What I got from the New Skate...is a thrill!

I first saw it at the Vasa and reported about it here. I think this was before anyone else was talking about it. Awhile afterwards the first NS articles started coming out.

I was doing the short classic event and the lead skaters came by me using a technique that I'd never seen before. It was like a different sport. It was very quiet and easy-looking. The feet were 'swimming' calmly. The hands were just kind of flicking. The body was tilted forward, head first down the trail. It was like they were just watching the scenery as the rest of what they were doing took care of itself. It seemed pretty nice---smooth, quiet, fast.

About 10 minutes later the first big pack of top regional skiers came by, laboring, looking totally different, doing the 'marching marching' style, upright, with big arm actions and thrusting leg action, going MUCH slower.

These were longtime XC vets and worldclass athletes in closely-related sports like canoeracing and bikeracing. I admitted the winners were somewhat more fit for skiing but not THAT much more, not HARDLY more. Their different, FAR better tech was giving them free speed. It was like two different sports taking place. I determined to learn what they were doing at that time. I like free speed.

I notice that Trond Nystad, current head coach, won that race.

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Jeff Potter
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