2010 Winter Olympics Series: Cross Country Ski

In honor of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games I am going to attempt to incorporate some of the events in my "45".

PART ONE: Cross Country Skiing

I mentioned in an earlier post regarding Snowshoeing that complaining about the winter is just not acceptable when there is so much to embrace in the season. I'll admit, I get quite grumpy on the grey, wet, soggy winter days. However, there is no excuse those days when we get the beautiful falling white snow with a blue sky backdrop. This mentality comes natural to those that live in Alpine Ski Regions (Colorado, Colorado, Colorado...) BUT we can enjoy the snow too in our flat as a pancake region! Enter Cross Country Skiing...

While XCSkiing is not quite as badass as its counterpart - The Biathlon - which incorporates a rifle into the mix - it is still quite a challenge! My first experience with the sport was last Saturday at Allegany State Park in Western New York. The 65,000 acres are covered with beautifully groomed XCSki Trails by Winter and Mountain Bike Trails by Spring/Summer. 

The trails we ventured out on were in the Art Roscoe Ski Touring Area. There is a warming hut directly located next to the parking lot which rents XCSki equipment for just $18 a day. The trails are clearly marked - and to my surprise - are even graded similar to Alpine Trails. Art Roscoe area even has some Black Diamond trails. Clearly, these are not as treacherous as Downhill Ski Black Diamond hills but at least you can say you've skied a Black Diamond, right?

We did not take lessons so getting going was awkward to say the least. Our legs and arms were flailing all over the place. After a few minutes of struggle it became a little more natural and quite easy to pick up speed. The internal heat I quickly built was amazing given the low impact my body felt. I am always the one heading into the ski lodge every few runs to warm up when down-hill skiing. There is no chance of catching a chill during this activity. In fact, I was wishing I had worn less layers.

Once I was into a groove of skiing along I was able to mentally check out and enjoy the beautiful winter scenery around me. The sport is a whole-body cardio experience which is extremely low-impact. To those looking for a cross training for running or walking this is for you. For those of you that hate running and walking - I honestly think this is for you too! I unfortunately did not have a heart rate monitor to give an overall rating, but I will rate given all other factors:

REVIEW:


RATING: ♥♥♥♥ - fun winter activity, terrific aerobic, low-impact, whole-body, fun, & OUTSIDE!

There are XCSki Areas all over the country. If you do choose to head to the Allegany State Park area, I highly recommend the cabins available on the land. Pack some chili, beer, and firewood and make a weekend of it! Make a reservation here: ASP Cabin Rental