XC Skiing: Skate or Classic
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catwood posted 39 weeks ago.
Skating works biking muscles, Classic works running muscles. Double polling work swimming muscles (abs, lats, triceps). Its probably best to mix it up a little.
I mostly skate ski because those are the only ski's that I actually own. Its also easier to run throughout the winter than it is to bike throughout the winter...
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GogglesPizanto posted 39 weeks ago.
Classic is probably easier to get into technique-wise and you can pick up a set of skis and poles pretty cheap. Skate skis are usually a bit more expensive, but worth it if it is something you'll do. There is no better way to jack up your VO2 than cross-country skiing
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Anton posted 39 weeks ago.
I'm with cat...get some Combi-skiis that you can use for both Classic and skate some too.
Skating is faster...classic or diagonal is not to be ignored...it's a great workout, it's tradition and if you're on the boards in the back country, you won't be skating!
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
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brittda posted 39 weeks ago.
Personally I skate, it is more work I think. The classic "shuffle" is boring a bit to me.
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vanjames posted 39 weeks ago.
I'm leaning to the skate as I enjoyed it more but didn't know there were combo skiis - i'll have to look into those. Thanks.
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Anton posted 39 weeks ago.
brittda;81598 wrote:
Personally I skate, it is more work I think. The classic "shuffle" is boring a bit to me.
If you'e "shuffleing" you're doing it wrong.
It might be a bit of a shuffle in deep snow or back country...but on a groomed track (which is really the only place you can skate) classic is not slow or boring....I can easily cover ground using classic techinique faster than I can run trails...try it this winter..really kick and glide and see how fast you'll go.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net
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RV posted 39 weeks ago.
brittda;81598 wrote:
Personally I skate, it is more work I think. The classic "shuffle" is boring a bit to me.
I do classic, and as poorly as I ski - it is a LOT of work. :)
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
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skeats posted 39 weeks ago.
Classic you could pick up and do tomorrow with some efficiency. Skating, if you want to do it well, is very technique driven and not intuitively simple (at least in my case).
I use the classic technique if it's a day out with the dogs or just if I feel like going for a "walk in the woods". I skate if I want to fire up my aerobic system and burn a LOT of calories in a short time.
As someone else has mentioned, the 2 techniques also use different muscles.
For the off season this year I'dlike to do more XC skiing (so I can avoid the wet Vancouver winter rides). Any XC skiers offer any opinions on the different techniques?