Page 1 of 3
Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:31 pm
by 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?
Re: Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:03 pm
by 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.
Re: Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:33 pm
by 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!
Re: Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:53 am
by Woodserson
Yes.
Re: Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 7:48 am
by Landscraper
Agreed, mega jerk move.
Rent gear if you can't fit or grab some track skis.
Re: Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:06 am
by phoenix
I wouldn't want to mess up a pristine skinny track, and would then ski on the flats beside it.
Re: Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:48 am
by 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
Re: Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:03 am
by Nitram Tocrut
FourthCoast wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:48 am
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”!!!
Re: Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:19 am
by FourthCoast
Nitram Tocrut wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:03 am
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) ?
Re: Help me to not be a jerk
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:54 am
by CwmRaider
FourthCoast wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:19 am
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.