Help me to not be a jerk

[FourthCoast]

I finally went to a groomed XC area for the first time ever. It is FUN. All the cold dry snow this past week helped, I am sure.

I have been using my K2 heli stinks and my daughter is on bala kom skis. These are wider than the tracks.

Is it rude for us to ski in the tracks anyway?

[bauerb]

about all I can tell you is decades ago when I was a nordic racer, we would get pretty upset when "tourists" destroyed the nicely groomed tracks. in your case, I think it depends on the nordic center and what trails you are using. some are designated race or training, some are designated "tourist". you should simply ask the manager.

[fisheater]

Hello FC, yes skiing on trails is fun. I maintain my “dignity” because I truly do prefer ungroomed trails. I am pretty sure there is no grooming at Saugatuck Dunes. I know the trails at Nordhouse dunes are not groomed.
I like michigantrails.us as a source to find trails. This site lists 11 categories of trails, horse trails, ski trails etc.
So ski on trails that aren’t groomed, and you’ll be cool again!
Unless of course you were looking to buy some skis for groomed tracks??? I’m sure folks would be glad to help!

[Woodserson]

Yes.

[Landscraper]

Agreed, mega jerk move.

Rent gear if you can't fit or grab some track skis.

[phoenix]

I wouldn't want to mess up a pristine skinny track, and would then ski on the flats beside it.

[FourthCoast]

Thank you all for the direct responses. I honestly could not tell if my skis were f-ing up the track or not. On the well-used tracks it seemed like my skis more or less fit.

The side is groomed flat for skate skiing so I will stay over there. I have to assume that my shuffling around on there has less impact than skate skiing. Please let me know if I am wrong there.

https://www.miottawa.org/Parks/pigeoncreek.htm

[Nitram Tocrut]

Thank you all for the direct responses. I honestly could not tell if my skis were f-ing up the track or not. On the well-used tracks it seemed like my skis more or less fit.

The side is groomed flat for skate skiing so I will stay over there. I have to assume that my shuffling around on there has less impact than skate skiing. Please let me know if I am wrong there.

https://www.miottawa.org/Parks/pigeoncreek.htm

It is what I do when I ski in a XC center to reach some BC spot. It’s either the skate track or between 2 groomed tracks. I do some XC ski with skinnies so I do love well groomed tracks and would not be pleased to find tracks damages by BC XC skiers... or even worse “walkers”!!!

[FourthCoast]

It is what I do when I ski in a XC center to reach some BC spot. It’s either the skate track or between 2 groomed tracks. I do some XC ski with skinnies so I do love well groomed tracks and would not be pleased to find tracks damages by BC XC skiers... or even worse “walkers”!!!

Thanks, Nitram. Good to know.

This morning I have started looking at some more narrow skis. Do I need to keep the entire ski under 68mm? I was about just about to click the 'buy it now' button on these Unused Karhu Backcountry / Telemark Snow Skis 190cm but then I realized they are not all that skinny by XC standards.

Is this still too wide:

Classic Sidecut of 87-71-78 (87mm wide shovel, 71mm waist, 78mm tail) ?

[CwmRaider]

This morning I have started looking at some more narrow skis. Do I need to keep the entire ski under 68mm? I was about just about to click the 'buy it now' button on these Unused Karhu Backcountry / Telemark Snow Skis 190cm but then I realized they are not all that skinny by XC standards.

Is this still too wide:

Classic Sidecut of 87-71-78 (87mm wide shovel, 71mm waist, 78mm tail) ?

Those look like nice skis for the money, probably nice for offtrack XC use. However they are way too wide for tracks.
IIRC a Fischer E99 is borderline for tracks (66-54-61). With those dimensions the 66mm shovel will rub occasionally, especially in curves.