From: ilana@kiowa.scd.ucar.edu (Ilana Stern)
Subject: Re: Crosscountry/Backcountry skiing [LONG]
Organization: NCAR/UCAR
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 16:17:56 GMT

In article <54521@dime.cs.umass.edu>, kim@.cs.umass.edu writes:
> I'm considering taking up crosscountry skiing.  I live in Amherst, MA.

I noticed you had distribution set to ne, but we got it anyway in Colorado.
I'm taking advantage of this opportunity to post a bit of the new
cross-country skiing FAQ I've been working on with a lot of help from
many rec.skiers.  Experienced skiers, particularly those of you that have
contributed information, are encouraged to let me know if I've gotten
anything seriously wrong.

> Are backcountry skis much different than regular crosscountry skis?

Here's the excerpt from the FAQ:

   There are various types of skis, each designed for a different style
   of skiing.  Obviously, if you indulge in all of the different styles
   of cross-country skiing, you can easily spend enough on skis to make
   up for all the money you save not buying lift tickets!  

   Cross-country skis have either waxable or waxless bases.  There are
   advantages and disadvantages which can be more or less important,
   depending on the style of ski, but usually you can get any particular
   type of ski with either type of base.

   Base types:
   Waxless: 
     Waxless cross country skis have a "scaled" bottom so that they will
     slide forward and resist backward motion. These skis are a good
     choice for first-timers as they will allow you to concentrate on
     striding, skating, poling, downhilling, and other aspects of technique.
     They are not so good for going up steep hills, or for unpacked
     powder snow.  They are great for snow that packs into a wet blob
     under your skis.
            
   Waxable: 
     These skis require waxing, and proper waxing at that, to be useful.
     Lemon pledge is the recommended wax as you'll be able to see yourself
     but will avoid waxy yellow buildup.  No, really: for starters a two or 
     three wax kit is sufficient (wet snow/dry snow) but other wax systems
     exist where every 10 degree change in temperature requires a different
     wax.  With proper wax, waxable skis are faster than waxless on flat
     ground, and can be used to climb steep hills much more easily.  With
     improper wax, several pounds of snow will stick to your skis with
     every step. 

[Note for the questioner in New England:  I used to live in Massachusetts
and found waxless skis fine for conditions usually encountered there.]

   Ski types:
   Track skis:
     These skis are designed for use at "Nordic Centers" and the like
     where tracks are prepared in the snow for you.  They are light,
     flexible, very skinny, do not have metal edges, and are usually 
     waxless although waxable versions are available as well.  You can 
     go very fast with them provided you don't have to break trail or go 
     steeply uphill or downhill.  It might be possible to do telemark
     turns with these, but I doubt it.  These skis are used in classic
     diagonal racing and for light touring.  Racing track skis tend to
     be waxable with no side-cut.

   Skating skis:
     These are a really silly idea and most ice-rinks won't even let
     you use them. There are many trails that are now being groomed for
     the skating technique.  These do not use grip wax, but do use glide 
     wax; these skis are never waxless.  Skilled racers can go faster and 
     easier in most conditions using this technique, so adherents of classic 
     diagonal racing hate it.  Skating skis are shorter and stiffer than 
     track skis, and the tips are rounder.  They are single-cambered.
     Skating skis are never used with three-pin bindings because the binding
     width would interfere with the technique.

   Backcountry skis:
     These skis are designed for use on backcountry trails, where you
     may be breaking trail, may be carrying a pack, and may find untouched
     powder bowls just begging for a few turns.  They are heavier and
     wider than track skis, but lighter and narrower than downhill or
     telemark skis.  They are usually double-cambered and have metal 
     edges for control on the downhill.  Both waxless and waxable versions 
     exist.  

   Telemark skis:
     These skis are designed for use at lift-served ski areas, for
     people who want to use telemark technique down the hill but are too
     lazy to ski up it first.  They are a bit longer and narrower than
     downhill skis, but basically look a whole lot like downhill skis
     with cross-country bindings.  They are better for telemarking
     downhill than backcountry skis, but it is harder to ski uphill with
     them because they are heavier and have less camber.  These skis
     are usually waxable.  Three-pin bindings are almost always used.

   Mountaineering:
     These are schizophrenic skis for people who can't decide if they're
     into cross-country or downhill.  They are usually used with a
     randonee binding, which is used with an alpine (downhill) boot, and 
     allows the heel to be free for uphill climbing but locked down for 
     downhill skiing.  They are essentially lighter alpine skis.

> Can you do telemark turns with any skis?

It's difficult to telemark with track skis, because they are narrow,
usually have less stiff bindings, and don't have metal edges.  This leads
to a lack of control and a tendency to fall over.  

> What kinds of bindings are there?
> What difference do bindings make?

Again, from the FAQ-to-be:

   There are basically three kinds of bindings used on cross-country skis:  
   three-pin, integral boot/binding systems, and randonee.  

   Three-pin:
     The most common type of binding, it usually consists of a metal
     or plastic plate that the front of the boot fits into;  three holes
     in front of the toe fit over three pins on the plate, and the top
     of the plate locks down to hold the toe in place.  A heel plate keeps 
     the foot in a straight line on the ski, but doesn't hold the heel down.  
     Cable bindings are a type of three-pin binding (used with the same
     style boot) which hold the toe down with a wedge rather than with 
     pins;  the boot is retained by a cable which goes around the heel.
     Boots and bindings of this style range from light-duty plastic
     bindings and low-cut boots for track use, to heavy metal bindings
     and stiffer leather and plastic boots which are better for 
     telemarking and carrying loads.
   
   Integral systems:
     There are three major types of integral systems which are mutually
     incompatible.  NNN (New Nordic Norm) is a system in which the three
     holes in front of the boot toe are replaced by a horizontal metal rod
     which is locked into the binding by a lever.  The heavier-duty 
     NNN-BC (Back Country) system moves the rod under the toes, rather than
     in front of it, which I find to be more comfortable than either standard
     NNN or three-pin systems.  Both NNN and NNN-BC boots and bindings are 
     made by a variety of companies.

     The third system is Salomon's Profil system, a version of which is 
     used by most racers.  They also make a backcountry version.  Profil, 
     like NNN-BC, has the pivot point under the toes rather than in front 
     of the boot.  There is also an older Salomon system, SNS, with the 
     pivot in front. A few other companies make Profil-compatible boots.  

     All three of these systems partially interlock the sole of the boot 
     with the surface of the binding under the foot, reducing or (for the 
     Profil) eliminating the role of the heel plate.  You must use a boot
     compatible with your particular binding type.

   Randonee:
     These bindings take a standard DIN downhill boot, but have a hinge
     at the heel which can be released for free-heel climbing, or locked
     down for downhill skiing.  They have release capabilities, like 
     downhill ski bindings.

-- 
/\     It's not denial.  I'm just very selective about the reality I accept.
  \_][ <--NCAR Ilana Stern dod#009 r.b. cliff swallow ilana@ncar.ucar.edu    
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