xcskiworld.com: What's Hot & What's New

What's Hot and What's New

Below you'll find previews of new or upcoming products and services related to the XC ski industry. These features are presented as a free service to both the industry and to our readers. The American Cross Country Skiers does not necessarily endorse these products/services and offers no assurance of the claims made by manufacturers and distributors. Where possible, the AXCS offers feedback collected from a wide range of skiers testing the products in "real world" situations. To find out more, contact the AXCS office [axcs at xcskiworld.com].

Spring 2004 Featured Products/Services
Rollerskis: Dynaskate JuniorSkate

Fall 2003 Featured Products/Services
SportHill Wind Shield Jacket and Pant
Spikes-Spiders
Bungie Upper Body Kit
Toko On-Line Wax Manuals and Thermo Bag
TrailSkate™ off-road roller skis
EZBench waxing benches
DVD: Unlimited
More About Perfect Skating CD

Summer 2003 Featured Products/Services
CD: Perfect Skating
Book: The Wimp's Guide to Cross-Country Skiing

Spring 2003 Featured Products/Services
Atomic Applies Structure In The Top Sheet
Rossignol Nordic – What’s new for 2003/2004
XC-Ice
Mt Bachelor, Oregon Debuts Nordic Freestyle Terrain Park

Winter 2003 Featured Products/Services
HelX From Toko Wax
Summit Systems Timers

Fall 2002 Featured Products/Services
Beckie Scott CD
Book: MOMENTUM -- Chasing The Olympic Dream
Book: No Pain, No Gain?
Book: Best Groomed Cross Country Ski Trails In Oregon
Roller Skis: Pro Ski's New Roadline Tech Classic
Roller Skis: Dynaskate

Spring/Summer 2002 Featured Products/Services
Vasa Trainer Foot Platform
ntune: Engineered Ski Tuning
Fitness Book: Ready, Set, GO!
Morgan XC Waxing Profile Bench
One Week in March: A Manual for Prospective Collegiate Nordic Skiers

2001/2002 Season Featured Products
Crosskate
Inga-lami Limited Print and Inga fra Varteig (book)

Spring 2004

Dynaskate JuniorSkate


The small Norwegian outfit of Dynaskate -- already producers of arguably one of the coolest and intriguing rollerski products on the planet (reviewed Fall 2002)-- have come out with a junior line of rollerskis. The Dynaskate JuniorSkate is designed like a regular rollerski but comes with a shaft that fits a small skier in the 8-12 year range. The skis come predrilled for both SNS and NNN binding systems.

DYNASPORTS also has a great Summer 2004 club deal especially for North American clubs. 10 pairs of the skate skis can be purchased for just $999 including shipping but without bindings. Complete shipping and bindings mounted price is just $1,490!

To get complete contact info and product details, visit the DYNASPORTS website at http://www.dynasports.com/.

Fall 2003

Wind Shield Jacket and Pant


Eugene, Oregon's SportHill sportswear has been producing popular and functional XC-specific clothing for well over a decade now, but may have hit their biggest home run ever (at least in XC circles) with their new Wind Shield Jacket and Pant.

About the new products SportHill says..."This jacket and pant were made for ultimate performance in the nastiest conditions. Made of Swift fabric throughout to provide insulation and moisture management. The front and shoulders are reinforced with MicroNylon stretch overlays with DWR for additional wind and rain protection."

The jacket has a two way front zipper w/ storm guard and side zip pockets. The pant features full length two-way zippers (hip to ankle), two front zip pockets, and has articulated knee for additional range of motion.

In addition to the very skier-friendly design with the functional zippers and active athlete cut, what really makes news here is the feel of the materials combined with the function. To really get a product that performs well in harsh conditions, often you have to sacrifice a whole lot of comfort and/or athletic functionality. Not so with the Wind Shield duo. These puppies are made of some of the most comfortable performance material you can find...but they have held up to the nastiest snow, rain, wind, and temperature changes we could find this fall. Best of all, you can easily ski in both at any speed you like and both function perfectly even for a demanding racer crowd.

Retail price for the jacket is $159.95 and the pant is $119.95.

Visit the SportHill website for full details.

Spikes-Spiders

This is not a new product and certainly not just limited to XC skiing but it recently came to our attention as a worthwhile addition to Hot/New simply because of the buzz within circles of skiers that have tried the product.

Consisting of several “spikes” around a central hub, Spikes-Spiders is best thought of almost like a hand that wraps over the outside of your tire with fingers over the running surface. They are quite a bit more expensive than normal tire chains, but are miles ahead in convenience and speed of install (30 seconds per tire without the need of a jack or rolling the vehicle forward/back according to the company).

Official product info....”Spikes-Spiders are the best alternative to clunky snow chains and inefficient snow tires. Providing the ultimate in winter road traction, Spikes Spider is unmatched in quality and durability.”

Although xcskiworld.com has not tried this product first-hand, we have talked with tire specialty stores in the Pacific Northwest that highly recommend the product. Although not as durable as chains over a long haul, few drivers typically need chains for days on end. In situations where chains would only be a necessary evil for a few hours or less, the stores we talked to said Spikes-Spiders are indeed a product worth checking out.

Visit the Spikes Spider website for full details.

Bungie Upper Body Kit

Pull cords are a simple and effective way to simulate diagonal and double pole motions for use in circuit training and/or “par course” intervals or distance sessions. A really easy way to create pull cords is simply to take an old bike tire, cut it, and wrap the two ends around a post or tree. This option works and is quite easy, yet it can make for a really tough pull (especially for smaller skiers). A much better option is to use elastic tubing or bungie materials in a pull cord to allow greater range of motion and thus better ski specificity.

NZ Manufacturing, Inc came to the attention of the xcskiworld.com staff at the 2003 American College of Sports Medicine convention as the makers of what we think is the “gold standard” in pull cords. Makers of a whole catalog of exercise and rehab products (many worth checking out in their own right), the item that most intrigued us this past summer was the new NZ “Bungie Upper Body Kit”.

Consisting of a bungie with a midpoint nylon loop and two handles at either end, this is healthy, heaping better than the old bike tube in all respects. The midpoint nylon loop allows the user to attach the kit to a post or tree in any number of ways. Our favorite is to use a tie-strap thru the loop and then around whatever we are using as a base.

The kits come in a variety of resistance colors and Fall 2003 testing with over 90 Bend, Oregon skiers (both male/female, wide ability-age-fitness ranges) revealed that the Blue resistance (16-30 lbs of pull) is good for really strong skiers, the Red resistance (7-14 lbs of pull) better for midlevel skiers, and the Green (5-12 lbs of pull) best for very small skiers or those still working on baseline upper body strength.

Retail price on the Bungie Upper Body Kit is $35.95. There are discounts for professionals. Visit the NZ website for full details.

Toko On-Line Wax Manuals


The Toko Tech Manual for 2003/2004 has been released. Company spokespeople say..."This manual is very complete and has updated information regarding Toko HelX, our newest and best glide wax".

xcskiworld.com has checked out these very handy resources in the past and loves...makes that LOVES...the fact that Toko is making these available on-line for general public consumption. Although the in-depth nature of the complete manual is probably a lot more than the average skier will ever want to absorb, there are those of us out there that'll readily eat up all the different perspectives on waxing techniques you can find from the various companies. Doing so is a heck of a lot easier when you can just pop over to a few websites to compare techniques for fluoro application or "recipes" for such-and-such conditions.

These manuals are posted on the TokoUS website and can be downloaded directly from the INFO CENTER.

The following link provides complete information on the Toko Thermo Bag.

Toko says...a Thermo Bag will enable the waxer to get more wax into a base and wax deeper into a ski base compared to using an iron - at any temperature, even one that burns the base. This is a fact and is documented on the link above. A Thermo Bag is excellent for use when treating new skis, slow skis, or freshly ground skis. It is also an excellent tool in preparing skis the night before an event with the final HF layer (heat the skis for around 6 hours and then unplug the bag so the skis cool off very very slowly resulting in superb wax penetration even at the most superficial base layers).

The Toko Thermo Bag is not your run-of-the mill hot box. It has digital temperature setting, a digital temperature readout, a ventilator to ensure consistent temperatures throughout the bag, fits 12 pair of Nordic skis, and is portable (not easily, but yes, portable).

The price of a Toko Thermo Bag is $3000US so this is not a product for everyone. Even sophisticated teams would have a hard time coming up with the coin for this beast. Still, ya gotta know someone is probably going to get one! For sure it is worth considering any shop that has such a product in the back room a leg up on other retailers for wax prep. On pysch-out factor alone over your age group buddies it would be worth an extra few bucks.

TrailSkate™ off-road roller skis


Richland, Washington's Gate Skate company has come up with the latest foray into a true "off road" rollerski.

The official product description pretty much says it all...TrailSkate™ all-terrain skates are designed to go over any type of surface including asphalt, dirt, gravel, grass and mountain trails. They roll easily over bumps, cracks, and debris. Hand-controlled hydraulic brakes located in the rear wheel of each skate allow skaters to easily control speed and stop quickly while maintaining a comfortable, balanced, upright body position. The combination of high-pressure air-tires, flexible composite chassis and adjustable boot-binding system provide an extremely smooth low-impact ride delivering an excellent aerobic exercise much like cross-country skiing.

xcskiworld.com has been testing the TrailSkate™ this fall and this is one animal worth watching and worth a demo if you can get the chance. Similar to the CrossSkate (reviewed below in 01/02), the TrailSkate™ is a considerably "meatier" product compared to typical rollerskis due in no small part to pneumatic "mini-mountain bike" tires several times bigger than typical rollerskis. The payoff of the heavier/bigger wheels is that you can indeed roll over just about anything while maintaining a surprising amount of stability.

The big evolutionary steps with this product ahead of other brand's "off road" models are the hydraulic brakes and the fact this beast is designed to work with ordinary shoes rather than a specific boot.

Our initial testing has shown that the current TrailSkate™ works the best on flat to gradual uphill terrain and virtually any downhill. On the right surface and terrain, the rolling feel is precisely like a mountain bike...but using ski motions. Wicked cool.

Whereas harder dirt roads are faster than softer ones, you don't need super hard dirt or rough pavement for TrailSkate™ to roll well. However, since they are skate-only, the one thing you do need is a enough of a surface to actually skate on. On single and dual track trails you are limited to downhills and/or double poling (the latter a tough but very realistic option for strong skiers). The skates still have a ways to go with weight to make steep uphills feel really ski specific. You can skate up steep hills just fine right now, it just feels more like backcountry skis than racing skis on your feet.

You get used to the brake cord attached to a waist belt almost immediately and -- boy howdy -- that sucker WORKS! You learn very quickly just to tap the hand control. Almost like a top mountain biker, virtually no off road downhill would look scary with the control the brake gives you. Suffice it to say, were this brake to be licensed to traditional road models, our sport could probably see an overnight boom in pavement rollerskiing.

Due to a wide and relatively low foot platform plus the big wheels, stability is never a worry even with lots of ruts, rocks, and other obstacles...something that has been a problem on other off road skis. You can slip out a little bit on dirt if you use really aggressive skate push-offs, but we found this to be pretty applicable to some snow conditions (similar to skiing on really hard melt/freeze or icy snow). From a technical standpoint, there is nothing you can't do on TrailSkate™ you can do on traditional pavement roller skis.

You would think using a running shoe would feel odd but that aspect didn't bother our testing crew. Certainly not having to purchase XC boots is one less obstacle to expanding the potential market for this product. The makers say that many XC skiers simply leave the top strap unbuckled to provide additional forward flex, otherwise the provided strap system seems perfectly fine.

We've had some feedback sessions with the makers and have encouraged them to try and find a way to put a classic-style ratchet into the wheels to allow users to switch from skate to classic. This feature is a strong suit to models from other brands and would open TrailSkate™ up to single track. The makers did show us prototypes with new carbon fiber platforms and other enhancements that should drop the weight even more soon.

The only remaining question for our test was to compare this product head-to-head with the V-2 Aero, Elpex, and other off-road models in the same terrain situations. If someone gets info you'd like to share with head-to-head testing, please contact us.

Bottomline: TrailSkate™ is an exciting product worth keeping your eyes on and certainly worth a demo.

Retail price is $349.00US. Check out the Gate Skate website for complete product information.


EZbench Waxing Benches


A brand spanking new product coming on to the XC market this fall is the EZbench portable waxing benches produced in Redmond, Oregon.

The two model line offers a level of price, portability, and function that will be hard to beat by existing lines. Both benches are made of high-quality wood with steel hardware.

The Portable bench (retail: $59.00US for a pair) offers two short support structures that can be clamped to very nearly any surface. Official product description...Light weight and sturdy, each half is less than 1 foot long so you can toss them in your ski bag and wax almost anywhere.

The Benchtop model (retail: $129.00US) lays out roughly the same size as other benches but can fold in half for transport/storage (a nifty feature). Official product description..."Our benchtop model offers solid support for the full length of the ski. Sturdy enough to span between stands, or countertops, yet it folds in the middle for easier storage or travel. It adjusts 3 ways to fit almost any nordic ski."

xcskiworld.com has had a chance to view prototype models and these are indeed some really cool creatures. Both models offer the ability to adjust angles and actual support positions to accommodate different sizes of skiers (particularly important for teams) and both models are also enormously easy to transport compared to most existing steel or wooden versions on the market. The portable model really makes sense for the casual skier that doesn't want to dedicate a portion of their shop/garage for waxing all winter and/or the hardcore skier that wants an easy/lightweight support for road trips.

Order information is on the EZbench website right now. Dealers and wholesalers are actively encouraged to contact the producer. Check it out.


DVD: Unlimited


Those talented, techno-endurance folks up at Canada's xczone.com have cranked out yet another cutting edge product this fall. This time the two disk "Unlimited" DVD.

xczone says...Unlimited Skiiing DVD is the most complete instructional and motivational package for nordic skiing, ever produced. Endorsed by Cross Country Canada, Biathlon Canada and the Canadian National Coaching Program. Featuring music by Sum41, Roch Voisine, Dean Batstone and Drastik, and the talent of two-dozen Olympic and World-Class athletes in a variety of outdoor and adventure sports including Nordic skiing, trail running, triathlon, inline, mountain biking, rowing, telemark skiing, para-gliding, roller skiing, cycling, paddling, climbing and adventure racing.

Elite athletes and aficionados together share their love and spiritual attachment to outdoor activity and the land. The producers have sought to define this sub-culture from behind the lens of a camera. Filmed across North America in Digtal Video and 16mm, trekking where few have gone before. The central thread is bound around cross-country skiing and a lifestyle that transcends the seasons.

We've checked out a healthy amount of this product (there is a LOT there, believe us) and it is unquestionably a "next step" in both Banff festival-style XC film (of which xczone has produced the lion's share) as well as a worthwhile interactive competitor to the European "Perfect Skating" (featured in Summer 2003).

The music and image portion includes amazing footage and a driving soundtrack one usually finds more in X-Games than XC. Our favorite aspect of the DVD was the seasonal transitions and the comparisons between different endurance sports...still with a constant focus on the world's greatest sport. Very original ideas at work here!

Double DVD Package with extensive DVD-ROM content and special features. Run Time 4+ Hours. $30 USD ($40CAD) FORMATTED AND CODED FOR NORTH AMERICA ONLY. (SPECIAL EXPORT VERSION IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST)

Now available from www.xczone.com


Summer 2003

CD: Perfect Skating


A new educational tool, Perfect Skating is a very interactive CD product offering extensive technique and training help in the form of over 200 videos plus text outlines of high-end coaching tips.

Authors Dr. Walter Minatti and Dr. Stefan Lindinger are Austrian-based researchers and coaches that have clearly put in a ton of work on this product. All text is available in English and video shots range from unique footage of different exercises to Olympic race action.

You can view screen shots of the product by visiting www.perfectskating.com.

NEW this fall: Special orders for Perfect Skating can now be shipped from Europe to North American destinations (for both individuals and teams) but the producers continue to look for a USA and/or North American distributor...contact Michael Kirchler at email:perfectskating@aon.at if interested.


Book: The Wimp's Guide to Cross-Country Skiing

Although it actually first appeared last year, our editorial copy of The Wimp's Guide to Cross-Country Skiing unfortunatly fell victim to the many piles of "stuff" in our office...thus this belated addition to Hot and New.

Offering up a decidely different take on our favorite sport, author James B. Kobak, Jr. has created an amusing read for diehard XC fans and a fantastic gift for skiers and non-skiers alike.

The back cover notes say nearly all you need to know.

Written by someone whose credentials include falling into a Norwegian crevasse and having to be helicoptered out of the White Mountains through sheer clumsiness, this short but punchy book will be a delight to beginner and expert alike, to say nothing of armchair athletes. It makes a perfect gift for many occasions. The author, James B. Kobak, Jr., a New York author and attorney, has published humor and satire in national and regional publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, Travel & Leisure, Harvard Magazine, American Way, TWA, Pace, Adirondack and the New York Law Journal, among others. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Virginia Law School and an Adirondack 46er. He has combined his trenchant wit with years of failure as a cross-county skier to provide a uniquely droll and readable perspective on this increasingly popular form of sport and exercise—or, as Mr. Kobak prefers to think of it, torture.

We could add that Wimp's Guide is sort of the "Bizarro World" anti-xcskiworld.com...the "educational" material (often hilariously presented) being everything that sport promoters try hard NOT to tell the world!

You can find Wimp's Guide at www.1stbooks.com. Check it out.


Spring 2003

Atomic Applies Structure In The Top Sheet

Atomic Ski has found that placing structure in the top sheet of their high end classic and skate skis improves the flex and overall speed. "We have been putting very deep structure in the bases of our athletes skis for the end of the year marathons in warm places like Italy and France," stated Atomic's International Race Director, Peter Juric. "We have flex machine that measures pressure at every single centimeter along a ski. We were curious how so deep a structure might effect flex. So, we test before and after we give a ski deep structure. We find that flex is smoother and more even in a ski after we give it deep structure. Obviously, we cannot do this for all conditions. Skis in normal to cold snow conditions will be slow if they have deep structure in base. But then we say maybe we place the structure on the sidewalls and very top of the ski so we have fast flex with smooth base for normal conditions. So we put structure in top sheet before we put in mold on ski. We test the flex pattern and the skis with deep structure in the top sheet have a much better flex for going fast than skis with no structure on top. We call the new technology SPEED SKIN and we use this for our new RS: 11 for skating and RC: 11 for classic. The structure is off the snow so it helps the ski in all conditions."

Atomic's US Nordic Director, Rick Halling, shares Juric's excitement. "The US athletes we sponsor have tested SPEED SKIN and they are very pleased with the performance. This technology should be a big help for the US Ski Team when they go to the World Championships." 2002 Olympic Gold medallist Mikhail Ivanov pointed out, "This new top sheet makes skis faster for all snow, you can feel it is better for both skate and classic."


Rossignol Nordic – What’s new for 2003/2004

In Racing, Rossignol plans to introduce all new ski models with breakthrough technology. X-ium, Delta and Max model skating skis will feature Rossignol’s revolutionary “X-Plate”. The innovative X-Plate, which is integrated into the ski under the binding area, is designed to transfer the skier’s power directly to the edge of the ski and improves the regulation of the camber. The plate adds quick transfer of the skier’s energy direct to the Triax sidewalls for improved push off.

Rossignol also redefined its X-ium Skating models. The X-ium line will feature the new F1, F2 and F3 models. Rossignol’s skating concept focuses on the combined effect of fitness level, snow conditions and terrain. The new X-ium offerings provide a skier with the fastest racing ski based on the skier’s speed on the snow for that day’s situation. The fitness level of the skier can be a factor, as well as terrain and snow type. Rossignol designed the F1 (Sidecut 42 tip / 45 forebody / 43 waist / 43 tail) specifically for hard snow and for when flat-out speed is required, such as when sprinting or racing short distances. For mixed snow conditions and moderate to fast speeds, Rossignol offers the F2 (Sidecut 42 tip / 45 forebody / 43 waist / 43 tail), which is the most versatile ski in the X-ium line-up. With a new thin profile and lightweight design, the F3 is suited for soft snow and racing at lower speeds. The F3 (Sidecut 39 tip / 44 forebody / 42 waist / 42 tail) is the most forgiving model in the X-ium family, which makes it ideally suited for skiers who are working on their technique, as well as their physique.

Rossignol’s answer to ski shops that want the lightest weight, second price point ski on the market, is the Delta. Delta Skating skis feature the new X-Plate technology along with the Nomex honeycomb core and high molecular base found in the higher priced X-ium.

Dramatically upgraded, the Max series includes the X-Plate, a high molecular base and the new sidecut (40 tip / 45 fore body / 43 waist / 43 tail) that is similar to the X-ium F3 model. This makes the Max Skating model super light (610 grams / 180 cm) and fast. The Max Classic shares the same Cobra cut (41 tip / 45 forebody / 43 waist / 43 tail) and high molecular base with the X-ium Classic. High school racers who need fast, light skis at an affordable price will find the Max Classic to be the best value available on the market.


XC-Ice

Inventor Odd Gunnar Burmo from Gjerdrum, Norway has come up with a nifty new product that he hopes will soon have skiers in places like America's often snow-starved midwest actually hoping for cold but snowless winter periods.

XC-Ice is essentially a dual-blade ice skate with a platform (ski) instead of a fixed boot. That platform (similar to a light roller ski shaft) has enough room to attach a regular ski binding...thus allowing the user to clip in their normal XC ski boots.

Burmo says, "Ice is the fastest surface. No snow is not longer an obstruction for skiing in winter. XC-ice is perfect for icy lakes, rivers, canals...even ice-covered roads! Unlike typical ice skates, this product's "skis" have springiness, which means power when connected to dual-ice blades. Cracks in the sheet of ice are not a problem, because of the dual-blades, which are connected in a front and rear coupling assembly.

A finalist award winner at the 2003 ISPO Winter Market Show in Munich, Germany earlier this spring, Burmo says he is currently looking for a North American investor/partner to develop production capacity for the XC-Ice on this side of the Atlantic.

Find out more about this product at home.no.net/oburmo


Mt Bachelor, Oregon Debuts Nordic Freestyle Terrain Park (XC FTP)

Attempting to attract a new generation of XC enthusiasts, Mt Bachelor Nordic Center outside of Bend, Oregon debuted a new Nordic Freestyle Terrain Park (XC FTP) this spring on a formerly black diamond trail near the main trailhead.

Mt Bachelor spokesman Chris Johnston says, "Everyone has seen the growth of terrain parks in Alpine ski areas. How many Nordic centers are building freestyle terrain parks? Other than a few rollers and whoop-dee-dos we know of no other area that has a true XC terrain park. With easy access from our Nordic Center, the XC FTP is a quarter mile of table top jumps, spines, rollers and whoop-dee-dos. The alpine skiers from the Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation have been spending their afternoons on skate skis ripping the new XC FTP.

Find out more at www.mtbachelor.com


Winter 2003

HelX From Toko Wax

Although no longer quite as new at the time of posting as it was earlier this season, the new HeIX liquid wax from Toko is still considerably "hot" in the high-end racing community. Appearing as a small bottle with two pads, the concept of HelX (according to Toko USA) is to spread an even uniform layer of Fluorocarbon throughout the ski base, even inside the structure. A liquid application is the best way to accomplish this (before this, the best we have been able to do is rub the bloc lightly over the ski and polish).

Application is quite simple and this alone is going to thrill many citizen skiers. Simply buff the ski with one of the supplied pads, spray (yes, spray) HeIX uniformly down the ski, wait to dry (more on that below) and then buff with the second pad. Voila! Instant rocket skis?!

After a couple months of testing by Toko, racers around the country, and also xcskiworld.com, some conclusions can be drawn. Number one, when applied correctly and in the right conditions (i.e. the wetter the better), HeIX is fast...sometimes wicked fast.

Number two, the key seems to be using HeIX as a final layer over a typical flurocarbon application (Toko recommends their Jetstream, of course, but we've had success using other fluor brands under it as well). You can use HeIX alone, but your best results will come from using it over a flurocarbon application. Before you say "well duh, anything will seem fast over flurocarbon", remember that the point of HeIX is to give you a universal fluro application...into areas that no block or powder will reach without several applications and tons of time. This adds up to, at least when flurocarbon is the money wax, a very, very good thing.

Number three (and perhaps most important), skiers that have tried HeIX as well as Toko USA boss Ian Harvey will tell you that on the HelX packaging it says to let HelX dry, but it also says that it only takes 3 minutes. Unfortunately this isn't quite true...it takes longer. Harvey is going to have Toko extend this timeline on next year's packaging and currently recommends that skiers wait at least 15-30 minutes before buffing out the dried HeIX. Overnight drying is also recommended when possible.

At a retail price right around (or past) the $100US point, HelX isn't going to be cheap. But the positive benefit may very well be worth it for some skiers in the right conditions. One pleasant surprise that we have found in testing is that careful application is yielding more pair applications than the 12-15 XC pairs on the package. 15-17 might be a better estimate (something in your favor).

Find out more about this product at www.tokous.com


Summit Systems Timers

Summit systems has introduced its SRT 1000 handheld timer with 9 external timing inputs and 4 line x 20 character LCD display. It stores up to 10,000 events and has a large 21 button keypad for easier data entry. This timing system was designed for XC club-friendly use and has been used in numerous major races including the 2002 Paralympics, the 2002 Gold cup, the 02/03 NorAm Season Opener, and the 2002 World Cup B Combined. Includes a Windows application to transfer data to spreadsheet or database.

2003 Junior Olympic organizer John Estle (a guy who has seen a LOT of timing systems over the years) had this to say about the Summit products...The timing hardware and software, from Summit Systems (Ernie Page) of Salt Lake City worked flawlessly at our January junior qualifier (with approximately 250-275 entries each day). This system is so robust that even when the operation of a vacuum cleaner in the timing building during the race caused the system to re-boot, not a beat was skipped.

Now available from www.summitsystemstimers.com


Fall 2002

Beckie Scott CD

Share Beckie Scott's Gold Medal performance at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics. Get the inside track on her preparation and behind the scenes photos and interviews. Plus show your support for North America's top XC skier in the process! The CD-ROM contains 17 Quicktime MPEG 4 Movies, 100+ photos and 80 pages of text including: A Biography of Beckie, A Life and Times autobiography, World Cup Diary, Race Results

xcskiworld.com: Filled with good stuff, this CD is like a digital scrapbook covering one of the most remarkable athletic careers in history. A particularly fantastic gift for junior skiers with stars in their eyes.

The cost is $12USD ($15 CAD)...best of all, the proceeds from this CD-ROM go to Beckie Scott !

Now available from www.xczone.com


Book: MOMENTUM -- Chasing The Olympic Dream

Written by 1992 Olympian and current U.S. program assistant coach Pete Vordenberg. An inside look into life as an elite cross-country skier. Out Your Backdoor Press describes the book as "the most interesting picture to date on what it's like to ski - and live - really fast."

Vordenberg says: "We have seen the Olympics through the filter of mass media. On television each Olympic life begins and ends between commercial breaks. Lives conclude in Olympic coverage either in a moment of joy and glory, or head-hanging defeat. But at the edge of the screen there is another figure. When the camera zooms out you can see him, almost too small to recognize. MOMENTUM: Chasing The Olympic Dream is the story of the figure at the edge of your screen.

This story, a voyage following the pursuit of my dream to win an Olympic gold medal, travels the world and crosses from childhood to the precipitous edge of adulthood. It shares the quixotic humor, excitement, and poignancy inherent in the pursuit of dreams, exploring the themes of friendship, balance, choice, struggle, failure, and success. It is not a retelling of the little engine that could. Rather, it is about why the little engine even tried."

xcskiworld.com: Those last two lines above really tell the story. Vordenberg paints a worthy picture of the eternal "why" that surrounds endurance athletes striving, sweating, and dreaming out of the limelight, heck, pretty much in total darkness. Required reading for any skier planning a quest of their own (there is more than just the Olympics folks) anytime soon.

MOMENTUM: chasing the olympic dream is a paperback of 200 pages with lots of B&W photos. It is available at a 25% off pre-pub special of $15 postpaid (reg. $17.95 + shpg.), and will be out around Christmas. Order your copy and one for each of the skiers or dreamers you know, through www.outyourbackdoor.com.


Book: No Pain, No Gain?

Written by former U.S. Olympic Coach Richard Taylor, the sub-title for "No Pain, No Gain?" says "Athletes, Parents and Coaches Can Reshape American Sport Culture" which pretty much sums up how far Taylor reaches in this first-class resource. In an attempt to answer many of the vexing questions in the U.S. endurance sport community as to why we aren't doing better, Taylor turns to updated international research in many fields and in many sports. He then takes that research and adds his own conversations with international ski notables over the years as well as extensive experiences in the sport at all levels.

Rarely, perhaps never, has an individual with the Taylor's depth and experience in the endurance world...let alone XC skiing...put together a written work of this kind. Although many younger athletes might miss the bigger picture offered here, certainly all XC parents and coaches can benefit from a careful study of "No Pain, No Gain?".

Notable for adult skiers, AXCS Chairman Richard Hunt was reluctant to part with the xcskiworld.com review copy because how useful Hunt found Taylor's ideas for his own endurance sport training. A world-class master cyclist and skier, Hunt says "I think the best thing about the book is how well it integrates the latest sports science information with historical trends and facts. Taylor didn't just make this stuff up overnight. I'd recommend the book to a lot of my bike and ski buddies for their own training."

"No Pain, No Gain?" is printed by Mechanic Street Press. For individual copies, send $30 plus $5 shipping/handling to:
Mechanic Street Press
PO Box 16
Bethel, ME 04217

6 or more books are $26.50 each (plus $3 s/h). Maine residents add 5% sales tax. Contact taylorr@gouldacademy.org for information on larger quantities.


Book: Best Groomed Cross Country Ski Trails In Oregon

Written by Mike Bogar, a long-time volunteer for the Oregon Nordic Club. "Best Trails In Oregon", like it's 3rd edition companion for Washington, is somewhat misnamed in that both books cover far more than just groomed XC trails. Bogar's Oregon guide is just about as comprehensive as you can get covering not only the regularly-groomed options throughout Oregon but also dozens of designated ski trails that are not regularly groomed. He's even gone so far as to recommend several good Oregon beaches for sand skiing!

Obviously a very specific XC purchase, "Best Trails In Oregon" (and/or the companion Washington edition written by Vicky Spring & Tom Kirkendall) is a wonderful gift for any skier in the Pacific Northwest and/or skiers considering a vacation to the region in the near future.

Price on the book is $16.95 (US) with ordering direct from the publisher, The Mountaineers Books, by visiting www.mountaineersbooks.org.


Roller Skis: Pro Ski's New Roadline Tech Classic

Although roller skis might seem a far-fetched holiday gift, for many skiers (more than we'd all like) either because of fickle snow conditions or a living away from snow regions, roller skiing is actually a year round reality. Thus, roller ski gifts are very much on the wish list!

A staple of Scandinavian national teams for years, Pro Ski has come out with a new classic rollerski this past year that simulates snow skiing a cut above other classic models. A narrow front wheel makes this ski nimble and also reduces the swing weight. Since the rachet is on the narrow front wheel, it has less friction on the pavement. This means that the ski will release from the "grip" phase of the stride earlier - reducing the possibility of developing a "late kick". The rear wheel is a standard combi wheel size, meaning lots of stability and just the right speed.

xcskiworld.com: We've tested this ski with a wide ability range the past several months and can back up Pro Ski claims as to the training and technical value of this model. This is the first classic roller ski to allow an intermediate level (on up) classic skier to diagonal stride without worrying a whole lot about reinforcing poor technical habits. Although you still have a rachet (meaning better kick than most on-snow situations), the design of the Roadline Tech is the closest feel to real classic skiing our testers had yet experienced on roller skis. From a coaching perspective, both weight transfer and hip drive were noticably improved on the Tech versus regular combi models.


Roller Skis: Dynaskate

This is the perfect gift for your special XC buddy that absolutely needs the hottest, coolest, latest, and greatest new thing. It's so new that it won't even be available until spring. It's so hot that only 50 pairs will be produced in the first production run.

Dynaskate is the product of Norwegian developer Rune Dønnestad who (lucky for us) was kind enough to send xcskiworld.com an advanced prototype. Our late Fall 2002 testing showed that Dynaskate is going to be a very, very, very viable force in the XC market.

In simplest terms, what makes the Dynaskate unique are two custom spring and hinge systems for both the front and back wheels. The spring and hinge systems give the Dynaskate not only a built-in shock absorption system but also a subtle camber flex that you might not even realize is there until after you go back to traditional roller skis or get on snow. You know all those little balance corrections and body position "issues" even very experienced skiers go through in the early season? On our first trip out on the Dynaskate, it was exactly the same feel as an early season ski session. Although the subtlety might be lost on novice skiers, technically-developed skiers and folks that log a lot of time skate roller skiing will no doubt notice the difference...and very much want a pair of these suckers!

Using a sleek custom shaft that is several inches shorter than comparable models in other brands, the Dynaskate can accomodate at least a couple different types of narrow roller ski wheels in a pretty standard axle/fork set-up. Rune tells us that they are looking at using even lighter wheels in the first production run than the models we have on our demo pair...something that would likely bring the Dynaskate well under the total weight of high end models with other brands.

How do you order a pair?

The plan for 2003 is to produce only 50 pairs of Dynaskate (first series). From the start Rune will only sell directly to customers, primarily on the Norwegian market. However, he says "I will sell to anybody, anywhere - but outside Norway payment in advance is required". Skis can be pre-mounted with bindings of your choice with additional fees.

All orders will be taken by e-mail via www.dynasports.com. The price should be about USD 400, plus shipping (about USD 70), without US tax.


Summer 2002

Vasa Trainer Foot Platform

Fitness Guru, sports physiologist, author and inventor of the acclaimed Vasa Trainer, Mr. Rob Sleamaker, announced earlier this summer the debut of the new Vasa Trainer "Foot Platform". Since 1988, the versatile Vasa Trainer has been the sports-specific training choice of discriminating Olympic and world champion coaches, swimmers, surfers, skiers, triathletes, rowers and athletes from many other sports. The Foot Platform is the latest innovation that transforms this highly effective functional training machine into a complete "athlete's gym".

As the newest improvement to the widely used Vasa Trainer equipment, the "Foot Platform" expands the functionality and appeal of the Vasa Trainer for athletic, fitness and sports-medicine professionals. It allows the athletic enthusiast to perform essential leg exercises including squats, lunges, plyometric vertical leaps and powerful starts. Incorporating the new accessory allows athletes to more effectively perform plyometric leg push offs, lunges, calf raises and aerobic total body exercises.

The Vasa Trainer is recognized and utilized by thousands of universities, colleges and clubs throughout the U.S. as well as the world's top triathletes, swimmers, surfers and trainers. The Vasa Trainer is a versatile sports-specific device that provides over 150 multi-plane, functional exercises using body weight as the primary resistance. It is designed to condition the entire body by building strength, power, speed and endurance.

Of primary interest to skiers, the Vasa Trainer has been recognized as the "gold standard" in rollerboards, one of the most ski specific tools for XC ski upper body strength.For more information, please visit www.vasatrainer.com.



ntune: Engineered Ski Tuning

Former NENSA Program Director Zach Caldwell has opened up a new mobile (and mail order) ski grinding service based in Vermont. ntune joins a small list of XC-specific grinding services spread across North America. Unique to this venture, however, is a mobile truck that Caldwell plans to take nationwide at various times of the year...thus allowing teams and groups of skiers to skip the cumbersome and hassle-filled step of sending skis to remote locations for grinding. The mobile service also will allow Caldwell to provide fresh grinds literally the night before races at major events. A very cool development and one sure to command attention next season.

The ntune website is worth a visit for some of the interesting stories in the development of this new service. We particularly enjoyed the story about finding and obtaining the ntune truck. Worth a visit!



Fitness Book: Ready, Set, GO!

Author Phil Campbell has come up with this new workbook that features the sub-headline "Synergy Fitness for Time-Crunched Adults". That pretty much sums up our take on this effort. Campbell has done a very nice job in providing a practical fitness guide that "covers the bases" from a balancing a fitness plan to nutrition to time constraints. Of note, we particularly liked his emphasis on quick, yet effective workout models that have a great deal of promise for folks struggling to have enough time for workouts (who isn't?).

Another strong suit is the plethora of graphics and photos...particularly with stretching and strength exercises. It's also a nice touch to see Campbell use almost exclusively adults in these photos which may help "sell" the message that fitness is a lifelong pursuit!

Though not written specifically for XC skiing and/or racing, this is a resource worth looking into if you are in the market for a guide to general fitness. Visit the book's website for more info.


Morgan XC Waxing Profile Bench

From product website..."The Morgan XC waxing profile is a rock solid waxing bench. Constructed from native hardwood it provides dependable use season after season. Each profile is easily adjustable for different length skis. It is designed with built in clamps that firmly hold the ski, while the non-slip feet provide rock free waxing. This bench is a must for scraping and rilling. Unfinished wood.

xcskiworld.com: We have not tried this product but the photos on the website and product description make this an interesting item to check out. Visit the website for more info or write morganwaxbench@waxbench.com.


One Week in March: A Manual for Prospective Collegiate Nordic Skiers

Hudson, Wisconsin -- When two of the high-school athletes Corey Coogan coaches began looking for a college with Nordic skiing, she was reminded how difficult the college search is for dedicated Nordic skiers. Because they cannot consult guidebooks like Peterson's, skier's attempts to locate college ski teams are haphazard. In addition, athletes and their parents are forced to navigate the unfamiliar world of NCAA eligibility, recruiting, and athletic scholarships. In response to this problem, Coogan has written the book: One Week in March: A Manual for Prospective Collegiate Nordic Skiers.

One Week in March is designed to meet the needs of a variety of skiers, from recreational ones to U.S. Ski Team hopefuls. It leads athletes and their parents step-by-step through the process of choosing a school and ski team. The book includes information on making initial contact with the schools' head coaches, visiting the schools and teams, seeking athletic scholarships, and registering with NCAA. Readers find contact information for EVERY collegiate Nordic ski team or club in the United States, as well in in-depth profiles of the nation's top programs. Coverage of the 2001 NCAA and USCSA Championships, articles on European skiers competing in NCAA and Title IX's effect on collegiate Nordic skiing round out One Week in March.

Corey Coogan is Head Coach of the Nordic Ski Team at the Convent of the Visitation School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. As a former Maine State Champion for Fryeburg Academy high school, and graduate of Gould Academy, Coogan's own college search brought her to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. There she earned a B.A. in English in 1999. A devoted racer, she competes for Alpina/Madshus Racing, Finn Sisu ski shop, and Gear West Ski, Bike, and Run shop.

xcskiworld.com has checked out this self-published 75-page manual, complete with pictures, and strongly recommends the product for any high school athlete, parent, or coach. The depth of the information provided would take weeks searching on the Internet to assemble plus the many great articles and descriptions make this worth every penny. Our hope is that the manual will become an annual tradition!

Contact: Corey Coogan, Author
P.O. Box 1358
Hudson WI 54016
oneweek@rockminepress.com
Website


2001/2002 Season Featured Products/Services

Crosskate

For years, if not decades, skiers around the world have craved a viable way to simulate all the wonderful aspects of XC skiing during the non-snow months and year round in non-snow areas of the world. Traditional roller skis have obviously filled a large part of the void up until now and have evolved in terms of wheel speed, control, weight, etc. such that when a skier has perfect rolling conditions the experience is pretty darn close to the real thing. The drawback here is that huge "if" regarding perfect rolling conditions. Whereas a few lucky souls have plenty of multi-user paths or rural roads with pristine pavement and active terrain (i.e. plenty of short to moderate up and downs without death screamer downhills), most mere mortals struggle with a few miles of OK locations and generally boring terrain.

Even for the lucky folks with great spots to ski, the biggest weakness to traditional roller skis has always been the significant issue of braking. A couple brands sport "speed reducers" which can help slow (not stop) things to a manageable speed on long downhills. V-2 brand also has a brake system which straps on the user's leg. Even with these innovations, lack of a way to brake and stop is the number one concern of the average person when polls are done with non-roller skiers within the ski community.

Now on problem number one (locations) some strides have been made to improve things. Over the past several years a new breed of roller ski has emerged with pneumatic tires designed to allow rolling on very rough pavement as well as hard packed dirt roads. These models have generally met with positive reviews but they have a weakness in that they have a relatively low clearance which means true "off road" rolling can sometimes be a hazardous enterprise. They also continue to battle the braking issue and wheel speed is slower than many top skiers would like. Still, up until this fall the models sold by V-2 and Elpex have led the way in the off road roller ski category. That lead may now be in jeopardy.

Crosskate is the new player in the roller ski world but in a way that perhaps has never been seen before. Unlike the traditional roller ski brands, Crosskate has borrowed heavily from the mountain bike and inline skate worlds to create a truly innovative design.

In a nutshell, the Crosskate consists of two very large (by roller ski standards) pneumatic tires on either end of a hefty "V-shaped" shaft. The front tire is racheted allowing for classic kick. Instead of running underneath the skier's foot, with the Crosskate the shaft runs to the outside of the boot with a "binding" extending sideways out from the V. Also unique, the boot used with the Crosskate is part of the entire skate...just like an inline skate. Literally "floating" in the air, the boot fits much like an inline skate but provides a surprising amount of flex for classic skiing. Best of all, the boot and shaft have a very-mountain-bike-like brake system that allows the user to brake at will simply by leaning back.

Rather than try and write endless paragraphs about the design, it is best that readers check out the beast via the official website for yourselves. A quick word of warning, at first glance XC purists will likely have a "what in the heck is that" response. Our advice is to check out the videos on the website and your doubts will start to fade.

OK, it looks cool but does it work?

This past summer xcskiworld.com had a chance to try a prototype of the Crosskate and we can safely say that the potential is there for this product to be huge. On the same hard packed dirt or gravel surfaces, the Crosskate had significantly greater wheel speed and obstacle clearance than any other off road roller ski we've tried. The experience on really fast dirt roads or dirt trail downhills is so impressive that comparisons can be made in "fun factor" to crust cruising on skis or even mountain biking on single track...honest. With the shaft on the side and the huge pneumatic wheels you can clear roots, rocks, etc. without any problems and even when you do hit things you ride right over them nearly every time.

And the brake? The brake is flat out ultra cool city Jack. It takes a few minutes to get used to but once you get the idea of sitting back and engaging it you can take on terrain no other roller ski would be safe on. The technique is very similar to using an in-line rubber skid but the execution with disc brakes is far superior. Suffice it to say that nothing on the market today could convince average folks to start rolling more than this brake system.

Now there are some issues that were still being worked out with the prototype we tried. For one thing, the Crosskate weight was substantial which made climbing much more practical with classic technique than skating. Designers have since let us know that the first versions to hit the market will be 2 pounds lighter which should help significantly. New wheels are also being offered that would allow skiers to ski with special "road wheels"...important since the off road wheels noticeably slowed down on pavement. The comparison to mountain biking is also apt in that the Crosskate won't give you max speed on grass or soft dirt/sand (same as mountain bikes).

Bottomline: The years and years of waiting for the perfect off road roller ski may or may not be over quite yet but Crosskate is a big step forward in technology and innovation providing the closest thing we've tried to the "big breakthrough". Give them a try!

Inga-lami Limited Print and Inga fra Varteig (book)

xcskiworld.com did a short news item this spring on the Inga-lami website which was brought to our attention recently. Shortly after the news posting we were sent some samples of the product line of this unique organization and were sufficiently impressed to include a follow-up mention in "Hot and New".

Inga-lami International is an organization dedicated to celebrating and encouraging the paths of women through events, publications, products and art forms. 10% of proceeds from product sales go to charitable organizations. What is of considerable interest to the XC world is the product line this organization has to offer.

The "Flight of an Infant King" limited print is a high-quality reproduction of the orginal chalk drawing by Knud Larsen Bergslien depicting the legendary Birkebeinere (translated as "Birchleg"...and yes, that is the correct spelling) escape in 1206 with the infant future King Hakon of Norway. The saga of the two soldiers saving the infant king by skiing across a mountain range in the dead of winter is commemorated by Birkebeiner ski races in Norway, the U.S., and around the world.

Whereas xcskiworld.com editorial staff cannot begin to pretend to be art experts, the limited print in question would make an exceptionally cool gift for any XC ski afficiado. Any avid fan of the American Birkebeiner should seriously consider looking into this print for your home or office as it would give new meaning to your participation in North America's greatest ski event. Framed versions are also offered.

Also notable from Inga-lami is the book Inga fra Varteig which documents the life and struggles of the mother of King Hakon Hakonsson...the infant king saved by the Birkebeiner saga. Translated from a century-old Norwegian version, the prose takes some getting used to but once you adjust you'll find amazing stories of the people that formed the cradle of skiing.

For complete information on both the limited print and Inga fra Varteig book visit www.inga-lami.com.