Expectations

I'm learning to skate ski that's for sure. It's been several weeks since I have first got on skis and struggled on an incredibly frozen Highland Golf Course followed by an largely ungroomed Wirth Park. I didn't know any better, I still don't perhaps, but I've been told that conditions were not good for skiing on those days but skiers are rabid about their sport and are willing to put up with poor conditions just to get out.

On that first outing with Maren I knew the conditions weren't great as I dodged large grassy patches on fairways and greens. I wasn't under any illusions that it was anything other than a test run. It was icy hard and I had very little in terms of what I'll call traction. I'm sure there is some technical ski term that I don't know that would describe it perfectly but in general it was like trying to ski on a sheet of ice, and I was trying to use my skis like ice skates. Maren enthusiastically assured me that it would get better, and that for my first time I had done well. She also said I would benefit from my downhill skiing experience as some of the motions on the flats are similar.

What I remember about that day now however, is that I had a tough time getting up when I fell. I've not mastered that art to this day. For some reason I feel pain in my kneees and ankles when I try in get up from the side. What I end up doing is rolling over on my belly with my feet and skis up in the air. Then I put the skis on the ground in a wedge position behind me and, doing my best downward dog pose I slowly walk my hands back toward my feet. I've not seen others use this method but I'll be sure to point it out to them if they need any of my suggestions.

Anyway, back to what I wanted to mention today. I've been skiing about 12 times this year and on most of those outings someone has said that the snow or temperature is not quite right. It's too icy, or too powdery, or too cold out, or something. I even heard it after the 17 inches that we got during one december snow. I'm trying to learn all about how to do this, but am finding that much of what I've discovered is that skate skiers need a machine to work the snow before it is skiable. At the risk of offending the skate skiing community it seemed a little whiny. It wasn't what I had imagined, but I am adapting my expectations of cross-country skiing to fit this new idea. I think Maren was right. My downhill skiing days will help me out as skate skier as both occur mostly after the groomer have altered the snow.

It's not the quiet soft snow along deserted trails of fresh snow I'd imaginded, but I think it could be good. Drawing a parallel, a year ago I think I would have said that Maren wasn't what I would have imagined for myself either. I'm happy to say that she exceeds my expectations and has turned into more than I could have ever imagined. Maybe skate skiing, or at least skate skiing with her on occasion, will too. As for the quiet soft freshness I have it, just not on skis. I'm told classic skiers come closer to experiencing that. Maybe I'll take that on next year. This year I have to get ready for some long distance ski races.

Out of Love

I'm not a cross-country skier, and by that I mean that I have skied in my life, even taught some kids how to strap them on and stumble forward in deep snow, but it has never been my thing. It has been something to do on occassion, but never something I particularly enjoyed. This year however, I am taking up skate skiing.

The other part of this story is that I've got Maren. She's a beautiful and loving woman who without question changes when the temperatures drop and the snow flies. She's a skier. She's raced the City of Lakes Loppet, the Mora Vassaloppet, and the American Birkibeiner, essentially marathons on skis. She emphatically and repeatedly states that I will love skiing. At first I smiled and nodded alot but quickly realized that wouldn't be enough to get out of it. A new approach was needed. I know there is a future with Maren so I am learning to skate this winter. I did have to ask her to quit teling me how much I will love it and to suggesst that instead she tell me how much she loves it. Make no mistake though, I do this out of love.

After our recent 17 inch snow fall we both we in tears. Mine weren't real but I was feeling sorry for myself as I saw the terribly long winter ahead. She, however, was tearing up out of sheer joy as it meant were about to have a fantasically long ski season. We both enjoy spending time outside and I am even a marathon runner, but she takes it to another level when it comes to winter.

I joined the City of Lake Loppett Ski Club (Introductory session), a season long coached ski group that meets on Monday nights and Saturday mornings. My plan is to learn to ski this season and withhold judgement about how much or little I actually like what I am doing. At the very least it will be at two good workouts per week. At best, maybe I'll learn to enjoy it. The overall goal is to learn how to do it well enough so that when she asks if I want to go skiing I will can at least know how to do it and it can be something we share. I hope to document how this winter goes through this blog. I have no idea if I'll actually keep writing. I do know that I intend to ski. With any luck I'll have learned enough to have to enter into a race at the end of the season. Not sure what race it will be, or if it will even be a ski race, but I will learn to be out there with skis on my feet. Wish me luck. Now, off to the Wirth ski trails.