Today was Kasey’s second day of skate skiing, and Blake’s first. After two and a half hours of pushing himself around our trail system, following Logan and Kasey, Blake asked me if he could use skate skis again next Friday. You bet Blake! You’ve got the spirit!

 

I will never tell someone that learning to skate ski is easy. I don’t think it is. Well I remember learning to skate ski, and I think it was years before I really could say it was fun, compared to classic skiing. But it is fun for me now, and folks can learn quite a bit easier than I did, back in 1985. “We” understand quite a bit more about the mechanics of skate skiing, so we as instructors can help beginning skate skiers speed up the learning curve faster than those who are trying to figure it out on their own.

 

When you are a 4th or 5th grader, you’re willing to take some instruction, up to a point. But mostly, you want to try it. So off you go, following behind your more experienced peers, pushing along, working hard, sweating so that your hair gets wet and stands on end when you take your hat off. You occasionally trip and fall, and your glasses get snow covered and fog up. No matter. You carry on. And next week you’ll try it again. No whining. No complaints. An inner determination to learn skate skiing. These kids could have a real future in cross country if they choose. They’ve got the mind set. My faith is renewed.

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