1. Skiing Greg Wallace (slides from previous lecturers, Pat Allen, Drew Friedmann, Anne Lightbody, Stan Jurga, etc) January 11, 2011 MITOC Winter School

2. Skilectromagnetic Spectrum  Free-heel skiing, Nordic skiing, Telemark skiing, Cross country, Nordic downhill, on-piste skiing, langlauf, backcountry touring, ski- mountaineering, cross-country skiing, Nordic touring, ski de fond, off-piste skiing, ski-touring, Alpine Touring, Randonnee, free skiing, mono- skiing, kite skiing, snowboarding, splitboarding, teleboarding, etc

3. This is skiing. So is this.

4. Why skiing?  Walking downhill is boring  Cover more ground than on snowshoes  Powder is awesome  There’s more to ski than just the resorts (XC or lift service)

5. Why XC ski?  Fun, recreational outdoor activity  Low impact, total body workout  Fast, practical winter locomotion  Excuse to wear spandex

6. Types of x-c skiing If you’re not skiing: be kind and stay off the tracks Skating Technique Touring (groomed flat) Touring (tracked trails) Backcountry Classic Technique (diagonal stride)

7. A few places to start Bretton Woods Jackson (www.jacksonxc.org) Great Glen (www.greatglentrails.org) Waterville Valley (www.waterville.com/nordic.html) Windblown (www.windblownxc.com) Great Brook Farm (www.greatbrookski.com) Weston Ski Track (www.ski- paddle.com/skitrack/skitrack.shtml) Touring Centers Wide, flat backcountry trails Hayes Copp ski trail Zealand Hut access road Echo Lake State Park Lincoln Woods trail Livermore Road Three Ponds trail Middlesex Fells Arlington bike path Hayes Copp ski trail Zealand Hut access road Echo Lake State Park Lincoln Woods trail Livermore Road Three Ponds trail Middlesex Fells Arlington bike path

8. How XC skis work  Weight on two skis = glide  Weight on one ski = traction Glide Zone Kick wax, Klister, “fishscales”, etc. 150 lbs Camber prevents kick zone from contacting snow Kick zone engages with snow

9. Choosing the right XC ski  Sizing skis for classic  Paper test: paper should be able to pass under skis when you are wearing your pack and standing on 2 skis, but not on 1 ski  By weight (charts in the office)  By length: skis usually come up to your wrist  For more glide, go longer; for more grip, go shorter  Sizing poles – under the armpit  Boots – leave enough room for 1 or 2 socks  Get the right boots for your skis!!!

10. Going flat (classic style)  Glide!  Weight shift  “Kick a soccer ball”  Hip rotation  Push off your poles  Double pole if you’re going fast

11. Going uphill  In order of increasingly steep terrain:  Thump your skis to engage the kick zone  Herringbone: spread tips apart & walk forward like a duck  Side step: walk up sideways UPHILL

12. Going downhill  Lean forward  Get your weight low (“sit in a chair”)  Snow plow  Hope for the best  Preemptively fall

13. Falling is an art

14. What’s the difference between BC and XC skiing?  BC and XC skiing overlap  Definition of BC depends on who you ask ( British Columbia doesn’t count) Any skiing or snowboarding away from maintained, controlled resorts - Light touring - “Cross terrain” - Telemark - Alpine Touring/randonee - Using alpine ski gear outside of resorts - Snowboarding outside of resorts - Sidecountry/slackcountry? Not BC

15. Light Touring  Mixed up and down on rolling terrain  Emphasis on being out in the wilderness, not cranking turns in deep powder  Similar to XC skiing in equipment and technique

16. Light Touring  Skis similar to XC skis  Metal edges  Narrow to medium width  Straight (regular light touring) or with side cut (Cross Terrain)  Fish scales  Double camber or “camber and a half”

17. Light Touring  Boots similar to XC boots  NNN-BC system  Reinforced plastic cuff  Reinforced sole  Insulated  Bindings similar to XC bindings  NNN-BC system

18. Telemark / Randonee / Splitboard  Emphasis on downhill fun  “Earn your turns”  Specialized equipment makes climbing slopes in deep snow possible

19. Telemark and Randonee Skis  Skis appear nearly the same as alpine skis.  Still a continuum!  Light vs heavy weight  Special features: reverse camber, rocker, early rise,  Carving side cut vs width for flotation

20. Telemark Boots  Boots much beefier than XC  Heavy leather (old school-cold, wet, not much control) or plastic (new school- warm, dry, lots of control)  Rigid cuff  75mm Nordic Norm (3- pin)  NTN  Heel groove for cables/crampons

21. Telemark Bindings  Wide variety of bindings  Cables  Strap/Plate  3-pin  Combination of the above

22. Randonee/Alpine Touring Boots and Bindings  Randonee bindings mounted to tele/randonee skis, or regular alpine skis.  Bindings: pivot at toe on the way up but lock heel for the way down.  Boots similar to alpine boots except lighter and better for walking.  Rubber sole  Hinged cuff  Rockered sole

23. Alpine ski and snowboard gear  Ordinary alpine skiing and snowboarding equipment can be used in the backcountry, but:  It’s heavy  It’s tough to walk in ski boots  Doesn’t work on flat and uphill terrain

24. BC Alpine Skiing/Snowboarding  Use the same equipment as you would at a ski area  Alpine trekkers  Splitboard is cut in half lengthwise  Use like skis on the way up  Use like conventional snowboard on the way down

25. How do I get up?  Skins  Synthetic hairs glide forward but grip in reverse  Stick to bottoms of skis with glue (good) or straps on (not so good)  Use with Telemark, AT, or Splitboards

26. How do I get up?  Snowshoes  Use with snowboards or alpine skis  Make sure snowshoes fit onto snowboard boots  Bring other boots for the way up if you’re on alpine skis

27. Sleds (a.k.a. pulks)  Get the weight off your back and pull it!  Heavier gear (car batteries, strobe lights, etc…)  Keep the center of gravity low- avoid tipping  Work well with snowshoes too

28. Taking care of skis  Protect the base  Avoid rocks, stumps, asphalt, sand, etc.  When crossing a sketchy patch, WALK, don’t glide  Don’t snap your skis  Avoid running into trees  If going over a rocky section, step on (not between) the rocks  Respect left/right designation  If applicable  Store dry & clean  Maintain periodically: wax, p-tex, clean edges

29. Where to go in the Backountry?  Any wide hiking trail will do  Abandoned Ski Areas (www.nelsap.org)  Some hiking trails are old roads  Moosilaukee Carriage Road  Red Hill Trail  CCC cut many skiing specific trails in the 1930’s  Tuckerbrook Trail  Doublehead Trail  Sherburne Trail  Thunderbolt Trail  Presidentials—bowls, chutes  Slide paths and watercourses…scour topo maps and aerial photos, and hike a lot in summer.

35. ??’s