Comments on: Narrower Track Will Give Better Technique http://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/ FasterSkier: Cross-Country Ski, Biathlon, and Nordic Combined Racing, Training and News Fri, 25 May 2012 15:10:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Patrick Stinson » Blog Archive » Too Much Strength in Today’s Traininghttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1362 Patrick Stinson » Blog Archive » Too Much Strength in Today’s Training Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:09:14 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1362 [...] Big Capasity is the Secret To Team Trøndelag Narrower Track Will Give Better Technique [...] [...] Big Capasity is the Secret To Team Trøndelag Narrower Track Will Give Better Technique [...]

]]> By: nexerhttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1208 nexer Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:32:27 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1208 I think you could the track itself wider. Just decrease the distance between the inside walls so skiers can get some play inside the track. I think you could the track itself wider. Just decrease the distance between the inside walls so skiers can get some play inside the track.

]]> By: T.Eastmanhttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1188 T.Eastman Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:00:05 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1188 Cloxxki, skiing "pissibly" closer may make for yellow snow... Cloxxki, skiing “pissibly” closer may make for yellow snow…

]]> By: Martin Hallhttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1187 Martin Hall Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:05:55 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1187 I might be missing something here---but, I think we already have races without tracks---they call it skating, and I think any race without classic tracks would take about 5 minutes or less to become a model for cheating or skating when no one is looking. We just need the track sled people to design a sled that can adjust the molds to different widths. 90% of the groomers we now use all have power take-offs, its just a matter of making the sleds operate with hydraulics or electricity. I've seen some pretty neat set-ups for grooming being pulled by an Alpine (per Pineland in Maine) Better yet, when it comes to big junior programs, just build your own sleds, that will fit junior skiers. It's not that hard to do. I might be missing something here—but, I think we already have races without tracks—they call it skating, and I think any race without classic tracks would take about 5 minutes or less to become a model for cheating or skating when no one is looking.
We just need the track sled people to design a sled that can adjust the molds to different widths. 90% of the groomers we now use all have power take-offs, its just a matter of making the sleds operate with hydraulics or electricity. I’ve seen some pretty neat set-ups for grooming being pulled by an Alpine (per Pineland in Maine)
Better yet, when it comes to big junior programs, just build your own sleds, that will fit junior skiers. It’s not that hard to do.

]]> By: Cloxxkihttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1181 Cloxxki Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:28:04 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1181 I like the idea of no tracks at all! It will require good eye for fast bits of track. Skiers would be freeer, and pissibly ski closer at times. It can only be more exciting to watch! I like the idea of no tracks at all! It will require good eye for fast bits of track. Skiers would be freeer, and pissibly ski closer at times. It can only be more exciting to watch!

]]> By: Patrick Stinsonhttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1180 Patrick Stinson Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:22:44 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1180 As far as beginners go, I remember weight transfer being tough when I was trying to understand classic technique in the beginning. The single hardest thing was (is) getting on top of that ski on slight uphills. I also remember trying so hard to get it that any little thing that would have helped would have been totally awesome for poor little me. On another note, these times I really, really, really like hill climbs and classic striding. I watch videos of the old races and I kind of loath the fact that it's all about huge lats and double poling and less about that beautiful diagonal technique that taxes your lungs and grace. And if you're training to be a total badass skiing who the hell wants to double pole for 2 hours? Seriously!?! As far as beginners go, I remember weight transfer being tough when I was trying to understand classic technique in the beginning. The single hardest thing was (is) getting on top of that ski on slight uphills. I also remember trying so hard to get it that any little thing that would have helped would have been totally awesome for poor little me.

On another note, these times I really, really, really like hill climbs and classic striding. I watch videos of the old races and I kind of loath the fact that it’s all about huge lats and double poling and less about that beautiful diagonal technique that taxes your lungs and grace. And if you’re training to be a total badass skiing who the hell wants to double pole for 2 hours? Seriously!?!

]]> By: newtmileshttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1178 newtmiles Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:54:26 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1178 I skied the narrow tracks yesterday in Sjusjoen and they did not work for me. I admit that I will ski with a narrower stance when I'm out of the track and classic striding up-hill, but my stance is the same as the standard track set when double-poling out of the track. Also, my stance is much wider than the standard on downhills out of the track, if no track is present. Trying to stay in these new tracks on a downhill proved to be impossible on any gradual turn. It looked as if it would be about the right size for a child or small woman. The touring class skier doesn't notice the diff. and most of the racing class here is against the change. It's my personal opinion that not being able to get a weight transfer on the standard track means you are of small stature or a beinging or novice skier at best. With us all being different sizes, someone will always have to adjust to the middle. Michael Myers I skied the narrow tracks yesterday in Sjusjoen and they did not work for me. I admit that I will ski with a narrower stance when I’m out of the track and classic striding up-hill, but my stance is the same as the standard track set when double-poling out of the track. Also, my stance is much wider than the standard on downhills out of the track, if no track is present. Trying to stay in these new tracks on a downhill proved to be impossible on any gradual turn. It looked as if it would be about the right size for a child or small woman. The touring class skier doesn’t notice the diff. and most of the racing class here is against the change. It’s my personal opinion that not being able to get a weight transfer on the standard track means you are of small stature or a beinging or novice skier at best. With us all being different sizes, someone will always have to adjust to the middle. Michael Myers

]]> By: OldManWinterhttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1172 OldManWinter Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:26:41 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1172 MH - Great historical perspective...thanks for sharing. If I could advocate for youth and youth programs, I am all for narrower tracks for smaller hips. To use a good (or bad) example from the tobacco industry: hook them while they're young. Little skiers grow up to become big skiers. Anything that we can do to make them successful at a young age is, in my opinion, worth doing. MH – Great historical perspective…thanks for sharing.

If I could advocate for youth and youth programs, I am all for narrower tracks for smaller hips. To use a good (or bad) example from the tobacco industry: hook them while they’re young. Little skiers grow up to become big skiers. Anything that we can do to make them successful at a young age is, in my opinion, worth doing.

]]> By: Martin Hallhttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1168 Martin Hall Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:58:37 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1168 There was a time that we had a variable width track sled that had hydraulics to change the width of the tracks---narrower on the uphills, wider on the downhills, wider for men and narrower for the women and junior skiers. I can't remember why it died---other then FIS came out with a standard width for all tracks. Also, did you know that all mechanical grooming began in the US in 1959 in Squaw Valley. Al Merrill, Chummy Broomhall and a name not many people will know, Stan Cheney put together the mechanisms that got the ball rolling. Thinking of that date, 1959, it was 1974 that the Norwegians last used the army on skis to set the tracks for Homenkollen. There was a time that we had a variable width track sled that had hydraulics to change the width of the tracks—narrower on the uphills, wider on the downhills, wider for men and narrower for the women and junior skiers. I can’t remember why it died—other then FIS came out with a standard width for all tracks.
Also, did you know that all mechanical grooming began in the US in 1959 in Squaw Valley. Al Merrill, Chummy Broomhall and a name not many people will know, Stan Cheney put together the mechanisms that got the ball rolling. Thinking of that date, 1959, it was 1974 that the Norwegians last used the army on skis to set the tracks for Homenkollen.

]]> By: Tim Kelleyhttp://fasterskier.com/2009/12/narrower-track-will-give-better-technique/comment-page-1/#comment-1163 Tim Kelley Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:33:26 +0000 http://fasterskier.com/?p=68672#comment-1163 Why debate about the width of tracks? Just get rid of them and skiers can choose any width they want their skis to be apart. Tracks are like training wheels. Take them away and you make better classic skiers. Why debate about the width of tracks? Just get rid of them and skiers can choose any width they want their skis to be apart. Tracks are like training wheels. Take them away and you make better classic skiers.

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