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r.s.n in Haute Combes du Jura, France
Laurent Duparchy have discussed things on this newsgroup, like skating
technique, nanowax, and skiing in France -- and we finally got the chance to ski together. He suggested we meet in La Pesse in the Hautes Combes area in the Jura mountains. I've never been to that area, never known anyone who said they skied there, not where the Transjurassienne race course goes -- so it was kind of exciting to be driving up there in a rental car from the Geneva airport, after the transatlantic flight arrived first thing in the morning. First I saw just from driving that I really liked the scenery: the mix of forests and open fields and farmhouses, ridges and valleys. Then I discovered that they really take their cross-country skiing seriously: really wide trails groomed by the biggest Pisten Bully I ever saw at a XC center. So much snow they were having trouble finding space to plow it off the roads. Laurent was careful in his Emails and phone conversations to set expectations, but we were both surprised by the . . . rain. Sharon went to the ski shop and rented classic no-wax skis, and Laurent and I headed out skating. Good thing I had brought my poles: We soon got into some long moderate climbs, and Laurent was strong on them. The mix of new snow and rain was kinda sticky on my ski bases, which was disappointing especially on the downhills. I stopped for rest on some of the climbs, which was a good chance to talk. Then Laurent suggested I try using his skis, which he had prepared that morning with wet-snow structure and Cerax Pro 4 -- what a difference. And with him on my sucky bases and me on his rockets, we were evenly matched. Then he let me keep using them. We somehow skied together for I think 2.5 hours in the rain. My assessment: I hope to get to ski with Laurent again -- and you should too. Afterward (in dryer clothing) we had some hot chocolate in the bar across from the ski shop, and Sharon told us how she enjoyed skiing to see the bison. Ken P.S. Hautes Combes du Jura includes the villages of Giron, La Pesse, Les Moussieres, and Lajoux -- mostly further south than the Transjurassienne race course. About an hour's drive from the major international airport of Geneva, Switzerland -- or it would have been an hour if we hadn't missed the oddly-placed sign for the right turn in Mijoux -- we were glad we had rented a car with real snow tires. Very pretty and inviting area for cross-country skiing. Hope to go there again. |
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I've been very pleased to have some time skiing with Ken and Sharon in
Jura . That was my first "internet" encounter. I expected to discuss a lot about technic, as Ken posted a lot on it. But that was not the day for it : Although this is the best winter I remember since mid 80's for cross country skiing in France (tons of snow since mid-november, and counting.) we had the misfortune to ski on the worst day of that winter. Rain, rain rain. The pity is there was huge snowfalls less than 50 kilometers further north. There was a strong cold/warm limite in the atmosphere and were on the wrong side. So, yes Nanowax Cerax Pro4 was wonderful that day (along with Vandel skis with "wet" pro-race bases). I'm now confident to say that Pro 4 can't be beaten by anything on wet snow. I had several experiences on races done in pairs together with my brother who is putting fluoro powder : Glide was the same or better for me, even though I'm lighter than him. Skating in France had rapidly taken up over Classic and groomed trails are always very wide. You'll see very few "fit" people doing Classic. Although Classic is slightly fighting back thoses years. There is now a 50km classic event part of the Transjurassienne. Jura may not be very well known, apart from the Transjurassienne, but linked with the swiss part of Jura mountains this one the largest XC ski area in Europe. BTW, the term "Jurassic" derives from Jura moutains. But that geological period was absolutely not a Dinosaurs period. More a clams period. Less dramatic. Laurent. |
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