November 2008
The Crown of Maine: Aroostook County
Once a year, Cross Country Skier becomes your best source for art -- all sorts of fine art related to our favorite sport. Never before have we presented such a diverse collection of media and styles: oils, woodblock prints, fabric and fresco ... Read more >
On the Wild Side
Anticipation runs high in November. At this time of the year, cross country ski enthusiasts become impatient waiting for the winter snows to fall on their favorite trails. Over time, those familiar trails can elicit a different emotion. After traversing the same groomed trails weekend after weekend, experienced skiers reluctantly admit boredom can temper their enthusiasm. When a loop becomes so familiar it can almost be skied blindfolded, it may be time to ... Read more >
“We’re not spending $250,000 to hold a race,” asserts Thom Perkins, longtime executive director of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation. “We’re spending $250,000 on trails to make better skiing for recreational skiers. Ninety-five percent of the use of this trail is going to be recreational and we designed these trails first and foremost to be fun to ski. We’re building a recreational trail that we can race on. This is a world-class recreational trail and it is one of only six of these facilities in the whole ... 
What is the first image of cross country skiing you remember? For most of us, it may include a graceful, impossibly extended skier (perhaps Bill Koch) effortlessly flying over the snow.
Last season, I explored many of the more-prominent success stories, questions, potential problems and future challenges facing the development ladder from youth to post-collegiate cross county ski racing. Whereas those columns were designed to encourage the cross country community at large to do a little self-examination as to where we are and where we want to go, little was actually directed straight to the athletes, parents and other adults directly involved in the competitive development process. 
What are Training Zones? 
Kids figure out how to stay upright and go faster by falling down a thousand times and chasing others kids. A childlike sense of curiosity and lots of time to play on skis can do the same for adults. 
The funding of ski trails, and all non-motorized trails for that matter, is a subject of some concern to me. I write this column in hopes of stimulating some discussion, generating ideas and sharing success stories.