Nordic Skiing Climbing Technique Part 2

Climbing is tough work. You must be mentally tough. If the weather is cold, wet, or slow, the more miserable the conditions the better. You must love hills. As mentioned previously 50% of the time is spent climbing. Remember the mantra I had you say, "I LOVE HILLS"! Always push over the top and rest on the way back down in a high tuck.

Climbing is helped tremendously by a great power to weight ratio. Racing weight is tough to achieve however. How do you know when you are close to racing weight? For the man you first will have ripped legs, then the 6 pack will show and then finally corded muscles on the butt, if flexed. 
The female racer will first have a 6 pack, then ripped legs. Hopefully you can lift the skin off the leg, with a cm., and no more between your fingers.
If you can maintain a healthy weight of say five pounds over racing weight the rest of the season, staying healthy and uninjured, that’s great.

You tested your wax before the class, and made sure that you had spare wax both a warmer and softer wax in your pocket, in case you were slipping or sticking. Climbing is a trade off between good grip vs good glide. No two people will agree.

You learned what it is like to climb in close quarters of each other. Being able to pass is a learned craft. You will encounter people who will be in front of you that are far slower and you must learn to get past them easily with next to no effort.
Slower class mates make for learning how to pass, and small loops keeps the practice coming.
That's why narrow running herringbone's and running diagonal side step are so important. Learning to diagonal straight up where others switch to a slower gear, is a time saver, too. However think of the long race and save your arms, where needed for the whole race.

Now as racers techniques change, some are now going with no kick wax and they just double pole everything. Be sure to do a lot of practice before you try this approach in a race. The Birkie is a roller coaster course, so you can gain a lot of distance up a hill before you have to even double pole.


Of course what goes up must come down.

Many times you came down the same hill around the curve, looking for the tracks. Each time your speed was a bit quicker. Your legs were bent more, hands stayed out low and in front, and you snow ploughed less. High speed step turns rather then slowing down was the norm. There were people in front of you going down, and your fellow students were trying to beat you, as you skied down side by side. There were people coming up on the side of the trail at the same time and it was mostly dark, due to some lights being burnt out. Screams of fright the first time, and then concentration came after that.
High speed tuck turns comes with lots of practice. Keep those feet moving quickly.
Always be thinking, looking ahead, and tell your heart rate to drop. Breathe normally trying not to hyperventilate. :)

You were encouraged to FEEL where the fastest snow is. Does the snow have the fastest glide in the classic tracks, pole tracks, centre or the right far side of skate tracks, all the while watching for other skiers. You were told to practice drafting which is still uncomfortable for some of you. Staying within a half a ski or closer is what you need to learn. Always check your shoulders before changing your line!

Well the snow is melting and will become slower for a few days. Consider rilling your skis if you want, as it will be faster in the soaking wet snow. 

Have fun, be safe, go ski.