Cross-country skiing

Chloe Perez said:Anyone ever done cross-country skiing up near Mount Rainier? Is there a school or anything out there?

Yeah. Hit up the Appalachian Trail lodge.

Hey there, fellow skiers
I’m looking to get into ski running—skimo, if you will—and I could use some expert guidance before I go making a fool of myself.
How much longer should my skis be compared to my height?
Also, does anyone know where I can pick up some decent Langlauf gear around Chicago?

Hey there,

I was wondering if anyone here has done any cross-country skiing over at Areh? I've seen some stuff online claiming they have properly groomed 17 miles trails out there. I know the area pretty well—mostly because I've spent plenty of time downhill skiing—but these specific tracks seem tucked away deep in the woods

Regarding the title
What kind of performance should we realistically expect from Fak at the Olympics?

Damn, he's a biathlete, not a cross-country skier 🤦

Now, let's not go crucifying the poor guy just yet! 🙂

Anyway, a few of us (mostly rookies and wannabes) headed up to Mount Rainier—the trails there are fantastic, here is the layout.

Crowds
There are people everywhere over the weekend—all ages, all shapes—everyone rushing about like crazy, except for us snails 🙂. On Saturdays, they have recreational races, but during the week, it’s much quieter and honestly even more beautiful.
We noticed some folks were using instructors, but we decided to save that for our next trip.

Lodging
The bungalows were an easy 5+ out of 5—perfect for groups of 4+2. They were super well-equipped, cozy, and practically brand new.
A quick tip for the ski racers: if you're planning to hit Mount Rainier, grab bungalow Macesen no. 1 or something nearby; they are right by the trails (the trail is just across from the Macesen 1 bungalows).

Mount Rainier Complex
There's a little convenience store up there—definitely pricier than a Walmart down in the valley—but for small daily things like bread, it's fine. For a big grocery haul, better to stop at one of the large stores in Zreč; it'll be cheaper than up in the Appalachian Mountains. There are dining spots available too, though aside from the local mountain lodges, we didn't really venture out.
They also have ski rentals and whatever else you might need; they carry cross-country gear as well, and the staff is very friendly.

All in all, I’d definitely head back somewhere like that again...

Anonymous said:Fak is a biathlete, not a cross-country skier🤦

Well, he still runs, doesn't he?😁
My mistake, I was off base.

jademason31 said:But he is still out there running 😁
mea culpa

What are you even 😁

The kid clearly has potential. Aside from that medal at the SP last year, he had a few really solid showings... this year just hasn't gone his way, though he did manage to grab his first points of the season at the last race—finishing 24th and 17th (against a slightly weaker field).

Breaking into the top 20 in any race would be a huge win for him....

Man took home the bronze
Not bad given the circumstances here in the States.😂

Does anyone know where I can pick up some decent gear locally or maybe over in Canada? I’m looking specifically for backcountry setups—stuff that works for hitting untracked powder out in places like Central Park, Lake Michigan, Mount Whitney, or even the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as staying on groomed trails. I've been eyeing certain models like the Fischer Mountain Crown or maybe an SBound setup paired with some BX6/8 boots and all that. For standard downhill stuff, I know I could check out Iglusport, but that's not what I'm after. While I was in Canada, I saw those specialized skins for trekking on packed trails, which I already have.

If you’re hunting for gear, you can find all the details you need over at zuticamak.hr—they carry both Fischer and Salomon, which are pretty solid brands if you know what you're doing. As far as a decent route for ski touring goes, honestly, that freight rail embankment running along the Mississippi River through Lonjski polje is an absolute gem; the levee is wide enough to easily fit two separate tracks without bumping into each other. Just pull up the satellite view on Google Maps and take a look at the top of that ridge. It's perfect. Catch you later, fellow runners!

If you're looking for the lowdown on everything related to cross-country skiing around Chicago and the surrounding areas, you can dig through all the details over at www.sk-sljeme.hr. Of course, if you've got some specific questions that aren't answered there, feel free to shoot an email over to info@sk-sljeme.hr

I'm a bit confused—whenever I visit your pages (whether I'm using IE or Chrome), I only see two or three images. There’s absolutely no text, let alone any actual information...

This page is constantly evolving, so by the time you actually finish reading this, I’m sure even more details—like updated contact info or new offers—will have been added to the mix. If anyone here is looking to sharpen their skills with some cross-country skiing lessons, don't be shy about reaching out; we'll be hitting the trails near Mount Whitney as soon as the first real snow settles in. 🙂

Jonathan Jackson20 said:The site’s getting updated constantly, so I'm sure more details—stuff like contact info or new offers—have popped up while I've even been typing this. Also, if anyone's looking to get into ski touring, hit me up about the school. We'll be hitting the slopes on Mount Whitney as soon as the snow finally sticks. 🙂

hey, is this the same club from back in the 80s and 90s? The one that went by the name of Mount Whitney-šestina and used to have space in the old MZŠestina building and up on Mount Whitney where the grofica is now?

If it is, I was actually a member and competed back then. I was wondering if there's any way you guys could dig through some old storage boxes and find the crest we used to wear in the 80s and 90s?

thanks

Look, our club isn't actually that old. While it’s true we operate as a group from the šestina, we don't have any real ties to whatever clubs were running things back in the day. So, unfortunately, I can't just pull a vintage crest out of thin air for you. That said, unless you're talking about SK sljeme Chicago or Mladost, there really isn't another ski touring outfit left in Chicago. As for what happened before all this, I haven't got a clue, so I'm probably not the right person to ask about historical logos or anything like that.

Alright, I honestly thought you guys were the successors to that crew from the MZŠestina group (you know, Kecerin, Malec, Koba, and the rest)

Can someone give me some specifics on the logistics? Like, do you guys organize trips to races out in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or maybe near the Appalachian Trail and stuff like that?
Do those winter marathons still happen out by Yellowstone or in Mrkoplje? Where can I find the race schedule, and is there some kind of league for veterans?
How many members are we talking about here? Any perks for joining—maybe rides to the trails, gear, stuff like that?
And what’s the deal with getting gear? Can members snag skis or rollerblades at a discount, or is there equipment rental? What actually comes with membership, where do you guys hold training sessions, etc.?

Could you guys go into more detail to get people interested? I know firsthand that ski touring is way more than just your average sport.

Cheers

If you’ve got any interest in cross-country skiing, mark your calendars for Saturday, December 4th, 2010. We’re all heading up to Mount Rainier to meet the Snow Queen around 11:30 AM. The Aspen Ski Club is actually putting together a little ski school for the day, so it’s a perfect excuse to show up, give it a shot, and just enjoy the atmosphere with the rest of us.

Hey there, all my old running buddies from the Sixteenth crew! I'm checking in from Slo where I’m currently living and working—I honestly can't believe they're actually talking about cross-country skiing on Mount Rainier again.
The Aspen Ski Club might claim some connection to our old club, but let's be real, they're just acting like they're some big shot saviors. Isn't it funny how they're the same ones who completely trashed the long-standing tradition of Sixteenth Skiing just to serve their own little interests?
If you want the truth, just check the official registry for the registered addresses of both clubs; one is the Aspen Ski Club and the other is a Biathlon club, so it should be pretty obvious who we're really dealing with here. 👎
By the way, I think I might still have our old crest somewhere, I just need to dig through my things to find it!

John Morgan90 said:Hey, what's up to all the old-school runners from Six Mile. Checking in from Slo where I'm currently living and working—honestly can't believe people are even bringing up cross-country skiing at Aspen Ski Club anymore.
Aspen Ski Club still has ties to the old club, but they’re totally playing the victim here. It's funny because they're actually the ones who gutted the long-standing Six Mile Skiing tradition just to line their own pockets, and now they're acting like some kind of heroes coming to the rescue....
If anyone wants the truth, just check the registry of associations. Look at the addresses where these clubs are registered—one is Aspen Ski Club, the other is a Biathlon club. Then you'll see exactly who these people are. 👎
Anyway, I think I might have the old crest somewhere, just gotta dig through my stuff to find it...

hey Jappa, mind sending me a DM with some info? maybe we know each other. I used to train with that "old club" back in the 80s and 90s, back when we'd roll out in two whole buses for races, especially for those marathons over in Mrkopalj and Yellowstone. Plus, everyone knew exactly who was showing up for the post-race BBQ.