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Nordic Gear
Nordic Skiing Techniques - the Downhill Ride!
Unless you get a thrill from crashing and burning, you might want to learn how to control your descent on gentle inclines before you attempt hills! As you begin, relax, bend your knees and keep your feet shoulder-width apart. See that your weight is on the forward two-thirds of your feet. This gives you a stable center of gravity and helps absorb shock when you hit any rough spots in the trail. Keep your hands in front and below waist level in order to maintain this weight-forward stance.
Snowplow or Wedge
This is the basic method of slowing your skis down on the descent. You want your skis to be shaped like an A or a piece of pizza, with tips nearly together and tails pointing outward. As you slide downhill, you'll angle your feet just enough to get the ski edges to bite into the snow. The more you push, the slower you'll go. Make sure to maintain even pressure along both feet, though. Uneven pressure could make you turn when you don't intend to.
Half Wedge in the Track
You can still use the wedge, in modified form, even if you're skiing in groomed tracks. The trick is to lift one ski out of the track while you're moving and place it in at an angle to the track, making a "half wedge." Try to make the lifting motion smooth to avoid catching the ski, and quick, so you won't have to balance on one leg for too long. Then gently apply pressure to the inside edge of the angled ski to slow yourself down.
Wedge Turns
Start out in a snowplow wedge. To turn right, gradually flatten the right ski while increasing pressure on the inside edge of the left ski. To turn left, reverse the motions. Pretty easy!
Telemark Turns
This graceful, flowing turn is a more advanced Nordic maneuver. It's best done with specific telemark
ski gear
, but it's also possible to make telemark turns on backcountry touring gear. Begin with skis hip-width apart and knees and ankles slightly flexed. Slide one ski backwards and raise that heel so you can press down through the ball of the foot. Keep your upper body straight and sink down until knees are bent. You should have your weight over the ball and heel of the forward foot. The rear ski's tip should come partway between the tip and the binding of the forward ski. As you bend the leading leg and stretch out the trailing one, your upper body moves up and down and a turning rhythm is created. A combination of wedge turns and telemark position is a good way to practice. Eventually, the goal is to link one beautiful "tele" turn to the next!
About the Author
Samet Yahya Bilir is is a freelance writer who writes about recreation and sports topics such as
Nordic skiing styles
and
learning recurve archery
.
PSIA-AASI Go With a Pro: Granny Gear for Skate Skiing