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PRE SEASON
GREG R. RAWLINGS
Contributing Editor for The Master Skier
Greg R. Rawlings grew up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado as an alpine racer and added Nordic skiing as an adult. Greg is the Adult Development Coach for the Maine Winter Sports Center, and is a master skier.
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Can you imagine not knowing what it feels like to go classic skiing on an Extra Blue day or crust skiing in the spring?
I was not born or raised a cross-country skier; I had only really cross-country skied as a kid on the annual Christmas tree hunts.
One December morning, after college, I got a phone call and learned that my friends had entered me into a cross-country ski race. Not knowing what I was getting into I told them it sounded great.
At the start I learned that we would be racing 10 kilometers, and it would be a freestyle (?) event.
After however much time, I crossed the finish line bent over in pain and cold (having worn only my cycling tights). My friends asked if I was o.k. and all I could say was, ?When is the next race? That was awesome!?
I had never been in that much pain before or since. I had also never felt the exhilaration of gliding in a pack of skiers on a crisp Rocky Mountain morning either.
From that moment on I became a cross-country skier.
How do we get to the point in our lives that we eat up all that is skiing? We dream of snowfall and corduroy and a nice hard classic track. We find ourselves waxing our skis in the middle of August, in denial that we must wait months for snow. We read The Master Skier cover to cover as if it is going to make the snow fall faster and we watch the men’s 4x10km relay in Lillehammer for the hundredth time. We even make plans to go to a race way up in northern Wisconsin.
I feel that it’s important to spread the love of cross-country skiing. Getting people involved with a sport that can change their lives is a fantastic thing to do.
Cross-country skiing has made my life much more than I would have ever expected. Also, my alpine skiing is more fun, my backcountry skiing is more efficient and my cycling and running are easier. What a great thing to share.
Start with your friends who you cycle or run with and, if nothing else, you will be able to beat some pretty fit people for a while.
Bring a friend out on a sunny day when the waxing is easy. Let them discover the sport while you go out and train.
Bring them to a race that has drawings. Suggest they enter the touring class. Advertise that there is food during and after the event. Bring them to the Birkie.
Cross-country skiing can use more people. More support for the sport through participation and spectating will enhance the availability of equipment, trails, media coverage & money for programs.
Share your skis, knowledge, enthusiasm and favorite ski trail.
Build a trail near the office or in the woods. Get involved by volunteering in a community ski program or just round up the neighborhood kids. In a few years you may see those kids in a World Cup.
Women’s Ski Days are a fast growing segment of adult skiing, - start your own version! Often grants are available for programs, seminars and trails but you don’t need to wait for the money.
Think of just one person that you are sure would like skiing and get them to love it.
Hut trips, gourmet touring 'races', destination skiing and, of course, crust skiing are all ways to introduce someone to the fun.
Get the numbers up, more people, more excitement. As we all know this is a lifelong sport, any age friend can do it.
Every so often I stop and realize how lucky I am to be a cross-country skier. I am able to go out into the snow and find a magical playground around every turn. I have the ability to travel great distances under my own power.
My face transforms when I am on a pair of skis. I become years younger and the world is instantly a better place. I go whizzing by the snow-covered world with a frozen smile from ear to ear.
If H.G. Wells were a skier he would have also said, 'Every time I see an adult on cross-country skis I no longer despair for the future of the human race.'
I was fortunate to have had a couple of friends share their sport with me and my life is better because of it. Thank You Dave and Ben.
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