You're very sensitive. Classical tempo is different than skating in a
way that makes it easier to do when one isn't in peak shape. Consider
that one can go up a steep hill or a long incline at a variety of paces
in classical, but skating doesn't allow as much flexibility. Beyond
that, in the midwest and other areas where snowfall isn't measured in
feet, or temps go through a melt/freeze cycle frequently, skating
naturally predominates. Beyond that, Americans just love speed. Still,
many of the midwest races, for instance, are classical or have an
official classical components. I also refer you to Ralph Thornton's
summary of the late 80s Soviet training experiment, where the half of
the team that trained 2/3 classical did better on the WC circuit than
those who trained 2/3 skate.

Gene

wrote:

Over the last year there have been many interesting comments about
classic style skiing here at RSN. One writer stated it was a joke about
all the discussion over learning good classical technique when clearly
there is more to skating. Another writer suggested there are more
classical entrants currently in the Keskinada because they are less
fit. This fall several writers stated classical skiing was a fringe
thing and basically just required double poling hmmm... After seeing a
video posted on this newsgroup of one writer skating, I get a feeling
these folks cannot ski classical proficiently, but I digress. It is
interesting to understand where they get this sense of elitism versus
classical technique. Perhaps, because they ski faster than the
tourists, or because they have bigger ones. Yeah... were talking about
poles here. To think classic skiing requires less skill, or stamina is
a clear disregard for the history of the sport. Can you picture the two
birkebeiner's carrying the future king of Norway through the mountains
on skate skis. They asked all the peasants to roll logs over the
mountain passes to pack the deep snow. Now with peasant grooming they
could ski skate the child king to safety. If you think classic skiing
requires less skill, fitness, or has no appeal try telling this to over
12,000 entrants who race in the Norwegian Birkebeiner every year. If
you don't know, this is a World Loppet Classic event.