I just love classic!! I am a classic specialist, and I must admit
that I have only skated 7 times so far, twice in March of '03 and four
times this year including two races a 7K & 15K . I have new boots and
bindings but I use pair of older skis. I haven't been able to stride
much this year because of snow cover and conditions, it has been thin
and icey until just recently. Therefore, I have only strided three
times and one of those was a 12K classic race. What I love about
classic is that you can just get rockin in a groove. There are fewer
things to think about I feel, in regards to technique and power. In a
race your concentration can be on a fewer things that can really make
a big difference in speed, and it can be a lot more fluid. It may be
that I am new to skating but I feel there are so many things to
concentrate on, V1, V2, openfield, when and how and don't get your
pole in the wrong place or WHAM! It is so much to think about!
Especially maintaining momentum on the uphills. I know my power is
pretty weak in that department but I feel I am so much more powerful
in classic going uphills than skating uphills. It is also lots of fun
ripping downhills in the classic tracks, its like you are on rails
what a blast!! The few times I have skated there have been no tracks
to the side, so even for an experienced downhiller ripping down on
skaters is a little scary!

I am not sure why it seems to me that so many more people skate than
classic. I find it sad too, classic is where you start out as a kid
and should be something that you can do until your are 90+.

Ski for Life! Amy Todd

"Bill Kraus" wrote in message om...
I feel quite strongly that perfecting striding - stuff like full weight
transfer, dynamic body position, fully committed kick/double pole - makes
a
huge improvement in skating too. There's NOTHING like tuning in on good
classic technique on excellent gear. It's so relaxing and at the same
time
challenging. I skate a lot too (truth be told, probably more hours than
striding), but would give that up before striding!

It's funny that you say that - I'm nowhere nears the level of most of the
folks on this newsgroup, but I've been thinking the same thing. I first took
up nordic skiing four years ago - did all the local citizen races (which are
almost all skating), and only ocassionally took out the classic gear. Didn't
help that classic technique aggravates an old ankle injury, and that here in
Tahoe, it always seems to be icy, klister conditions.

Then last year in late January I had a good Norwegian friend convince me to
fly over and do the Birkebeinerennet (he's an awesome classic skier whose
gotten the 'mark' the last seven times he's done the race). Well, I finished
at the back of my age class, but fell in love with classic skiing. I find it
technically more difficult than skating, and actually enjoy the challenge of
trying to hit the kick wax. I now do classic technique in many of the
free-style races I participate in just because I find it more enjoyable (and
it's not like I'm competitive anyway). Funny thing is, I also noticed that
since I've been doing more classic, it seems to help my balance while
skating. Skating is still alot of fun, especially on the downhills with the
better ankle support and shorter skis, but to me, there's nothing like
finding your stride (pun intended) and making that perfect kick.

b