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Intro to Classic XC Skiing (Part 4): Basic Techniques for Cross-Country Skiing Downhill
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ส.ค. 2024
- In this fourth part of my “introduction to classic cross-country skiing” series of videos, I present a broad range of basic downhilling techniques. Before you get too excited, though, know that the techniques I present here are very basic. This is not an advanced cross-country downhill tutorial. I produced this video specifically for beginner and intermediate cross-country skiers who want to learn how to safely negotiate hilly terrain. And, my emphasis is on the basic snow plow. So if you’re looking to become a master downhiller on cross-country skis, look elsewhere.
I also discuss and demonstrate staying in the classic tracks on the downhill, stepping out of the tracks while skiing downhill, performing a half snow plow while skiing downhill in classic tracks. Additionally, I talk about and illustrate step turns, kick turns, and stem christie turns. Again, though, this is a very broad and basic overview of the options that you have on cross-country skis when faced with downhill aspects of terrain.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:31 Dealing with Classic Tracks
5:22 Snow Plow
13:27 Side-Step
15:09 Step-Turn
16:45 Kick Turn
18:49 Pseudo-Parallel Turns
19:10 Closing Thoughts
22:30 POV Downhill Run
On the groomed xc ski trails I was running a set of old, beat-up (rock skis) Fischer Summit Crowns with NNN bindings and a pair of basic Fischer touring boots. In the backcountry setting I was on Fischer Spider 62mm skis with NNN bindings and that same pair of Fischer touring boots.
* Please note that I include accurate subtitles/closed captions for all of my videos, so if you're having a difficult time hearing me enable the "CC" option (bottom right of video player).
** You can change the speed of the video (slower/faster) by accessing the "Playback Speed" option via the settings gear icon (bottom right corner of the video player).
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Please note that I produced my series of articles and videos tagged “Cross-Country Skiing Explained” with the beginner or intermediate cross-country skier in mind. Therefore, I don’t intend to address racing-oriented philosophy, technique, or gear selection.
Classic Cross-Country Ski Components:
Introduction to Classic Cross-Country Skis (Part 1)
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Geometry of Classic Cross-Country Skis (Part 2)
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The Grip Zone of Classic Cross-Country Skis (Part 3)
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Types of Bindings for Classic Cross-Country Skiing (Part 4)
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Ski Boots for Classic Cross-Country Skiing (Part 5)
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Classic Cross-Country Ski Poles (Part 6)
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FAQs about Classic Cross-Country Skiing
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Waxing Your “Waxless” Cross-Country Skis (for beginner and intermediate xc skiers):
Introduction to Waxing Your Waxless XC Skis
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Considerations for buying cross-country ski gear (new and beginner xc skiers):
Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1)
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I've produced this collection of articles and videos about backcountry travel and exploration with the beginner and intermediate adventurer in mind. This is the demographic for whom I most often served while working in the Lake Tahoe outdoor recreation industry. In essence, these informational projects I create and publish are extensions of the many conversations we've had over the years.
Please note that, although I encourage you to venture out of your comfort zone, you need to know your limits and when to turn back. Tahoe Trail Guide and its contributors are not liable for property loss or damage, personal injury, or death. Always consult multiple sources when venturing into the backcountry. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario. Your safety is your responsibility.
Copyright © 2021 Jared Manninen
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That smile after the stop in the intro!
I love your videos - I've gotten into XC (mostly bc/backroads as I like to explore) this year and your tips and thoughts really help a lot :)
Thanks so much for the kind words :) I'm glad you're enjoying my videos and finding value in them. I love to produce them (when I can carve out the time - haha).
I fully support xc skiing as a means of exploration! It's so fun to be able to travel to and access different aspects of terrain thanks to snow (and xc skis!).
Thanks again for the feedback :)
Na na na na boo boo, I know how to ski and you don’t. He’s pretty cool.
Ha Ha. Thanks 🙌
i'm 70 yrs and one thing i dread the most is downhill skiing, watching these videos make me feel a bit confident to try a gentle downhill, after the severe cold days, i'll try. videos and comments are real and much appreciated. Anil
Glad I could be of service, Anil. And glad you're finding value in my work 🤗
Just take it easy on those downhills, building a little as you go so you don't bite off more than you can chew. Building confidence is a matter of making incremental gains 😊
Thanks again, and good luck!
Very much appreciate your video and the detailed explanations you have provided. I’m a beginner and have struggled with this aspect of things 😅
Hey Rauf! You're welcome. I appreciate your kind words and meaningful feedback. And I hope you have a great time out there on the downhills :)
Your teaching style is so excellent - repeating drills, showing the steps, and best of all talking about strategies for downhill as a way to manage safety and fun at the learner's own level. So many other instructors will just tell you to get over the fear and that's that, but I find your attitude more respectful. Looking forward to learning my hockey stop.
Hey James,
I truly appreciate your kind words :) It's very thoughtful of you to provide such generous feedback.
I agree that it's not super helpful to tell people to "just get over it" with regard to their fear of downhill sections. Obviously, getting over that fear is a big part of learning to negotiate the downhills. But because xc skiing isn't exactly a life requirement or anything so serious, I find it more beneficial (in the long-run) to allow people to embrace that fear on their own terms (i.e. to take their time).
I teach a lot of beginner lessons with people who've never even walked on snow, let alone slid down a hill. And many of them are between 40-65 years old. So there's no way I want to see them skiing out of control and then crashing. I'm 47 and and even though I ski pretty fast and confidently, I don't like to fall either! It hurts. haha. So, providing some other options of dealing with steep terrain is, in my opinion, the way to go. A lot of times the steep stuff isn't the whole length of the trail either. So if a person can navigate that one short section, and ride out the rest, good for them! Eventually they'll build the confidence and technical ability to overcome that steep stuff. And if they never do, that's fine too. But at least they have the tools in which to draw upon in order to safely return to the lodge, or home, or their vehicle.
Anyway, I'm really grateful for you tuning in and proving such nice feedback :)
I try to CC ski every year but sometimes I forget basics. Thank you for making your videos and helping me remember the principles of success in a sport I get so much satisfaction from.
Thanks so much for the nice feedback 🤗 I'm glad I could be of service. Let me know if you ever have any questions.
very good video for me to understand! Thanks for making this!
Glad I could be of service :) And thanks for the really nice feedback! Let me know if you ever have any questions.
As we head into the winter, probably one of the best videos/tutorials I've seen ever in regard to xc ski technique. Thanks Jared!
Thank you, Kyle! I appreciate the kind words, and glad I could be of service :)
You have an empathetic way of teaching that's really enjoyable. Thanks for the whole series, I'm sharing it to friends!
Thanks so much for the kind words 🤗 I really appreciate it! I do try to keep things down to earth and accessible for people interested in xc skiing. Again, thanks for watching, sharing, and the wonderful feedback!
I feel so validated right now that I'm almost in tears. If only I'd had this video when I was in middle school and had to attend mandatory cross-country skiing trips in school. Born and raised in Norway, I'm supposed to be "born with cross-country skiis on my feet", but I am also autistic, struggle with skiing, swimming, bicycling, all those things, and touring skis were unheard of when I was a kid. It was all cross-country skiing. Going downhill was scary. My dad tried teaching me to snowplough, it was very difficult. When I came to steep downhill areas, I would *take my skis off* and *walk down the hill!* Everyone else seemed to have such an easy time, either cruising down in the tracks, or snowploughing effortlessly. I'm 26 years old and it's only because of your video that I now know that, hey, it's okay that I struggled! That, hey, touring skis are easier! I want to face my skiing traumas so that I can go into the woods with my dog even in the depths of winter, and I need skis for that. Your video is giving me hope that it's something I can actually do. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the meaningful feedback, and for offering your story 🤗 I'm so glad that I can provide some inspiration and hope along your xc ski journey.
Like I said in the video, I meet many people who are expert downhill skiers that struggle with a basic snow plow on xc skis. So downhill on xc skis is definitely challenging for many people. Pace yourself as you learn, and don't be too hard on yourself. Safety is paramount, so do what you need to do in order to negotiate hills safely. There's no point in going beyond your comfort level until you start to develop confidence in your skills. And the skills will come with practice.
Again, thank you so much for the kind words and your honesty. I really appreciate it 🙏Let me know if you ever have any questions.
I am Estonian and we also had mandatory skiing classes at school. Nobody taught us that it was possible to break when going downhill (in fact, nearly no technical skills were taught; just go and ski the mandatory distance) so I was horrified when facing the downhill slopes as were the other kids. The teacher threatened to give us bad marks when we refused to do it so eventually most of us got down there but nobody really got comfortable with it. The slopes were pretty big and steep also.
It was a huge game changer when I learned that it was actually possible to stop when descending. I am feeling so much comfortable now that I have some sort of control over the process, and I don't really feel such an aversion against the slopes any more.
@@inimolend That's fantastic that you've learned to control your speed and to stop :)
When I was in junior high (maybe 5th grade?), I went on a downhill skiing class trip. Everyone else knew how to ski already, but this was my first time and I didn't know anything, and nobody taught me anything. Fortunately it was the only time we did that class trip because going downhill without knowing how to turn or stop was terrifying. And, of course, many of my classmates were yelling at me to slow down. Yeah, it's very strange that educators don't bother to teach their students in such a dangerous activity. I would hope that that's changed since my experience (over 30 years ago).
It's interesting, too, that slowing down and stopping on xc skis is way more challenging than alpine skis. So, again, I'm glad to hear that you've learned how to accomplish that safely. Being able to regulate your speed and to stop opens up so much more terrain in which to explore!
Very helpful. Clear communication! Thank you!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Joanna!
Best video for xc downhill.. Thank you tons .. you helped me a lot
I appreciate the kind words :) And glad I could be of service!
I'm going to watch and rewatch this vid and get out on the trails! I had so many problems yesterday on my 2nd 🎿 trip that I didn't make it out of the parking lot! I can't fall because I've broken alot of bones in my life...I want to remain upright and learn to use my skis safely.Thanx 4 the excellent tutorial!
Thank you for watching, and for the kind words 🤗
Staying upright, I find, is a key element to having fun on xc skis! Definitely take it easy, and first work on your balance and becoming comfortable being on your skis. Remember that in order to get any grip, you have to have all of your weight on one ski at a time. Watch my previous installments of "intro to classic xc skiing" for more on that.
Anyway, good luck and be safe!
Thank you very much for these videos. They are very helpful. You are great at teaching subtle techniques.
You're welcome, Thomas! And thank you for the kind words 🤗
There are so many details to performing proper technique. So, I always hope I'm emphasizing the most important ones.
Thanks again for tuning in, and for the positive feedback. Let me know if you ever have any questions!
Appreciate the vid, especially the comments on the transfer of alpine techniques that don't work. I guess like most things it must come down to practice and finding somewhere to practice and then more practice!🤔
Thank you, Michael!
I can't tell you how many times I've heard Alpine skiers lament the differences in experience between downhill skis and the skinny skis. There's obviously going to be some overlap, but the downhill part of the equation on xc skis can definitely make an expert Alpine skier feel like a beginner again.
And, yep, lots of practice :) In the future, I'll produce more specific videos related to each one of the techniques I featured here. I just wanted to a create a broad overview to give people (in the short term) a range of stuff to work on. And, then to have a "platform" from which I could reference and build on.
Thanks again for the comment :)
Thanks man! Awesome video. Have just got home from my mom living in mid Sweden. Skiing 5 days in a row. Wish I would have found this video before that :) never tried half plow or plow turning. Need to practice that a little. Now I know how to get started!
You're welcome, Daniel! I appreciate the kind words, and I'm glad I could be of service :)
Five days a row of xc skiing is a great thing. Keep it up! And feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions. I'd be more than happy to offer any/all information that I can.
Again, thanks for tuning in and for the feedback!
Exactly what I needed to try some stopping techniques. Excellent. Thanks so much. Jim
Thank you, Jim! I appreciate the kind words 🤗 And glad I could be of service.
Todella hyviä opetusovideoita Jared! Really nice instructional videos Jared. I thought about writing in Finnish because of your last name. :)
Thank you so much, Jussi 🤗
Yep, I do have Finnish blood in me ☺️ Although I never learned to speak it. My grandparents were first generation Finns, and I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where there are lots of Finns. I also never xc skied growing up!
So it feels like I'm either making up for lost time (these past nine years of xc skiing) or just embracing what I was born to do 😁
Again, thanks for the kind words and for watching!
Just stumbled on this video . I found it very helpful. Been skiing for 30 years just sort of self taught but as my wife pointed out to me today my technique needs some help so it is really good to look at these.... I do hybrid of back country and cross country just got skis with edges which helps in coastal icy New England..
Hey Garen,
Thanks for tuning in and for the nice feedback! And leave it to spouses and loved ones to be some of our best critics! haha :) But, regardless of experience, we have things that we can learn and work on (especially with cross-country skiing!).
Again, thanks for watching and for the comment. Let me know if you ever have any specific questions :)
Thank you, thank you. I really enjoy your videos!!! I'm new to the sport in IDAHO!!
You're welcome, Lynnette! Glad I could be of service :) Let me know if you ever have any questions. I'd be more than happy to provide whatever information I can.
I should have watched this lesson before heading for Sun Valley, ID. this past weekend. A bit more than a month into Cross-country skiing and is already one of my new favorite outdoors activities.
Thank you for these incredibly amazing lessons. I feel you have the beginners in mind, yes its terrifying when faced with the end of an ascend and now what goes up, must come down.
Long story short, if renting equipment do not assume the associate cares about what level of skier you are, he/she will hand you anything from their lot, know what you need for the terrain you will be skiing on and your skill level. Because of ignorance i was handed skate skies and going up was already an issue but the real scare came when trying to come down. My plowing, deficient, doing the pizza shape got the skies crossed, falling was hard and constant. All because i broke the bindings of my sweetheart’s ski trying to help her setting the boots on, then rental was the only choice, she took my skies and I ended up with the short stick.
Its even incredible am already using cross-country skier terminologies.
Thanks again, and to your co instructor as well. You are an amazing instructor!
Thank you so much for the kind words :) I totally appreciate all of the feedback!
Bummer that you had a challenging experience all around (and some broken bindings!). I've done my fair share of damage to gear over the years and it's always a bummer. But in the end, it's just gear and it's replaceable.
Kind of odd that you were given skate skis instead of classic skis (assuming you were planning to classic ski and didn't request skate skis). The default at the rental shop at which I work is to deliver classic skis, and provide skate skis upon request. Classic skiing is just a lot more forgiving for people new to the Nordic world. And, as you found out, skate skis do tend to be a bit faster on the downhill since they have smooth bases (void of a grip zone). That said, turning and maneuvering downhill is generally considered to be more fluid on skate skis based on the fact that they don't have a grip zone to interfere with turning or "skidding." But, again, a lot faster!
Thanks so much again for the thoughtful comment. And, glad you made it home safely!
Enjoyed your demos, and honesty! Very informative. I’ve alpine skied for over 40 years, and had 9 hut to hut back country ski trips, but still feel that fear when I come to downhill on my cross country skis! Really need to take time out and practice as you outlined. But time cross country skiing is so precious when going hut to hut. I think it’s knowing how simple it would be on alpine skis that gets in the way of accepting it takes care , balance and effort on cross country skis. Still love it though! Much prefer the quiet days cross country to the alpine ski environment. Thanks again for all your videos.
You're welcome, Bill. And thanks again for the kind words and your perspective :)
It is challenging to have to choose between passions/activities when both have their unique appeal. In that respect, I'm fortunate to primarily only know cross-country skiing (haha!). Although, I did snowboard for a few years a number of years ago, so I know what I means to be able to negotiate really steep terrain (and have fun doing it!).
Practice and repetition is definitely the key to gaining confidence on the downhills in cross-country skis. It'll be a constant challenge for me to work on. But, a welcome one because it's so nice to be able to ski relatively seamlessly across rolling hills and through the forests. I like working on the transitions between terrain features and being able to downhill confidently sure makes it more enjoyable.
Thanks again for tuning in!
Wow, such a great tutorial! Your teaching style is great. Thank you!
I appreciate the kind words and nice feedback :) Let me know if you ever have any questions!
@@JaredManninen Thanks so much! I just got back on XC skis after a long time away and generally did pretty well but was oddly wimpy in my snowplowing. So your video gave me some good reminders. I've also been interested in adding the hockey stop to my repertoire, so I just found that video. Looking forward to a lot of practice (and probably some - or a lot of - falling)!
@@meomalley1 That's awesome! And welcome back to xc skiing :) The snowplow is useful just about everywhere, but not nearly as effective on steep terrain and in icy conditions as the hockey stop. So it's definitely worth investing some time in learning it. And falling is all part of the process ;)
Just started XC skiing, I’m a veteran snowboarder therefore not really scared of speed. Went down a steep hill full speed yesterday in the wrong lane and wasn’t able to stop as graciously as I would have wanted to. Going back today and will try your “sprint” drills from the earlier video. The wider angle for steeper hills bit makes sense. I’ll try that too. Thanks for your vids coach!
Hey Alexandre,
Thanks so much for the kind words. I appreciate it!
Glad you're getting out there and giving the xc ski thing a try. I snowboarded for about 5-6 years, a number of years ago and enjoyed going downhill quickly and confidently. I'm getting that way on the xc skis, and it definitely makes for a way more enjoyable time!
Good luck, and let me know if you ever have any questions 🙌
thanks for the info! I went out today frist time ever wasn't expecting any of this so I fell down many times. after watching this i feel more comfortable going back out there to try again 🙂
Thank you for the kind words, Megan 🤗 And I'm glad this video came in handy. Downhill on xc skis can definitely be challenging, but super fun when you become comfortable with it. Keep practicing!
Keep it up. Even the best do fall. Cross Country Skis aren't easy to control espcially going downhill depending on how long the downhill is as long the snow surface isn't that hard and icey it's easier but on hard and icey surfaces it's harder but it's to drop the fear and keep pratice and pratice, you got that hun. Just feel the balance of your'e body and skis. Been proud of you to not stopping but keep trying. And good video
@@cloedythemedium Thanks for contributing to the conversation, and for tuning in :)
I'm getting back into cross-country skiing after a 30-year hiatus. I bicycle during the warmer months and they say Nordic is the way to go to stay in shape. Your videos have been extremely helpful for me!
Thanks so much for the kind words :)
I tend to put weight on in the summer and then lose it in the winter thanks to xc skiing. Haha! It's super fun and the gear compared to 30 years ago is way better in many ways. So, I think you'll have a great time getting back into it.
Thanks again for watching, and the positive feedback. Let me know if you ever have any questions!
You're more than welcome. I'm getting the Rossignol BC 65 metal-edge skis and You're absolutely correct, the boots are far more advanced than 30-35 years ago. I need to give a shoutout to the awesome staff at Idaho Mountain Trading Company in Idaho Falls, Idaho for going above and beyond in getting this old man fitted for the Winter season!
@@stevejorde Very cool! Glad you're all set up for the season. i hope you get snow soon and often :) Here in Tahoe we're in a bit of a drought right, so I'm crossing my fingers.
Great video, thank you making this and thanks to Pixie as well! I will be practicing these techniques this weekend... You’re like the Bob Ross of XC skiing.
You're welcome, Hunter 🙌 Thanks for the suggestion. Super fun to make! Pixie says you're welcome, too 😊
The Bob Ross of XC skiing. Awesome 😂
Great video - super helpful and it's good to know I'm not the only person who gets nervous about going downhill on Nordic skis! If you also skate ski, I'm always interested in videos about poling techniques.
Hey Elizabeth,
Thanks so much for the feedback 🤗 Downhilling on xc skis can definitely be a challenge, so I'm glad that you found the video helpful.
I do skate ski, but I probably won't have the time this season to produce any related videos. I have an endless list of projects currently, and skate skiing isn't on the top quite yet. Thanks for asking, though. It's good to know there's interest 😊
Great stuff! Downhill is terrifying, no doubt. I recognize some of the tips you shared with us on the snow.
Thanks so much, Connie :) And sorry about not getting back to you the other day. This video was the rabbit hole I fell down for four days. haha.
Next week's forecast looks promising!
@@JaredManninen No worries, this is great! And YES SNOW!!!
Excellent. Thanks again 🤗
Good video, nice scenery. Will apply the technics. Thanks for the effort
Thank you for the kind words, Reza! I appreciate it :)
Thanks Jared. Loved the 4 part series! Your explanations are easy to follow. Love the variety of angles and terrain of vids! Thanks so much for 'carving out the time' to make these videos 😊
Again, thank you Diana :)
I'm glad there's enough variety and information for you to learn some new tips and tricks for downhilling on xc ski :)
Pixie!!! She's a neighbor. I'm new to the sport, just bought a pair of Rossignol BC 80s a few weeks ago. Been learning a ton from your videos (and a lot of trial and error in the neighborhood). Thank you!
That's awesome, Scott! And so is Pixie :)
Glad to hear you've embraced xc skiing, and that I could provide some information and inspiration. Let me know if you ever have any questions!
Again, thanks for tuning in and for the nice feedback :)
@@JaredManninen Okay, I do have a question. Have you done a video on gloves? Types, and best ones for BC XC? Or do you have a favorite? I'm in the market for something better than the driving gloves I've been using.... Thanks!
@@ScottThompson Hey Scott, I haven't actually done a video on xc ski gloves, but it's a great idea :) Perhaps I'll try to put one together this spring. In the meantime, however, I usually use a pair of mountain biking gloves made by a smaller company called HandUp. I'm a bit of an odd one, though, because I don't actually like most xc ski specific gloves. They always have some extended gauntlet which covers my watch (and drives me up the wall - haha). So I use those mountain biking gloves because they just stop at the wrist, allowing me to access my watch a lot easier. They're also pretty thin, and my hands get really hot and sweaty (usually). Honestly, your driving gloves may be pretty ideal in most conditions. haha! In colder temps I do wear a thicker glove but, again, I prefer one without any type of wrist covering/gauntlet. I'm going to have to consider this as a topic because I think it is a good one (particularly when I see so many new xc skiers wearing big puffy alpine skiing-related gloves). Thanks for the question/idea!
@@JaredManninen Well, I've got lots of mountain bike gloves... I'll give those a try before spending $. Thanks for the idea!
@@ScottThompson Sounds good, Scott! Yeah, those bike gloves I use have a nice suede-like material for the palms, as well as a little siliconized areas. Good enough grip and doesn't overheat the hands :)
Awesome video as usual, Jared! I'm a long time alpine skier that converted to XC last year. I tried steepier stuff this week and I wish I saw your videos before 😆. It was groomed/classic trails, but with relatively steep inclines. I can totally relate to your comment about the ski plow being more difficult on XC skis. I now realize I needed to side slip instead, as the snow plow was just not slowing me down fast enough. Thanks again!
Hey Sebastien,
Thanks so much for the nice feedback! Glad I could be of service :)
And, it's totally cool that you watched the videos after your experience. Getting out and experimenting on your own without much prior information/knowledge is a good thing. I tend to lean toward the belief that firsthand experience > theoretical information. Now you have experience from which to ask specific questions for your skiing needs. I love it!
You're right in thinking that xc skiing downhill is a lot different compared to alpine skiing :) That double camber on a cross-country ski really makes it challenging to maintain edge control (i.e. flatten the skis enough to engage the full length of the edges).
Anyway, good luck and let me know if you ever have any questions!
Great videos. Very informative. Thank you.
Thank you, Kathryn! I appreciate you tuning in 🤗
Wow what dreamy consistent snowpack out there in the BC
Ha Ha. In the video, it sure looks like that, but there was definitely a crusty later on top of soft stuff. But I can't complain 😊❄
Just watched all four of these Jared in prep for my trip to Tirol next month! Have to say I really like the resume of previous videos’ learning points to help them sink in. Will watch them all again before I go. In the meantime I’ll read up on other stuff including what to wear (hiking boots or shoes) etc. And I need to find out where I can hire equipment and book lessons… All very exciting for a beginner 😁.
Thanks so much for tuning in again, Peter! I appreciate it :)
Yeah, there's a lot to learn with cross-country skiing, but it sounds like you're going to have a fantastic trip! Let me know if you have any specific questions, and I'll do my best to answer.
Take care!
@@JaredManninen hi Jared I’m just home from Galtur in Austria. Very beautiful jagged peaks but they had little snow this year, and I got there after a fortnight of sunny thaw/freeze so very icy. They did some snow making but I wasn’t too confident with the ice which made the snowplow less effective; I preferred going uphill to going down! Just been watching your hockey stop video which looks interesting. I’ll try going mid winter next time to Seefeld which should have wider spaces and a bigger range of trails than the Galtur valley.
@@petergilbert72 Hey Peter, sounds like an adventure! Yeah, we had a lot of firm and fast snow here in the Sierra Nevada this season. Pretty frustrating at times, particularly on the descents. Manmade snow also tends to be really icy, from what I've heard. So, I'm glad you made it back in one piece :)
The snowplow is definitely not as effective on hard-packed and steep snow. Hockey stops and modified parallel turns do provide way better stopping power, but there's a level of commitment required to execute those techniques. The more you practice, the more comfortable you'll be performing them. I guess that goes without saying ;)
Thanks again for checking back in!
Hey, Jared, and thanks a lot for very good instruction in beautiful surroundings. You are a competent skier, and Tahoe should have the world championships in nordic skiing.
Hey Magnus! Thanks so much for the kind words, and for tuning in :)
We do have a lot of racers that come out of the North Lake Tahoe Nordic scene. I don't think it's as accomplished as the racers from Alaska, but we do have some champions around here :)
Thanks Jared for another great reference vid! Such an awesome run at the end. I assume that’s California but it looks so much like the Rockies.
You're welcome, Thomas! And thanks again for the nice feedback :)
Yes, I'm in Tahoe, and I filmed the majority of this video at Tahoe Donner Cross Country which is just north of the lake in Truckee, CA. Total spring skiing at that point :)
Thanks for the great tips Jared! I just started Nordic skiing last winter and all your videos have been very helpful. The one technique I've yet to feel comfortable with is the hockey stop. Maybe a future video could be made to explain this a little more in depth? Thanks again! 😁
Thank you for the kind words, Ramblin'! Glad to hear you've gotten into xc skiing and that you're finding value in my work :)
You're not the first person this week to inquire about hockey stops, so if I can carve out the time in the next week I'll put together a specific video for that. It's essentially the beginning movements of linking downhill turns, so it seems like an appropriate subject in which to cover at this point :)
Thanks again for tuning in, and for the suggestion. Crossing my fingers that I can make the time!
When starting xc doing the plow I totally underestimated the type of muscles and stamina needed. My hip and inner thigh muscles really hurt after a downhill. Perhsps something to mention in your vids.
Hey Frank,
Thanks for watching, and for the feedback. Yeah, a long downhill where you're doing a snowplow can definitely be exhausting (and then sore the next day!). I'll put that idea on the list and try to work the discussion into a future video.
Again, thanks for tuning in and for the idea!
Thanks Jared! I've never had any country skiing lessons in the 40 years that I've been skiing. These lessons will be a great help in stepping up my game. I've been basically shuffling skiing.lol
One of my problems is not getting enough grip with my wax, so I don't have enough propulsion forward. Not sure why, or what I'm doing wrong. It can be quite frustrating when your skis keep sliding backwards.
Hey Derrick!
Thanks so much for the kind words, and for tuning in. Sorry about the delay in my response, however. It looks like the lake of space between "skiing. lol" in your comment caused your review to get buried in my "held for review" folder. So weird!
Anyway, if you're using grip wax and not getting enough grip with it, it's simply because it's not the right temperature wax for the snow conditions. The reason is simple, but the solution is complex. Basically, using grip wax can be ultra-difficult, especially if you're dealing with snow that's transforming (i.e. freezing/thawing) constantly. If you always have sub-freezing temperatures you can mix up the hard wax. But once those temperatures start to consistently rise above freezing, now you have to deal with sticky Klister (and that's not very fun!).
I'm no expert at grip wax, so I just prefer to run some "waxless" classic skis so that I always have a dependable grip zone. You may want to look at investing in a set of scale-patterned or skin-based classic cross-country skis so that you don't have to worry nearly as much as far as getting grip.
Anyway, I appreciate you watching my videos and hope you have a great winter season. Let me know if you have any other questions!
I liked very much your video! Totally clear explanation for a beginner how to stop on a downhill and slow down and what to practice next time in the loipe :) Also made me more motivated to my next XC skiing trip to St.Moritz in January. For me Xc skiing is kind of a love-hate relationship as a beginner, but because it is challenging, motivating and pushing me further :) (also great the recording at the end, hope, one day I will reach this level of downhilling 😂👍)
Thank you so much for the kind words, Alexandra :) So glad I could provide some motivation to get out there and try some new xc ski techniques!
I understand about that love-hate relationship with cross-country skiing. But so long as you keep challenging yourself to learn more and become more proficient, I think there becomes more love involved in the skiing :)
Once I became more comfortable cross-country skiing downhill, that definitely opened up way more enjoyment (and confidence!) for my experience.
Let me know if you ever have any questions!
Hey Jared thanks for this video. Really awesome tips I was able to get out today and had a chance to practice the half snow plow with one ski still in the track on some hairy downhills. The most confident I've been ever. Easy to control your speed and when I saw the rest of the line I just put the ski back I the track and zoomed away. Great tips 👌
Awesome, Thomas! So glad you were able to put to use the half snow plow 🙌 And it sounds like you used it in grand fashion 😊
I always find it so cool that subtle movement makes for much more enjoyable and safer cross-country skiing. It's so much better to just be able to shave off some speed and stay on course rather than skiing too fast and then having to make a huge and hasty stop (and risk all that comes with three drastic change).
Great job 👍
1. Dont cross your tips
2. If there's a blind corner yell "Incoming" or "Avalanche" so uphill skiers take evasive action
3. Brake with one butt cheek, and pop back up without even a complete stop
4. Focus ahead on the spot where you think you can "Send It" and fallline down the rest of the hill with minimal risk.
I appreciate your enthusiasm! But I'm not sure most beginners are ready for that kind of high-octane fun. haha :) I do like the "incoming" alert especially, though. I may have to start implementing that!
Very helpful! But can you also explain the technique for those lovely hockey stops you kept showing off?
Thank you for the nice feedback, Simon! Glad I could be of service :)
And, yes, I can explain how I do hockey stops ... with visuals, too! Just watch this video for my approach to performing hockey stops on cross country skis - th-cam.com/video/gWc_ISjXzwQ/w-d-xo.html
The skidded parallel hockey stop is easier to do on beefier Telemark free heel ski boots and BC skis. Skinny classic skis are harder to ski on. They are lighter than BC XC skis are so that is an advantage they have.
Thanks for the comment. Yeah, in certain circumstances bigger and heavier skis/boots can definitely provide more control. Although, I only use cross-country ski oriented gear (no Tele boots or skis) because I'm just as interested in diagonal striding on the flats and uphill as I am skiing downhill. So, cross-country ski specific gear enables me to achieve all of those goals.
Since I work at a large cross-country ski resort (instructor, wax tech, and in the rental room), I'm constantly asked about downhilling technique (on groomed terrain). So, in this video I'm specifically addressing that topic. And groomed terrain is ideal for skinny skis :)
I like your videos so much! Is your family background from Finland, as your name is Manninen? I live in Finland. Have you visited Finland yourself? If not, your should come to ski here! Next weekend we will have the Finlandia ski marathon, 15k, 32k, or 62k. It will take place in Lahti, where the World Cup cross country skiing will be happening the following weekend. Also the Northern Finland is fantastic to cross country ski.
Hey Hanna!
Yes, I do have some Finnish in me :) I was born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which has a relatively large Finnish population. Well, descendants of Finns anyway. It's funny, though, because I never really xc skied while I was growing up. In fact, this season is officially my 10th winter of cross-country skiing. In hindsight, I do wish I had started a long time ago. But we do what we can with what we have :)
I've never been to Finland in spite of having many cousins there. One of these years I'll plan a trip because I would like to visit. That's very cool that you have the ski marathon next weekend and the World Cup the following! Very exciting stuff :)
Thanks so much for tuning in, and for the kind words. I appreciate it :)
Great video, hoping to get out and try these techniques this week. I wish we had cross country ski trails like this so wide and open and unwalked on. My difficulty is sometimes there isn't enough room on the trail to do a good snow plow. Or when you are doing a snow plow since you are out of the tracks you are now where all the footprints and dogprints are and can be quite bumpy so when you do a half plow or snow plow with your weight on the plow foot you can get thrown over when you hit a foot print or so. Would love to see more demonstrations of how to handle more narrow trails. Also will check out more of your channel, but uphill doing herringbone style is difficult on these more narrow trails as the trail is narrow and the sides tend to be a foot higher than they are in the middle making herringbone or side stepping up hills very difficult. I might just need to find better trails but these are the two within an hour drive of my house.
Nathan, I feel your pain regarding hard-packed, tracked-out, and narrow trails! Those are nightmare scenarios because you just end up doing the upright luge thing all the way down the trail. Terrifying! haha.
Honestly, the only real feedback that I can offer other than doing that half-snowplow (cheat one side of the trail to give your plow ski the most real estate with which to work) or run one ski in the deep snow along the trail (if it's soft enough) is to avoid those hard-packed trails in the first place.
I'm sure avoiding the trails is easier said than done depending on the terrain in which you're navigating. However, even on flat backcountry terrain when there's social tracks laid out, I'll choose instead to ski alongside those homemade tracks. I usually do this when those homemade tracks are glazed over and icy and/or wavy gravy from the multi-use element (people skiing, snowshoeing, walking, dogs walking, whatever ... on those tracks). I can't stand dealing with all that choppy stuff because it causes me to loose any sort of rhythm while skiing and presents hazards when trying to slow down on the downhill portions (as you know). I'd much rather break my own trail so long as it meant that I was going to be able to ski over a uniform surface of snow (even if that means dealing with deeper snow).
Right now, at Lake Tahoe, we've gone through a long bout of freeze/thaw cycles so that our snowpack is mostly crusty on top. It softens up a bit in the afternoon, but our daytime temps haven't been too high, so it's still staying pretty firm. So, what I do, is to get off the main thoroughfares as quickly as possible in order to access snow that hasn't been tracked-out for the past month. Fortunately, I have a lot of open terrain near my home so I don't have to drive far. But even venturing off the main trails by just a few hundred meters at even the popular local backcountry ski areas (to me) yields much more favorable snow. And the further I travel away from the beaten path, I can find even better snow on which to play. For example, the location at which I filmed the second day's portion of this video (January 26, 2022) about performing step turns (th-cam.com/video/nP6SwsRWo8Y/w-d-xo.html), you can see that some of the snow was sugary and pleasant to ski on. There were large aspects of terrain nearby that also featured this same quality of snow that I came back to play on the following day in order to practice downhill turning.
Long story short, I actively seek out better backcountry locations/snow on which to play when the conditions aren't so favorable. I do this in lieu of trying to actually ski a specific trail. That's one of the main reason I love to xc ski, is that I don't have to stick to the trail. I can go wherever I want so long as I have the energy and gear. I also tend to dial back my expectations when the snow isn't that great. So, I will just plan to go out and play on the one short little hill, if that's all I can find. Again, I realize that I live closer to those open areas than you do. Not sure if that's relevant or helpful to you, but that's my approach to the whole off-track experience.
Let me know if you have other questions :)
Jared, could you dissect the technical solution and weight transfer key points when dealing with a steep short hill immediately followed by a steep uphill, like a roller coaster type? Much appreciated
Hey Rui,
Thanks so much for watching, and for asking your question :)
I apologize if it's not really that technical of a solution, but if I were faced with a short and steep downhill followed by a short steep uphill I'd try to capitalize on the downhill momentum. Basically I'd go as fast as I was comfortable skiing down the hill so that I could zoom up the next hill. Then, once I ran out of momentum I'd quickly transition to diagonal striding to get up that next hill.
Whether going downhill or uphill you essentially want your weight to be slightly forward. Realistically, you pretty much always want your weight to be slightly forward on your skis. If your weight is back, it's exponentially harder to control your skis. I realize that it seems counterintuitive to many people, especially in the context of going downhill, but even on the downhills you want to keep your weight forward.
There's more stability in the front of the ski as there's more ski in front of you. And, the majority of the grip zone is often on that front half of the ski providing more opportunity for you to control the ski (by gripping the snow). Depending on your skis, there's often very little grip zone behind your heel, which means that it's all glide zone (i.e. slippery surface) back there. So, if your weight shifts back it's going to be focused over a slick part of the ski (causing you to slip).
Doing roller coaster type hills can be tricky because the changes in angle can definitely cause your weight to shift around. So you have to be a bit aggressive to maintain that slightly forward posture.
All of that said, at first when trying to seamlessly negotiate that type of terrain, work on staying centered over your feet. Then work toward keeping your center point (just below your belly button) slightly forward of your feet. Ultimately, you want to avoid leaning back or allowing your center to shift behind your feet.
Not sure if that's the answer you're looking for, but that's what I have to offer at this point. If you want me to clarify or expand on any of that let me know.
Thanks again for tuning in and commenting. I appreciate it!
Great video, thanks for posting. Do you have a video for doing the hockey stop though?
Hey Cris, thanks for watching and for the question!
I don't currently have any how-to videos regarding how to perform hockey stops. So, that'll go on my to-do list 🤗
But the short answer is ... start by initiating a snowplow, then keep your upper body facing down range while unweighting your uphill ski (the ski opposite the direction you want to stop), and lift that unweighted ski moving it in a position parallel to the leading ski (the one in which all of your weight is on).
I'm sure that's all confusing without a demonstration, so i apologize. But it's fairly easy to perform once you become comfortable with transferring all of your weight onto one ski.
Anyway, I'll try to put something together eventually. I think it's a great idea for a video. Thanks again for tuning in, and let me know if you have other questions!
@@JaredManninen thanks for the tips! I’ve only seen one other video on cross country hockey stops. It’s fairly intuitive on downhill skis but I’m not picking it up as well on cross country skis. Maybe doing some drills shifting my weight while plowing and turning would help.
Hey Cris, the hockey stops definitely take a little practice. The double camber of an xc ski always makes the turning aspect more difficult. All I can say is to just really grind down onto the one ski in a skid so that you can unweight and move that other ski into a parallel position. Over time you'll find a sweeter spot in which to bring the trailing ski into place. Mostly you just won't have to exaggerate the movement so much when you get comfortable with the weight transfer.
Anyway, good luck! And thanks for the conversation 🤗
@@JaredManninen so I went out today, skied about 3 hours and worked on my hockey stop some. For the life of me I can’t fully weight the downhill ski in a turn. My uphill ski stays on the ground and I cross skis. So I backed off and just worked on my left / right wedge turns. Which I kinda suck at too so maybe an indication of why I can’t hockey stop!
Hey Cris, I applaud your efforts and willingness to give it a go!
Yeah, transferring all (or at least most of) your weight to the downhill ski is key. So keep working on the snowplow turns and then when you get more comfortable with your weight transfer (causing you to turn), start to move that uphill ski into the parallel position. It'll all click eventually. And then you won't have to think about it at all.
The bottom line is that it's just going to take some time on skis to work it all. Believe it or not, it did take me awhile to sort it all out. So don't be too hard on yourself. Just stick with it!
Have you done any videos on trail etiquette? Such as meeting someone coming up the tracks when your going down etc...
Hey Eric,
I haven't produced any videos about trail etiquette yet, so great idea! I appreciate the suggestion, and I'll put it on my list.
The one rule that I always find interesting is the one that you mention about being in the tracks (traveling uphill) while someone is skiing down them. Technically, the downhill skier always has the right of way, so the uphill skier is supposed to get out of the tracks. It's opposite of mountain biking. But, in reality, if I'm skiing downhill in the tracks and see someone skiing up them, I get out and give them a wide berth. I'm probably not doing anyone a favor by not adhering to that particular rule, but usually I see the uphill skier way before they see me. Basically, because I'm going so fast downhill I'm looking down range for hazards. On the other hand, when people are on the uphill grind it's easy to let your gaze fall down to the ground in front of you. So in those cases I'm well out of the tracks before the uphill skier even sees me. But, technically, I should be able to ski down the tracks and they would hop out of them.
Anyway, I probably won't produce that particular video too soon as I have a number of others on my list and it's still early in the season (i.e. I'm not yet working at the groomed xc ski center yet). But I will put it together this season!
Thanks again for tuning in, and for great suggestion :)
Hello from Alberta Canada. Where is your weight distribution when performing a hockey stop? Thanks love your vids.
Hey Gareth!
Sorry about my delay in response. We've been hit with another storm here in Tahoe (unfortunately this one is nearly all rain), so I've been doing tons of house prep for it.
Anyway, I don't come from an alpine skiing background, nor a ice skating background so I probably do my hockey stops slightly different from those who do come from either of those backgrounds. But I tend to put more pressure on the "downhill" ski by slightly pushing off from the "uphill" ski to the downhill ski. When my weight transfers more to the downhill ski I initiate my skid and draw the uphill ski parallel to the downhill ski. Here's a video I produced about specifically how I perform hockey stops (th-cam.com/video/gWc_ISjXzwQ/w-d-xo.html).
That said, I think a more ideal approach is that you're supposed to put both skis on edge while slightly unweighting them so you can more easily move them into position for a skidded stop. I could be wrong about this as it all becomes very subtle the further you refine your technique. But if you watch my video, you'll see the progression from a very obvious snowplow into a hockey stop to something a lot more subtle.
Take a look at that other video and then let me know if you have other questions or want more clarification of what I've said here.
Thanks again for watching, and for the question!
Thanks so much for this awesome video! Full of very helpful tips... can't wait to analyze and put into practice. The 1st person POV for some techniques was really interesting to see. And nice to see you play around and have some fun in the video, too. Have you got a Patreon account?
You're welcome, Alex! Thanks for the feedback and encouragement (as well as the other folks on that previous comment thread) to produce a video about downhill technique on xc skis :) Seems like a very appropriate topic in this particular series of videos that I'm creating. And a fun one to make, especially when I have friends to help film!
As I mentioned in the video and to other commenters, I'll eventually create shorter and more specific tutorials addressing the techniques I featured in this video. For this project, though, I just wanted to provide a broad overview from which to build upon. And, since everything in xc skiing is so closely linked together, it's hard to start with an isolated element (i.e. very little context). I'm finding that these longer videos allow me some space in which to introduce many ideas that lay the groundwork for future projects.
I don't currently have a Patreon account. I've been considering starting one for a long time, but I've been trying to wrap my mind around having to manage another platform. As is, I've temporarily stopped posting on IG because I've been working so much on this TH-cam channel. Same goes for my FB and Twitter accounts. Oh, and I haven't actually written a new article for Tahoe Trail Guide in quite awhile either. Then there's my monthly personal newsletter (at JaredManninen.com) that I've been neglecting to one degree or another. haha. Too many projects, and not enough time!
But, I'm glad you asked about Patreon because I do think it's something that I should pursue sooner rather than later. Currently the only monetization I experience is the ad revenue here on YT and from Tahoe Trail Guide. But, over the past two months Google had limited the ads on TTG due to what their algorithms believed was "invalid traffic." That's since been resolved as it appeared to be a simple coding issue (anchor ads pushing the content below the fold, blah, blah, blah). The bottom line is that even though I don't make much money from ad revenue at this point, having those ads shut off with no warning and no recourse hammered home the idea that ad revenue alone isn't a reliable source of income. Hence, my continued contemplation of using Patreon. So if you have any experience or ideas, I'm open to hearing them :)
Thanks again for tuning in, and all of your thoughtful comments!
@@JaredManninen Hi Jared, you could simply treat Patreon (or some other similar platform) as a tip jar for the content you already create on TH-cam and other pages. No need for bonus content (maybe some behind the scenes stuff?), if you're upfront about it.
@@dinnae Thanks for the feedback! I really appreciate you taking the time to read through the comments and pinpointing this one :)
Great idea for just keeping it simple. I have the tendency to want to always crank things up to 11. So, I'm going to put your recommendation into practice this week :)
All my cross country is on a frozen lake with no groomed trails, you need back country skis and have to follow snowmobile tracks.
Sounds like a lot of fun xc skiing! I spend about half of my winter backcountry cross-country skiing as well. I typically only resort ski when I'm working (weekends), and then when I go back home for the rest of the week I xc ski off-trail and in the backcountry as there are few groomed resorts near where I live. Anyway, it's all good stuff!
Thanks for watching and commenting! I appreciate it :)
@@JaredManninen it is good cardio but this year I am going to build a groomer and pull it behind my snowmobile. I enjoy your tips and instruction.
@@bartdaw6681 That sounds like quite an undertaking, but it also sounds way cool! It's a specialized tool, but do some research because you may be able to find a used track pan for a snowmobile. Not sure where you live, but it always seems like there's some used cross-country ski grooming equipment trapped in storage (from a bygone era) waiting to be resurrected.
Thanks again for your kind words. I appreciate you tuning in! And, as always, let me know if you have any questions. I'll do my best to answer them in a timely fashion :)
Omg ty🙏🌞
You're welcome! Thanks for tuning in and for the nice feedback :) Let me know if you ever have any specific questions.
@@JaredManninen I just started cross country skiing last week. I had no clue what x country even really is. It's actually intense-
Our ski area in Manitoba at SPRUCEWOODS PROVINCIAL PARK, is challenging! I'm trying to figure out how to go down a steep small hill and then approaching a curve. At the same time that whines around. There are lots of those on the trails here in Manitoba. Some are quite steep.
I liked where you shared to really spread your legs to stop because I was having lots of issues with that the other day.
@@amberlynn9942 Welcome to the wonderful world of xc skiing 😀I always tell people that it's deceptively complex as the specific technique for classic cross-country skiing (diagonal striding) is very subtle and nuanced. And often it's the downhill segments that really challenge new xc skiers (for good reason because it is challenging!). So, take your time definitely dive in. XC skiing is so much fun and allows for a lot of freedom of movement during the winter (so long as you have some skills and endurance).
That said I do have a lot of other videos on my channel specific to just starting out. I recommend if you haven't already watched it yet, my part 1 to classic cross-country skiing (th-cam.com/video/GS7kc5ty5ZI/w-d-xo.html) and it's subsequent videos. And, then check out my website Tahoe Trail Guide (tahoetrailguide.com/tag/cross-country-skiing-explained/) for a lot more detailed information about xc skiing.
Thanks again for the nice feedback, and have a great time out there xc skiing!
Thanks for the lessons. That scenery looks very familiar since we about an hour from Tahoe and live in the foothills. Where exactly is that?
You're welcome, Randy! I filmed all the groomer-related skiing at Tahoe Donner Cross Country in Truckee. They're still open for business, so check them out if you have time in the next week or two :)
@@JaredManninen Thank you!
You're welcome 🤗
Hi Jared, very helpful tips. After the cold days i went straight to the trail and i located a very gentle slope, I kept the athletic body position and i was able to glide, It really felt so good. Technically speaking the snow resistance and the glide was balanced that kept me gliding at a constant speed. But when the slope increases, this creates some acceleration and the ski went faster than my body and i could not keep the body stance any longer and i let go. So why does this acceleration makes me lose balance? Any comments?
Hey Anil,
Thanks for the comment, and glad you've been able to get outside and practice xc skiing :)
As far as falling down goes ... it sounds like your weight shifted back once you gained more speed. This is a very common thing for people to experience. The skis most likely slipped out from underneath you as a result of you leaning (even slightly) back. Most people have the natural instinct to pull back once they begin to pick up speed thinking that it'll slow them down. Believe it or not, this is the opposite of what you want to do (and not obvious to people new to skiing downhill). In order to maintain our balance going downhill, we actually need to keep our weight forward (i.e. downhill). There's more stability toward the front of the skis, so by keeping our weight forward we'll stand a better chance to remain upright. If our weight shifts back, those skis usually will just slip out from underneath us.
Try leaning more downhill even when you pick up speed. That said, definitely make sure you can safely stop when you do pick up more speed. Or, be willing to bail onto one of your sides as a last ditch effort.
There are all kinds of counterintuitive things to overcome when learning downhill technique, so be patient with yourself and be willing to go slightly beyond your comfort zone (obviously within reason and not to the point of being reckless).
Hope that helps. Let me know how it goes!
You look like a Superman on the trail Jared. You make this looks like child's play. Trust me I am not kidding. I was on a trail that seemed a bit more advanced today. There were steep curved downhills and people were using the centre zone with so much ease. You trump them all.
They were skate skiing as well in center zones.
Jared, I tried skate skiing today (using classic skiis) on a flat ground and the friction in my skiis caused me to fall soon many times, I just left doing that
Do you think skate skis will be better? Can I use skate skis on groomed tracks. I thought I was doing well until today. Please help!
Thanks for the kind words, Rahul 🤗 I do love to xc ski 👍
You can skate ski with classic skis, but it's definitely not nearly as fun and a bit more challenging. Essentially, the scales of waxless xc skis will affect your glide when trying to use them for skate skiing. A lot of times if I decide to skate ski for short distances on classics skis, I have to slow my movement down (compared to performing the same skate ski technique in actual skate skis).
I couldn't say exactly what your situation was without seeing you ski, but the friction may have been throwing off your timing. You probably would have a better time skating using actual skate skis, I suspect.
And skate skis are best used on groomed xc ski trails thanks to the uniform surface.
Thanks for the prompt response Jared
If I come down to California I will sure stop by to say Hi to you
We generally drive down from here, it is a long but beautiful drive
You're welcome, Rahul. And sounds good 😊
How do you go downhill, through the woods, through powder, down a steep hiking trail? It seemed dangerous
Well, now, that's the million dollar question. haha!
Yes, all of that can be super dangerous with cross-country skis. This video was the first one that I wanted to produce as it deals mostly with firm conditions and groomed terrain. I find that it's much easier to control the skis when the snow surface is firm and predictable. I'll eventually produce something more oriented toward steeper and deeper snow, off-trail and in the backcountry. But because that starts to overlap the whole avalanche realm, I've shied away from talking too much about it (just for liability sake).
For the most part, I choose more manageable lines both up and down. If the terrain is too steep and deep, I will make longer traverses to mitigate risk of myself falling or crashing into any natural obstacles (trees, rocks...). Mostly, though, I just keep things down to earth and try not to climb or descend beyond my skill level. And that's what I recommend to everyone until they become more proficient with downhilling technique (Alpine turns and/or Tele turns) and avalanche aware.
With cross-country skis, I can achieve pretty fast downhill speeds on moderate to lower angle terrain, and that usually satisfies my needs. So, I'll choose terrain that features more rolling hills and finite downhill sections (with good runouts if at all possible).
Anyway, I appreciate your question and concern. I wish I had a better answer for you other than "only ski to your comfort and skill level." But at this point in time, that's pretty much all I have to offer. If you watch some of my other videos (particularly the XC Ski VLOGs where I'm practicing downhilling), you'll see that I am trying to work into more deep and steep terrain, albeit very slowly. haha!
Thanks for tuning in, and for posting the comment.
Hi, Jared! Your videos have been a treasure trove. I tried XC skiing earlier this year (2021) and loved it. Could you recommend any particular XC resorts and trails for beginners in the Tahoe area? I went to Royal Gorge a couple of times, but am wondering if Tahoe Donner XC might be better for beginners.
Thanks so much for the kind words, CC! I really appreciate your feedback. And I'm so glad you started xc skiing :)
As far as beginner terrain goes on the north shore, I do recommend Tahoe Donner Cross Country. To be honest, however, I have to admit that I actually work at TDXC on the weekends :) But we realistically do have many green trails leaving right from our lodge which is why a lot of beginner xc skiers enjoy skiing at our resort. You don't have to negotiate blue or black terrain to access most of our green trails, so you can ski for miles without having to worry about steep stuff. That said, we still are on a mountain so there are the occasional low angle, downhill portions. But they're all easy to negotiate using a basic snow plow technique.
Again, I usually work on the weekends (rentals on Friday/Saturday and teaching on Sunday), so if you find yourself up there some weekend this winter, stop by and say hello!
@@JaredManninen Fantastic! I'll definitely be up there this season. :)
@@CC-TimesTwo Excellent!
can you post vids for cross country skiers carrying a 20- 50 kg backpack.
Thanks for the question :)
I'm going to be honest, though, it may be awhile before I produce any videos related to carrying heavy packs. Not that it's not an interesting topic, but most people tuning into my channel are just getting into the basics of cross-country skiing let alone taking extended winter backcountry tours requiring a fully loaded backpack.
Just to clarify, are you asking in relation to going on an extended backcountry tour (via xc skis)?
Maybe this is just an East Coast technique--but you didn't mention pole-dragging? It's not sexy, but has saved my bacon on many a narrow and fast downhill with trees flashing close-by. I've found dragging both poles to one side while doing a half-wedge with the opposite ski pretty effective for reducing speed on narrow, ungroomed trails.
Hey David,
Thanks so much for tuning in, and for the comment!
Not sure it's something that's taught out here, but I have definitely used my poles more than once to slow me down by dragging them behind me. haha! I do like your idea of the half-snowplow combined with the use of poles to slow yourself down on narrow trails. Those are often some of the most terrifying terrain features out there -- where you can't just turn or do a full snowplow due to the sidewalls along the trail. So, thank you!
Again, I appreciate you watching and for posting your tips. Super cool!
@@JaredManninen Have to admit that I was dragging my poles AND giving consideration to speed control while on a 2.5 mile downhill of a narrow forest road yesterday. What I noticed: Both poles, off the wrists, held together, and dragged in deep snow to one side of the skier CAN reduce speed--and have a minor steadying effect. But using poles in that way can also distract the skier from working their wedge to get the most-effective degree of slowing. If the skier's hands come back toward the hips while dragging poles, it might cause a weight shift back on the ski tails and take away from effective braking with the skis. You gotta' attend to how those skis are braking--and pole dragging is a help--maybe.
@@davidpfurr4350 Great observation, David! I think you're right in that the person has to be really clear about where they're investing their effort. The ski or the poles? Of course, my belief is to focus on the skis and use the poles as a secondary rudder/brake (when it's safe). Without the clarity of knowing which one to focus on, a person could get caught somewhere in-between, not effectively using their skis or poles to fully slow down. I could see this situation being exacerbated by the fact that the person would most likely be dragging the poles on the opposite side of the body/plow ski, causing the person to split their weight between the two or, worse yet, lean too much on the poles and then lose all control of the skis (like you said, in the backseat on the tails ... glide zone).
As I recall the times in which I drag my poles, I want to say that it's most often on the uphill side (i.e. when I'm skiing downhill on a traverse). This way, I don't have to change my body position a whole lot in order to drag those poles. At the same time, I drag them very sparingly and mostly passively. For example, I'm aware that the pole(s) are dragging, but I'm not relying on them/it. I'm more concerned with the skis at that point. The reason for this is that I know (for myself) that as soon as I split my attention between two things (in this case, trying to focus on what my skis are doing versus what my arms/poles are doing) I tend to fail at both. I know that the power to stop is in my skis, so I prefer to focus on that. And if I'm performing a half-plow, I'm really transferring as much weight to that plow ski as possible, therefore distancing myself further from where I'd want to apply pressure to the poles (again, assuming I'm dragging them on the opposite side of my body).
Anyway, fun stuff to think about! And I know that you have it way more challenging than I do with the more narrow trails and lots of forests to navigate in your neck of the woods. In the Sierra Nevada, we just have so much open terrain in which to play. So I seldom have to contend with narrow, hard-packed trails. That said, when I do encounter similar obstacles I'll occasionally run one ski in the snow off of the trail (if it's deep) or I'll avoid the trail altogether if at all possible. Icy, crusty, and tracked out trails are not my favorite :)
Thanks again for the conversation. Very inspiring!
@@davidpfurr4350 Just because ... :) th-cam.com/video/2HEiuzjOwLA/w-d-xo.html
I trip while walking, this guy is recording a how to video while skiing.
Ha ha. Thanks again, conflectiz :)
As always, good sound information, but 1/3 is unnecessarily wordy.
Thanks for watching. Maybe I'll just start editing out every third word to remedy my wordiness issue 😆
Good tips, but a bit too long of a video.
Thanks for the feedback!
Yeah, my whole series of Intro to Classic XC Skiing videos are intentionally longer for people who want a more thorough look and explanation of cross-country skiing concepts and techniques versus the standard fair on TH-cam (i.e. become an expert in five minutes in five simple steps -- haha!). In the long-term, if I choose to make more streamlined videos about complex aspects of xc skiing such as downhilling, for example, I can refer back to these bigger videos (as well as point others to them if they want more info).
As an artist and writer I've always just found it way more efficient to start big and refine down rather than to start little and then try to expand the concept. The latter approach always winds up looking like some sort of hodgepodge/Frankenstein project that's never really quite finished.
Anyway, I appreciate you watching, and for the comment :)
Nice video, but ads every two minutes, I am out.
Thanks for the feedback. I just figured out how to adjust the frequency of ads on this one.