lifting toes/wax pocket
 

Hi,

First season taking waxable classic skiing seriously, so my learning curve
is currently steep.

My skis are professionally fit and the grip zone marked. I find that I get
better glide, especially double poling, when I lift my toes (or press my
heels). If I press my toes down, I hit the brakes. Is this normal, or does
my grip zone extend too far forward?

To do this heel press (or toe lift), it seems to change my downhill tuck
position from the one I use skating. The classic position seems to position
me further back with straighter ankles.

If this is normal, do you try to incorporate this heel glide into each
diagonal stride, as well? Is this why the new Solomon striding boots use
the carbon heel cup?

Thanks,

Brian

lifting toes/wax pocket
 

On Jan 24, 7:11*pm, "Brian Pauley" wrote:
Hi,

First season taking waxable classic skiing seriously, so my learning curve
is currently steep.

My skis are professionally fit and the grip zone marked. *I find that I get
better glide, especially double poling, when I lift my toes (or press my
heels). *If I press my toes down, I hit the brakes. *Is this normal, or does
my grip zone extend too far forward?

To do this heel press (or toe lift), it seems to change my downhill tuck
position from the one I use skating. *The classic position seems to position
me further back with straighter ankles.

If this is normal, do you try to incorporate this heel glide into each
diagonal stride, as well? *Is this why the new Solomon striding boots use
the carbon heel cup?

Thanks,

Brian

Does the wax pocket of the ski extend in front of your toes? Have you
tried moving the wax pocket further back? It may be professionally
fit, but the fine adjustments are up to you ( and will depend on ski
conditions).

lifting toes/wax pocket
 

I thought of it differently. On downhills, riding your heels is a
good way to gain more speed on classical skis. The latter are flexed
differently in the center portion than skate skis because the push into
the snow is different in the two styles. Do you really mean pressing
your toes down, or just riding a full foot? There's no reason I know
of to do the first. If, OTOH, you're feeling the need to raise your
forefoot in normal double poling, and I feel that need occasionally,
then, assuming good technique, it's likely either the snow, the flex
(fit) of your skis (absolutely or relative to the snow conditions), or
your wax pocket is dragging in front, meaning it's a little too thick
or long up there. The latter is where I'd start. For some ideas, see
http://www.caldwellsport.com/ski-ser...ex-evaluation/, including
the PDFs. You can fine tune length and thickness of wax pocket by
waxing a bit longer than normal and then looking at how it's worn after
a good ski.

Gene

" wrote:

On Jan 24, 7:11*pm, "Brian Pauley" wrote:
Hi,

First season taking waxable classic skiing seriously, so my learning curve
is currently steep.

My skis are professionally fit and the grip zone marked. *I find that I get
better glide, especially double poling, when I lift my toes (or press my
heels). *If I press my toes down, I hit the brakes. *Is this normal, or does
my grip zone extend too far forward?

To do this heel press (or toe lift), it seems to change my downhill tuck
position from the one I use skating. *The classic position seems to position
me further back with straighter ankles.

If this is normal, do you try to incorporate this heel glide into each
diagonal stride, as well? *Is this why the new Solomon striding boots use
the carbon heel cup?

Thanks,

Brian

Does the wax pocket of the ski extend in front of your toes? Have you
tried moving the wax pocket further back? It may be professionally
fit, but the fine adjustments are up to you ( and will depend on ski
conditions).

lifting toes/wax pocket
 

On Jan 25, 6:42*am, wrote:
I thought of it differently. *On downhills, riding your heels is a
good way to gain more speed on classical skis. *The latter are flexed
differently in the center portion than skate skis because the push into
the snow is different in the two styles. Do you really mean pressing
your toes down, or just riding a full foot? *There's no reason I know
of to do the first. If, OTOH, you're feeling the need to raise your
forefoot in normal double poling, and I feel that need occasionally,
then, assuming good technique, it's likely either the snow, the flex
(fit) of your skis (absolutely or relative to the snow conditions), or
your wax pocket is dragging in front, meaning it's a little too thick
or long up there. The latter is where I'd start. *For some ideas, seehttp://www.caldwellsport.com/ski-service/flex-evaluation/, including
the PDFs. *You can fine tune length and thickness of wax pocket by
waxing a bit longer than normal and then looking at how it's worn after
a good ski.

Gene



" wrote:
On Jan 24, 7:11*pm, "Brian Pauley" wrote:
Hi,

First season taking waxable classic skiing seriously, so my learning curve
is currently steep.

My skis are professionally fit and the grip zone marked. *I find that I get
better glide, especially double poling, when I lift my toes (or press my
heels). *If I press my toes down, I hit the brakes. *Is this normal, or does
my grip zone extend too far forward?

To do this heel press (or toe lift), it seems to change my downhill tuck
position from the one I use skating. *The classic position seems to position
me further back with straighter ankles.

If this is normal, do you try to incorporate this heel glide into each
diagonal stride, as well? *Is this why the new Solomon striding boots use
the carbon heel cup?

Thanks,

Brian

Does the wax pocket of the ski extend in front of your toes? Have you
tried moving the wax pocket further back? It may be professionally
fit, but the fine adjustments are up to you ( and will depend on ski
conditions).- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hi,
Yes, see the Zach Caldwell/Bolder Nordic ski fit explaination or the
Nordic Ultratune http://www.ultratune.net/flextesting.html website re
ski fit. Loading the ski at about the ball of the foot *i.e. 8cm
back) vs. flat foot (15 cm back of balance) changes the camber curve.
Load the ball of foot (8 cm) for grip and ski flat footed (15 cm back)
for glide.

My skis are fitted for easy close. If I get to exuberant double
polling and get up on my toes to agressively (with dynamic downward
pressure) the grip zone can close.

lifting toes/wax pocket
 

Good to know, thanks.


wrote in message
...
On Jan 24, 7:11 pm, "Brian Pauley" wrote:
Hi,

First season taking waxable classic skiing seriously, so my learning curve
is currently steep.

My skis are professionally fit and the grip zone marked. I find that I get
better glide, especially double poling, when I lift my toes (or press my
heels). If I press my toes down, I hit the brakes. Is this normal, or does
my grip zone extend too far forward?

To do this heel press (or toe lift), it seems to change my downhill tuck
position from the one I use skating. The classic position seems to
position
me further back with straighter ankles.

If this is normal, do you try to incorporate this heel glide into each
diagonal stride, as well? Is this why the new Solomon striding boots use
the carbon heel cup?

Thanks,

Brian

Does the wax pocket of the ski extend in front of your toes? Have you
tried moving the wax pocket further back? It may be professionally
fit, but the fine adjustments are up to you ( and will depend on ski
conditions).

lifting toes/wax pocket
 

So then when you see the pros sprint finishing jumping up on their toes, are
then coming down hard on their heels? Or are they just overcoming the
closing by their momentum?

wrote in message
...
On Jan 25, 6:42 am, wrote:
I thought of it differently. On downhills, riding your heels is a
good way to gain more speed on classical skis. The latter are flexed
differently in the center portion than skate skis because the push into
the snow is different in the two styles. Do you really mean pressing
your toes down, or just riding a full foot? There's no reason I know
of to do the first. If, OTOH, you're feeling the need to raise your
forefoot in normal double poling, and I feel that need occasionally,
then, assuming good technique, it's likely either the snow, the flex
(fit) of your skis (absolutely or relative to the snow conditions), or
your wax pocket is dragging in front, meaning it's a little too thick
or long up there. The latter is where I'd start. For some ideas,
seehttp://www.caldwellsport.com/ski-service/flex-evaluation/, including
the PDFs. You can fine tune length and thickness of wax pocket by
waxing a bit longer than normal and then looking at how it's worn after
a good ski.

Gene



" wrote:
On Jan 24, 7:11 pm, "Brian Pauley" wrote:
Hi,

First season taking waxable classic skiing seriously, so my learning
curve
is currently steep.

My skis are professionally fit and the grip zone marked. I find that I
get
better glide, especially double poling, when I lift my toes (or press
my
heels). If I press my toes down, I hit the brakes. Is this normal, or
does
my grip zone extend too far forward?

To do this heel press (or toe lift), it seems to change my downhill
tuck
position from the one I use skating. The classic position seems to
position
me further back with straighter ankles.

If this is normal, do you try to incorporate this heel glide into each
diagonal stride, as well? Is this why the new Solomon striding boots
use
the carbon heel cup?

Thanks,

Brian

Does the wax pocket of the ski extend in front of your toes? Have you
tried moving the wax pocket further back? It may be professionally
fit, but the fine adjustments are up to you ( and will depend on ski
conditions).- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hi,
Yes, see the Zach Caldwell/Bolder Nordic ski fit explaination or the
Nordic Ultratune http://www.ultratune.net/flextesting.html website re
ski fit. Loading the ski at about the ball of the foot *i.e. 8cm
back) vs. flat foot (15 cm back of balance) changes the camber curve.
Load the ball of foot (8 cm) for grip and ski flat footed (15 cm back)
for glide.

My skis are fitted for easy close. If I get to exuberant double
polling and get up on my toes to agressively (with dynamic downward
pressure) the grip zone can close.

lifting toes/wax pocket
 

"Brian Pauley" wrote:

So then when you see the pros sprint finishing jumping up on their toes, are
then coming down hard on their heels? Or are they just overcoming the
closing by their momentum?

They are doing fast power poling, using the force of hands and torso
coming forward to go up on the *balls of their feet for a stronger
starting position. Longer poles don't hurt either, tho are not
necessary. Try it.

Gene

lifting toes/wax pocket
 

Brian Pauley wrote:
So then when you see the pros sprint finishing jumping up on their toes, are
then coming down hard on their heels? Or are they just overcoming the
closing by their momentum?

No, the classic sprint pros (like the 5 Norwegian guys who finished 1-5
in the Otepaa (sp?) world cup yesterday) don't need to worry too much
about wax drag because they ski on skis with close to zero grip to begin
with.

I.e. I know that after nearly 50 years of classic skiing I still
wouldn't have a chance to ski properly uphill on skis waxed for a pro.

Terje
PS. On the world cup race yesterday, none of the Norwegians used any
grip wax at all, just a rubbed-up grip zone, due to the wet snow coming
down. :-)

--
- Terje.Mathisen at tmsw.no
"almost all programming can be viewed as an exercise in caching"

lifting toes/wax pocket
 

On Jan 24, 10:11*pm, "Brian Pauley" wrote:

*I find that I get better glide, when I lift my toes (or press my
heels). *If I press my toes down, I hit the brakes. *Is this normal,

This is normal and probably has little to do w/ how your wax zone is
marked, although I do agree that the pocket needs to be fine tuned for
different conditions. The body action folks are describing,
especially when double poling, is what you should be striving for -
hips up and high and elbows thrust forward at the start will likely
bring you up onto your toes. Your poling action begins w/ an
abdominal crunch motion and finishes w/ your arms. As you are doing
this, the weight transfer on your feet is from your toes to your heels
and you should feel the skis "shoot" forward because you have lifted
the entire wax pocket off the snow.

Begin that whole action again either as a DP or as a DP-Kick, continue
for thousands of cycles and you win a 25K race!

- Bob

lifting toes/wax pocket
 

Terje,

So how do they do it? Just using the little bit of wax as you mentioned,
and very good technique at setting that wax? Or is it that they are using
more poles/abdomen to propel themselves?

Brian


"Terje Mathisen" "terje.mathisen at tmsw.no" wrote in message
...
Brian Pauley wrote:
So then when you see the pros sprint finishing jumping up on their toes,
are
then coming down hard on their heels? Or are they just overcoming the
closing by their momentum?

No, the classic sprint pros (like the 5 Norwegian guys who finished 1-5 in
the Otepaa (sp?) world cup yesterday) don't need to worry too much about
wax drag because they ski on skis with close to zero grip to begin with.

I.e. I know that after nearly 50 years of classic skiing I still wouldn't
have a chance to ski properly uphill on skis waxed for a pro.

Terje
PS. On the world cup race yesterday, none of the Norwegians used any grip
wax at all, just a rubbed-up grip zone, due to the wet snow coming down.
:-)

--
- Terje.Mathisen at tmsw.no
"almost all programming can be viewed as an exercise in caching"