Cross Country trail skiing considerations

Cross Country trail skiing considerations:  *** Always be looking ahead to see what is coming next.

Is your wax just right, or is it a little slippery or a little sticky?

Which direction is the sun? With 2 sets of tracks going west the south tracks (passing tracks) will be cooler snow, so if you are slipping use those tracks, if you do not hinder anyone. If you need more grip perhaps the passing pole tracks are best.

Experiment where is the fastest snow. Is the fastest snow in the tracks, pole tracks, middle of the track, the passing pole tracks, or the passing tracks?

Are your skis faster in the sun or behind cloud cover? Pay attention to this little tidbit of information.

Is the snow slow and wet at the bottom of a hill, or is it icy? Be prepared for your skis to either slow up, or shoot out from underneath you.

Is the snow going to loosen up or stay rock solid? Base binder or an ice Klister as a base, for your kick wax should be added.

Is there a fair amount of debris in the tracks? You should ski in the pole tracks or the middle of the tracks. Your skis will not collect as must dirt and slow down. Using graphite in the glider and silver in your wax or Klister will repel the dirt better.

When you go down a hill, stay in a high tuck, take a couple of double poles, and a single pole up the hill, before you go into your diagonal. Try to get a third of the way up the hill, before you go into a diagonal stride.

On a curve, go from the outside tracks, and drift back out to the outside of the curve where the passing tracks are, trying not edge any more then absolutely necessary.

If there are any indication of step (skate), turns be sure to use what is already there. Be careful that those grooves are not too deep, otherwise they might pull you down. Anytime you see these step turns, think of those grooves as a place to accelerate your speed.

When the snow is a bit wet, be careful of snow that is under the trees, as that snow has a possibility of being slower snow.

If you are skiing across a wooden bridge, the snow will be slower so anticipate that, and be ready for the skis to grab. You might need to be in a slight telemark position, with one ski slightly ahead of the other.

Any snow that is being kicked up by others skiing in front of you will be colder snow. That is one of the reasons the pole tracks will give you more grip.

***Glide and do not let your speed slow down anymore then necessary. Only diagonal ski when it is absolutely necessary. Master the single kick double pole and use it lots.