X-Country Skis

[mattrd]

Hey guys I'm just getting into cross country skiing and was just wondering what size ski's I need. I'm 6'1" 190lbs. What are some of the better brands? Any info would be great!

[Spearing Machine]

It depends on what you are looking for....

I. Classic skis: the ideal "cross country" skiing you would think of...often slow paced but can be quick and using a little different technique when used in racing style.

A. narrow ones and need to be waxed (often seen in Olympics)

B. Wider ones with "fish scales" for grip underneath (May or may not be waxed)

II. Skate skis: much faster paced and is much like "skating" in a v fashion

A. very narrow and need to be waxed

It can become an expensive sport as well like many others. You will need boots, bindings, skis, poles and depending on ski type (wax, iron, waxing tools, wax bench, ect)

Some brands I recommend include Fischer, Salomon, Rossignol, Atomic. All of these brands produce skis, some produce bindings and boots and poles.

Find a good sporting goods store and talk to a representative and see what fits your skiing needs and funds the best!

Hope this helps a bit!!

[DT08]

I would agree with Spearing Machine's points and would add these.

Classic waxless (fishscale) skis are problably your easiest way to get into the sport. You may want to figure out what kind of trails you have have around. Groomed classic trails are an easy way to have a lot of fun. In the areas I have skied in the upper midwest it seems there are almost always classic trails and there may or may not be skate trails as well. Plus it is easier to go off trail with classic skis, IMO. Waxing can actually be fun, but can be very technical and hard to do, and when you don't get the kick wax (or the glide wax) right the ski can be very frustrating.

If you know how to skate, the same basic movements are used in skate skiing and that can be a lot of fun. In general it's faster. But you really need wide trails groomed just for that.

I would almost forget going to a sport shop and check out some on-line sites. These sites use pressure testers to fit skis to your weight and style and often do a better job than a local store. And you do want skis that fit. A good fitting ski can make the difference between enjoyment and frustration. Boulder Nordic Sport is great for higher end skis. Eagle River Nordic also has a better selection for beginners as well as high end. I have bought skis from both and have friends that have bought skis from both and they fit great, despite never having been to their stores. Actually better than a ski shop in Duluth.

Hope this helps some

[so haaad]

If you are looking at classic cross country skis, you are probably looking in the 202 - 210 cm range. The big brands include Fischer, Atomic, Rossignol and Salamon and you can usually find brochures or information online or at stores about selecting the right size based on your height and weight. Personally I like researching online first and then getting help from the ski shop expert in the end. Good luck.

[pureinsanity]

a friend of mine got some used X skis at Play it again for 20 bucks.

[yakfisher]

It really depends on where you intend to use them. I have two pairs for this reason. My Fischer Back Country waxless skis are long and wide, I'm 6'0" 200. They are great for busting trail on golf courses, or anywhere else you may be blazing your own trail. They also work on groomed trails in classic tracks. that being said my skis are 210cm long and wider than the track setter so on trails that have lots of turns I get a lot of drag and they are slow. So I also picked up a set of Madshus (another great brand that hasn't been mentioned yet) skis that are a little shorter, skinnier and faster. If you get near Minneapolis, Midwest Mountaineering and Gear West are great placed to get fitted, REI also does a pretty good job. Not sure where would be good in SW MN, but I would guess there is someone in Sioux Falls that can help.

Good luck and if you do go with waxless I would still have them glide waxed by someone who knows how to do it. The waxing will fill in small imperfections and make the skis faster you can also rub on flouro based wax each time you use them.

[SkunkedAgain]

Go to any ski shop and they'll get the right size for you depending on the type of skiing that you plan to do. I bought my wife's skis at Midwest Mountaineering and mine at REI. There are lots of other places to get skis in the Cities.