|
|
PRE-SEASON
Dave Cieslowski
Contributing Editor for The Master Skier
Dave has been skiing forever and is an instructor at Mt Bachelor. You can email him at dave@webskis.com
|
 |
The most important thing to remember when rollerskiing is to ski safely.
There are inherent risks involved with rollerskiing, but you can do your best to minimize them. As similar as rollerskiing is to snow skiing, there is one glaring difference, asphalt is nowhere near as forgiving as snow. Because of this, you'll need to take some precautions.
These are some tips to keep in mind when out on the road.
Always wear a helmet and bright clothing when rollerskiing. It may be a good idea to include other protective gear as you learn to rollerski, such as elbow and kneepads. Wrist guards make controlling ski poles difficult, but it is a good idea to wear gloves to prevent your hands from blistering.
Standard cross-country ski gloves are good, but lightweight mountain bike gloves offer the same performance without the unnecessary insulation.
When learning to rollerski, learn to snowplow and stop first.
Check your rollerskis before using them to make sure the bindings are secure and that they work properly. Also inspect the wheels to make certain that they are firmly secured to the ski. The vibration created by skiing over rough surfaces for an extended period of time can loosen parts on a rollerski.
Don't be so excited that you forget to watch for cars.
When cars pass, pull as far over to the side as you can and either double pole (even if you are skating) or stop poling completely.
Most skiers choose to ski on the right side of the road (with traffic), although there are others who prefer to ski facing traffic and step off to the side of the road when cars or trucks pass. Since there is no set rule, do what makes you more comfortable. However if you are skating, always double-pole when a car or truck passes regardless of which side of the road you are on. If you are in a group, always ski single file.
Choose roads without a lot of traffic. Bike paths, residential areas, back roads, etc.
Don't be afraid to find one good section of road and go back and forth. Repeats can be a great workout.
Since the carbide ferrule pole tip needs to sink into the road's surface for effective poling, rollerskiing is largely limited to asphalt surfaces. Any asphalt road with relatively smooth pavement and little traffic can be used; and bike paths also make for excellent training routes.
You'll want to make sure the roads you ski on do not have steep downhills, or intersections requiring you to stop at the bottom of the hills.
When in doubt about a downhill, take the skis off and walk.
It is not as much of a safety issue, but it is a good idea to sharpen the tips on your poles regularly. Dull tips are annoying and reduce the effectiveness of the workout, plus they become more difficult to sharpen the duller they become.
|
For more articles like this one, subscribe today to The Master Skier. |
|
