Peggy's Manual
We’re happy to provide you with a manual of basic classic techniques prepared by one of our members. The author, Peggy Walker, is a very experienced skier who once skied with the legendary Jackrabbit Johannsen, the man who did much to popularize Nordic skiing in Canada. He was still skiing at age 110, something to aspire to!
The manual includes a map showing potential routes in Centennial Park that could be used to practice Nordic skiing when conditions allow. Members sometimes arrange to meet there to ski together and to practice their technique.
Moving on the Flat - Diagonal Style
Moving on the Flat - Increase the Glide
When you get off the bus, take all your items for the day with you, and collect your equipment from the bin under the bus. You’ll leave your skis at one of the racks provided outside the chalet before you go into the chalet and get ready to ski or snowshoe. You need to wear your trail pass on the trail, so make sure you get it from the Trip Convenor when they rejoin the group after buying the passes. The pass folds and sticks onto a wire loop that you can insert through your jacket zipper pull tab.
Cubbies, shelves or lockers are provided at some resorts for you to leave your bag, while at others you’ll find a spot to leave it against a wall, or anywhere where it won’t be tripped over. At some resorts we will be assigned a room to ourselves while at others we’ll be in a general seating area. In either case keep any valuables with you in a pocket or fanny pack.
Some members like to have a snack before heading out.
Your ski trail pass will cover you for snowshoeing if you do both. Some members like to ski in the morning and snowshoe in the afternoon
Washrooms
All the resorts we go to have indoor washrooms at the chalet.
Renting
Most members have their own equipment. If you’re not ready to buy, all the resorts we go to offer ski and snowshoe rentals. Upon arrival at the resort, be sure to inform the staff member at the rental desk that you are a member of our Club in order to get the group rental rate. Then the staff member helping you will check what size you need and equip you with skis, boots and poles, or with snowshoes. You’ll pay in person at the resort.
Pro shop
At most resorts there is a shop or counter selling a variety of items such as mitts, hats and wax. Highlands Nordic and Hardwood Hills also have a range of ski equipment for sale as well as clothing, and this can be a good place to invest in or upgrade your equipment. You can also buy clothing or snowshoes at Scenic Caves but they do not sell skis. You may be able to try out skis of the type you’re interested in, before buying. The resorts also sometimes have ex-rental equipment for sale, which can be an economical option.
Waxing
There are three reasons to wax cross country skis. The first two are performance related – glide and grip. The third is to protect your skis and increase their longevity.
All skis (even no-wax skis!) require glide wax for performance and protection. A hot (glide) wax can be applied as necessary. It will last according to distance travelled and snow conditions. Soft fresh snow will not remove glide wax as much as icy granular snow. Roll-on glide wax can be used to supplement the hot wax and is especially important with wet sticky snow. Apply the roll-on wax to the glide and grip parts of the ski. Roll-on wax is applied as a liquid and does not last as long as hot wax.
Here is an excellent tutorial which emphasizes the importance of protecting the ski base and demonstrates how hot wax is applied.
Direct link if needed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srok4Ryta0o
Hot wax can be applied for you at some of the resorts we go to and at SAIL, Skis and Bikes, MEC etc. And wax can be applied at home and as often as necessary, if one chooses to invest in a scraper, base cleaner, lint free wipes, bars of glide wax (for different temperatures), and one or more brushes.
Smooth base (untextured) skis also require grip wax on the kick zone. The appropriate grip wax (ie to grip the snow for traction as opposed to gliding over the snow) is dependent on the temperature of the snow. It is easier to apply grip wax for cold, -2 or lower conditions than those around 0.
You’ll find waxing rooms at all the resorts as well as being able to purchase wax at the pro-shop or counter. Just ask the bus captain or the resort staff. There should be a thermometer outside indicating the recommended wax, or ask at the pro shop or rental area.
Highlands Nordic, Hardwood Hills and (sometimes) Horseshoe offer ski hot waxing and other maintenance services. If you have waxable skis they can also apply the ‘wax of the day’ for you.
Lunch
Most people return to the chalet at around 12:30 – 1:00 pm for lunch and a break, and to socialize. Many members bring their own lunch, including a flask with a hot beverage, but some prefer to purchase all or part of their lunch. Some of the resorts have great luncheon offerings with healthy options and baked goods, while the selection at others is limited to snacks and hot drinks.
The return
Don’t be late getting to the bus! Members are encouraged to head for the bus at the latest 15 min before departure time so we can get on our way on time. Very occasionally the departure time will be moved up, for example if severe weather is moving in and we anticipate delays on the homeward journey. You’ll be informed of any changes!
The bus captain will do a head count before departure. If by any chance you meet a friend at the resort and drive back with them, it is your responsibility to find the bus captain and tell them, so the bus is not unnecessarily waiting for you.
On the way back a sheet will be circulated for you to enter your estimated kilometers skied or snowshoed that day. We keep a running total and you may get a prize at the Annual Luncheon in the spring!skis with bindings, boots and poles, often sold or rented as a ‘package’. Nordic skis are longer and narrower than those used for downhill or Alpine skiing, and poles are longer, while boots clip into the ski binding only at the toe to allow your foot to move as you stride forward between glides. Skis for classic technique have bases designed to grip the snow as you push off, using special grip wax or a textured pattern in the area of the base below the binding. You may find new skis are lighter and easier to use than your old ones.
Most of our members use no-wax skis. No-wax skis save you having to prepare your skis with grip and glide wax on each trip and spare you potential frustration on difficult waxing days and when the temperature is above freezing (however, even no-wax skis require waxing - see more information under Waxing on the At the Resort page). On the other hand, if you get the wax right, waxable skis can give you more speed and better grip uphill. They are used by racers and high-performance skiers as well as those who simply like or are used to this approach.
One additional point: the camber or flex of your ski should be strong enough to allow the ski to glide when you are not pressing down on it. Old skis may lose this camber. If you stand on one ski on a very flat surface, you (or someone else) should be able to slip a sheet of paper under the kick zone of the ski.
Please ensure to label your skis and poles with your name and also record the make and colour of your skis. Really helps in case you need to look for them or describe them to someone. Skis are easily labelled with spare stick-on address labels. Poles can be labeled using a permanent marker.
Different skis are used for classic and skate skiing – although there’s nothing to stop you trying a few skate moves on your classic skis. Skate skis are generally stiffer and lighter, and have bases that are waxed for glide only, while skate boots have more ankle support.
If you just want to skate ski on a recreational basis, switching back and forth between classic and skate skiing, then you may want to consider a combi-boot that can be used for both. The boot is not quite as stiff as a skate boot and not quite as flexible as a classic boot. They often have a removable ankle binding that would make the boot more flexible for classic skiing. This is a good compromise if you do not want to carry around two pairs of boots.
Snowshoes now available are lighter and more maneuverable than they used to be. Whether renting or buying look for a plastic or Teflon-finish crampon that won’t accumulate snowballs under your feet! Most people carry poles to help propulsion but you can also snowshoe without.
You may want to rent while you think about what to buy, but we suggest buying before you’ve done many trips. Rental fees can easily add up to a significant amount that you could have put towards the cost of buying. Ask other members about their equipment and where they bought it.
Most members transport their equipment in a ski or snowshoe bag. This protects the equipment and prevents it getting tangled up with others’ in the bin. It also helps keep all your items together. Many ski bags are black and look alike so personalize yours somehow, and make sure to label your bags with your name and phone number to make it easier for someone to restore it to you if they pick it up by mistake.
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.