flexible and ankle-high or slightly higher.
The poles are long and have a large bail at the bottom.
You don't need to spend a fortune for this equipment, but you
might want to rent a few times before buying.
Clothing for this sport is critical as
you will want to start off with less than you would for a hike
at the same temperature. As you ski, you will build up
quite a bit of heat and will want to remove a layer or two to
moderate the temperature.
There are a number of areas that create
tracks for you and charge a modest fee to use them.
Eldora
Nordic Center is a good nearby place to learn and to find
quite a large area of packed trails. You can rent all the
equipment and ski all day for under $40. You can also go
to
Brainard Lake, near Ward, CO which has trails at zero cost,
but you need to rent equipment somewhere else. You can
also ski in
Rocky Mountain National Park for free.
|
