I was unsure where to post this in the forum. It is really a request for advice. I was reading under the discussion pages on the Winter Olympics of Awk's skiing trip to Geilo, Mairead and I are off to Finland, Yllas which in Lapland the day after the British. I am wondering what clothes will be needed. As x country skiing is rated as higher than cross country running in terms of energy production, I thought we would get too hot in padded salopettes and jacket. Also we need to be free to move so I guess layers, but the weather is likely still to be pretty cold north of the Arctic Circle first week in April. It is our first time x country skiing and one of the ideas was to try and do some ski o, but have not been able to find out if there are any o maps of the area. There is a map of all the ski trails and the web site for the area says it is a place where orienteering takes place, but in the summer. I know the maps will be different - I have checked out all the web sites for x country ski o. Is there still a part of British orienteering that takes part in x country ski orienteering?
Any advice on gear to take, about the sport or anything at all would be welcomed.
(Might be needing these skills I have yet to master this weekend in Wales)
X Country skiing in Finland
Moderators: [nope] cartel, team nopesport
6 posts
• Page 1 of 1
i don't know much about ski-o, but one of the things i do know is that the maps are prepared specially for the race, and extra paths put in the forest by snowmobiles to make route choice more interesting.
so it not like in foot o where you can just get hold of a map and go, as some of the paths won't be there!
sounds like an ace trip though!
so it not like in foot o where you can just get hold of a map and go, as some of the paths won't be there!
sounds like an ace trip though!
-
rocky - [nope] cartel
- Posts: 2747
- Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2003 1:28 pm
- Location: SW
Have done several weeks XC skiing in Norway in late March and would normally expect to wear a Helly and thin fleece, +/- windproof on top, and Helly bottoms + tracksters on the legs, with gloves for skiing, plus a duvet jacket and hat for breaks etc.
Layer up and you'll be fine.
Prepare to find muscles you didn't know you had, and to be absolutely knack'd. It's ace.
Kuusamo is the furthest north I've made it in Finland, and that was ace, too.
Sooooo jealous - haven't skiied since Stodge stuffed his feet - maybe next year
Layer up and you'll be fine.
Prepare to find muscles you didn't know you had, and to be absolutely knack'd. It's ace.
Kuusamo is the furthest north I've made it in Finland, and that was ace, too.
Sooooo jealous - haven't skiied since Stodge stuffed his feet - maybe next year
Make the most of life - you're a long time dead.
-
Stodgetta - brown
- Posts: 569
- Joined: Fri May 07, 2004 2:55 pm
- Location: north of brum, south of manchester
Knowing what it is like up here in Northern Scandinavia, the layers principle is best. Salopettes are not much good. I usually have a pair of windproof thermal tights or trousers plus a pair of long-johns if the temperature is below -15. A long-armed thermal (Helly Hansen) and a windproof top are normally sufficient. Carry a jacket in a rucksack if you'll be out for the day though. One thing you may want to think about is breathing. We have a competition limit of -20oC and when it gets that low it is a bit uncomfortable to breath when exerting yourself. Having said all this, the "vårvinter" is the best time of the year up here with plenty of sunshine and temperatures usually no lower than -10 (although it is -19 here at the moment!)
As far as ski-orienteering is concerned, the season is really over by the middle of March, even up here in the sub-arctic, although we do have a District Champs (ultra-long) planned for the start of April here in Luleå Not too far away... I can check what is on in Northern Finland (or you can check for yourself here if your Finnish is any good!http://www.suunnistus.net/lapinsuunnistus/ ) but I'm pretty sure their season will be over too.
Ski-o is more akin to mountain-bike o than foot-o. You also use scate skis, not the more common classic skis. In general, you stick to the tracks only (unless you make a mistake or can see a short-cut). What Rocky said about the maps is quite right. They are usually orienteering maps of areas with prepared cross-country ski tracks. These form the main "highways". Other tracks are marked snow scooter trails (normally a couple of metres wide) and the really small tracks are made just before the race by driving a scooter around. I almost killed myself last week skiing downhill on one of these tracks...
Anyway, hope you enjoy the northern spring.
As far as ski-orienteering is concerned, the season is really over by the middle of March, even up here in the sub-arctic, although we do have a District Champs (ultra-long) planned for the start of April here in Luleå Not too far away... I can check what is on in Northern Finland (or you can check for yourself here if your Finnish is any good!http://www.suunnistus.net/lapinsuunnistus/ ) but I'm pretty sure their season will be over too.
Ski-o is more akin to mountain-bike o than foot-o. You also use scate skis, not the more common classic skis. In general, you stick to the tracks only (unless you make a mistake or can see a short-cut). What Rocky said about the maps is quite right. They are usually orienteering maps of areas with prepared cross-country ski tracks. These form the main "highways". Other tracks are marked snow scooter trails (normally a couple of metres wide) and the really small tracks are made just before the race by driving a scooter around. I almost killed myself last week skiing downhill on one of these tracks...
Anyway, hope you enjoy the northern spring.
- Domhnull Mor
- light green
- Posts: 286
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 11:16 am
- Location: Way, Way Up North
Ski O in Poland
There are several reports of the Bergson Winter Challenge, Masters and Speed Races, on http://www.sleepmonsters.co.uk - race took place 26 Feb to 5 March 06. The first loop of both races was 5km on foot around Karpacz village / town. No nordic skiing in Speed race, but a couple of stages in Masters, plus stages of navigation on foot in both races. Lots of photos so ou can see what people were wearing. Bear in mind, though, that the tiredness of 2 to 4 nights without sleep means people tended to wear more towards the end of the races. Masters Race was won by a Finnish team.
- Copepod
- green
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2004 7:36 pm
- Location: Leeds, England, UK
6 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest