If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient

[nineveh_uk]

My first week back at work has been enlivened by watching the Tour de Ski on Eurosport online (and on one occasion, some Russian channel on YouTube). For the second year running there were Norwegian victories for both women and men*, but this year was also enlivened by serious British interest (men’s), with two top twenties in the sprint, a staggering fastest time in the fifth race, and after all that a slightly disappointing 20th place finish. Since the British cross-country ski establishment essentially consists of a small club outside Aberdeen and a minibus, this is not bad going. Having spent my adolescence wanting to learn and being fatally hampered by being British, I am slightly envious but realistic that while I have about the right basic shape for a female skier (if you took my height, build, and weight, and turned it into pure muscle), I completely lack the work ethic and need not to come down with colds in chilly conditions.

However, despite the inspiring examples in front of me over the weekend, as a bunch of the world’s fittest people skied up a downhill ski slope, some of them to a sprint finish, I nonetheless completely failed to go to the gym for my pre-holiday training. Says it all, really.

*Norwegian top four for the women, reflecting last year’s men’s result. And finally, Marit Bjørgen got it, and in barnstorming style. *waves little Norwegian flag*

Comments

[sam-t.livejournal.com]

Did you see the Patrouille des Glaciers race on Ski Sunday? Various of my friends saw that, and are being enthusiastic on Facebook about wanting to do that in a few years. Not having their taste for frozen slogging through the dark (some of them do ultramarathons), I think they're bananas.

If one wanted to learn how to do cross country skiing while British, how should one go about it? I do know someone with a pair of cross country skis (she's lived in Sweden) but her feet are nowhere near my size, so I can't ask for a go next time it snows.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I did! It looked very cold and I agree entirely with your banas assessment. Though I could at least see the appeal of this in theory, unlike such things as cave diving.

Oh dear, you have opened the door to me in ski evangelism mode!

There are various ways to learn cross-country skiing while British, but the answer is mostly “not easily in the UK” without a local friend with your sized feet (and ideally, approx. weight). There are a few cross-country ski clubs around the place, but in England they focus on roller-skiing at home and snow abroad. In Scotland, if you happen to be there and there is snow, then there are two places (near Aviemore, and near Aberdeen) that can provide skis, trails and instructions, but you'd have to be very lucky with the weather, so not much point in planning to travel from a distance for the purpose.

So that means abroad. I got into it by going on a dedicated holiday run by Exodus (http://www.exodus.co.uk/winter-holidays/cross-country-skiing), staying in a hotel in Norway and having 6 days of instruction and guiding around the trails with a group. For me, this was definitely the best way to learn and the form of most of my holidays since, (Norway not compulsory, Alps and Finland also an option, as are other holiday companies). If you go on holiday and hate it, you can always snowshoe instead :-)

Another good option is a holiday to a cross-country skiing area that includes some lessons to get you going, and then you explore the trails independently. There are also tour operators that arrange this (Inntravel and Headwater are the bigger British ones). You could also try a taster session as part of a winter walking or downhill skiing holiday in a region that had XC. Resorts vary from larger ones that actually have a village attached, to individual hotel in the middle of nowhere (or in some cases, like the skiing + volcanoes one that tragically I am not going on or I’d get no sleep, Icelandic mountain huts with dormitories).

The method I do not recommend is going on holiday and then not having any lessons because you are sure you can pick it up yourself. It might be fun for half an hour, but otherwise is the route to getting cold and frustrated, and terrified of the slightest slope.

[sam-t.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's very useful! Norway and Finland sound very appealing.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I've never actually made it to the alps to ski.

[helenajust.livejournal.com]

I've just been re-listening to The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer and I think I recognised the quotation which is your title. The tedious Dowager Countess of St Earth says it (or something very similar) about riding.

[auntyros.livejournal.com]

No, I'm pretty sure that's Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice talking about playing the piano. It's a great quote, though.

[helenajust.livejournal.com]

Oh yes! Thank you. I suspect that Heyer was deliberately echoing that risible moment.

[auntyros.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you're right.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I haven't read The Quiet Gentleman in ages - must remedy that!

[kameintence.livejournal.com]

Какие все классные! И разные! Спасибо!


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