I need some advise about cross country skiing

Northern Star · Post by **Northern Star** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:10 pm

Hei,

this weekend I went to Lahti and I tried cross country skiing for the first time in my life. I really enjoyed the sport and would like to continue in Helsinki.

Now that the winter sales are still going on I thought that it would be nice to buy my equipement soon.
Can you give me some advise on what do I have to know when buying cross country ski equipement. I went to InterSport today but didn't have much time. There were so many different skies...

Also can you tell me what will be a good price and what is a normal price for skis, shoes, sticks, etc?

Thanx

**Sponsor:**

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:19 pm

If you go to Inter Sport either at Myyrmäki or Jumbo...you will find English speaking experts on hand to explain to you what you need..

The one down town does not seem to offer this service..

As you are a beginner they will not try to sell you pro kit...There is usualy some package offers for beginers consisting of ski/sticks/shoes...
As next week is the start of the Winter Holidays ...there could be a queue...so be prepared to wait a bit..

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:30 pm

Yes, it would be a good idea to talk to an expert. They'll be able to help you. It's worth remembering that skiing is much more fun if you have the "right sort of equipment" - the flexibility ratio is rather important. When you stand on your skis with your both feet on the grou... erm, snow, then the middle parts of the skis should be only just touching the snow (if at all). But when you shift your weight on the other leg only, the middle part should press firmly on the ground. It's just the way skis work, in an ideal world. You don't want your skis to slip too much in the wrong direction.

Also, if you're planning to ski outside the trodden path so to speak, try and get a pair of skis that is wide enough so that they'll carry you better. The narrow and flashy racing-skis are no good in the forest.

But as said the shop assistants will be able to help you best

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:00 pm

Northern Star wrote:Hei,

this weekend I went to Lahti and I tried cross country skiing for the first time in my life. I really enjoyed the sport and would like to continue in Helsinki.

Now that the winter sales are still going on I thought that it would be nice to buy my equipement soon.
Can you give me some advise on what do I have to know when buying cross country ski equipement. I went to InterSport today but didn't have much time. There were so many different skies...

Also can you tell me what will be a good price and what is a normal price for skis, shoes, sticks, etc?

Thanx

You should be able to pick up a package of skis, boots, sticks, wax & tape for around €125.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:09 pm

just came from Prisma and they had a package for 99.90

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:51 pm

Hank W. wrote:just came from Prisma and they had a package for 99.90

inc. €9,90 balsa wood sticks?!

Northern Star · Post by **Northern Star** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:51 pm

thanx for all the advise!

Where is Prisma? I never heared of it before..

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:03 pm

Northern Star wrote:thanx for all the advise!

Where is Prisma? I never heared of it before..

Big supermarkets.

there's at at least one in Sello and one in Iso-Omena

kmboll · Post by **kmboll** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:28 pm

I have found a lot of useful information here:

http://www.rei.com/online/store/LearnSh ... OUNTRY_TOC

tampereblue · Post by **tampereblue** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:34 pm

I'm having a 'wax problem' at the moment. No matter what I do I just can't quite get enough grip even if I think i am using the right wax. Anyone got any tips for how to put grip wax on properly?

enk · Post by **enk** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:39 pm

charliebass wrote:I'm having a 'wax problem' at the moment. No matter what I do I just can't quite get enough grip even if I think i am using the right wax. Anyone got any tips for how to put grip wax on properly?

Try moving the area you wax a cm at a time towards boths ends of
the skis. Have you recently checked what the area you need to wax
is by standing on the skis?

-enk

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:45 am

enk wrote:
charliebass wrote:I'm having a 'wax problem' at the moment. No matter what I do I just can't quite get enough grip even if I think i am using the right wax. Anyone got any tips for how to put grip wax on properly?
Try moving the area you wax a cm at a time towards boths ends of
the skis. Have you recently checked what the area you need to wax
is by standing on the skis?

-enk

When I last bought some ski's during th selection process the "expert" had me stand on them ..He then pooked a piece of cardboard under the ski's and slid it back and forward...There has to be a "x" centre meter area under the ski's where they flex or something...When he was happy (he made a couple of adjustments to the place where the shoe fits)...he then put wax on in two area..slightly forward of the "flex area" and slightly behind the "flex area".. He put marks on the side of ther skis and said.."Put wax on there..no where else"..

So IMO opinion go find an expert...Either in a ski centre (There is one at Paloheinä) or in InterSport.

tampereblue · Post by **tampereblue** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:46 am

Yep, my 'wax pocket' is marked by an expert and fine, I just think I am not getting either a) the right grip wax or b) I am not putting it on right.

Does anyone have tips for a good grip wax for a wide temperature range (ie one I can leave on betweeo 0 and -10 or something) so I am not constantly on and off with the wax. I have read various methods, one being to rub it on like a crayon and then smooth it out in layers with a cork, but I can't get it smooth enough - should I be 'ironing' it?

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:52 am

charliebass wrote:Yep, my 'wax pocket' is marked by an expert and fine, I just think I am not getting either a) the right grip wax or b) I am not putting it on right.

Does anyone have tips for a good grip wax for a wide temperature range (ie one I can leave on betweeo 0 and -10 or something) so I am not constantly on and off with the wax. I have read various methods, one being to rub it on like a crayon and then smooth it out in layers with a cork, but I can't get it smooth enough - should I be 'ironing' it?

Could be that you have too much old wax that needs to be stripped off first..I have seen that offered as a service.....where was it...??
Here I think..
Suomen Latu ry has a ski rental, repair, and waxing service point at the Paloheinä cross-country ski centre, tel. 0400 774 413, open from Mon–Fri 4pm–8pm, Sat–Sun 10am–5pm.

enk · Post by **enk** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:56 am

sinikettu wrote:
enk wrote:Try moving the area you wax a cm at a time towards boths ends of
the skis. Have you recently checked what the area you need to wax
is by standing on the skis?

-enk
When I last bought some ski's during th selection process the "expert" had me stand on them ..He then pooked a piece of cardboard under the ski's and slid it back and forward...There has to be a "x" centre meter area under the ski's where they flex or something...When he was happy (he made a couple of adjustments to the place where the shoe fits)...he then put wax on in two area..slightly forward of the "flex area" and slightly behind the "flex area".. He put marks on the side of ther skis and said.."Put wax on there..no where else"..

So IMO opinion go find an expert...Either in a ski centre (There is one at Paloheinä) or in InterSport.

Thanks for the better description of what I was trying to say! Somedays
the ol' thought process just doesn't work

I would recommend going
to a place that offers waxing services and ask them to do it while you
wait because you want to learn what you're doing wrong or what you
could be doing better.

There are different types of waxes for different weather conditions and without knowing what condition your skis are in, it's rather impossible
to give you very good directions over the net. And any directions we
give will be a rather hit-or-miss affair.

-enk

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