BrianSharpe wrote: » We have great trails for both skate & classic 15 minutes from my house.......I may just buy pass this year for a bit of a change from the running.
KANGOOJUMPS wrote: » cannot wait till it is a blizzard and minus 35, want to snowshoe and ice skate!, oh yes!, but today is hot with humidex and the pool is still open, so drinks by the pool for me,.... for now!
NorthCascades wrote: » BrianSharpe wrote: » We have great trails for both skate & classic 15 minutes from my house.......I may just buy pass this year for a bit of a change from the running. As a runner, you'll probably find it an easy transition - and refreshing. I can ski a hilly 10K in 35 minutes on classic gear.
canadianlbs wrote: » um . . . so i take it 'corduroy' does not mean the clothes? asking for a friend.
NorthCascades wrote: » canadianlbs wrote: » um . . . so i take it 'corduroy' does not mean the clothes? asking for a friend. Have a look at the snow the guy in the first post is skiing over. Note the resemblance to corduroy pants. "Fresh corduroy" means snow that's just been groomed for cross country skiing. (You can ski on non-groomed snow too, but groomed is faster and easier, like a bike on smooth new pavement.)
sgt1372 wrote: » canadianlbs wrote: » um . . . so i take it 'corduroy' does not mean the clothes? asking for a friend. "Corduroy" refers to the texture of the surface of hard packed snow when groomed by machine on ski slopes, which has the parallel rowed look of corduroy.
sgt1372 wrote: » NorthCascades wrote: » canadianlbs wrote: » um . . . so i take it 'corduroy' does not mean the clothes? asking for a friend. Have a look at the snow the guy in the first post is skiing over. Note the resemblance to corduroy pants. "Fresh corduroy" means snow that's just been groomed for cross country skiing. (You can ski on non-groomed snow too, but groomed is faster and easier, like a bike on smooth new pavement.) The grooming of downhill slopes and cross country trails differs based on the type of skiing involved and the type of skis/boots used. Corduroy grooming is more commonly associated w/downhill skiing. It allows the skis to flow smoothly along the hard pack and provides a predictable surface for the steel edges to bite. In downhill, gravity is what powers the skis and you mainly use foot pressure and leg position to point and turn the skis via the edges. On the other hand, cross country skis are mainly powered by the skier him/herself - - at least on flat or uphill runs, which you seldom have to deal with in downhill. This is also why downhill boots are extremely large and stiff, ehile x-country shoes are small and flexible. So, cross country trails are normally tracked w/2 ski wide grooves (not groomed w/narrow corduroy like grooves), as shown in the 1st pic, so that the x-skis can remain flat on the snow in position w/o wandering left/rt which allows the skier to transfer more power to push off the skis w/o wasting effort to keep them on track. While the wax (or artifical surface) of x-country skis are designed to stick when pressure is placed on them but glide when not, downhill skis are just designed to run and not stick at all (any sticking on downhill skis will probably result in a crash/fall - not a good thing). Poles used in downhill and x-country also differ in design and purpose. Except in mogals or off piste, weight is not normally placed on downhill poles. They are usually shorter, lighter and primarily used as a timing device. On the other hand, x-country poles are used to propel the skier thru the snow (or along a track) w/a pushoff performed in coordination w/the legs and skis. So, they are normally longer and heavier and studier than downhill poles.
