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Ski Randonee and Ski Running Explained
Inspired Mountain Living
Inspired Mountain Living
You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “Ski Randonee and Ski Running Explained”.
Dolomites Tour Operator
excellent article….. just the information that I was looking for.
Grazie….maybe Janine can tell me more on the WOMAN’s side, ie. gear…I suspect that like in most sports, best shapes, colours and stuff to choose from is “for men only”, as if WE WOMEN WOULD NOT EXIST at all! JANINE, WHERE ARE YOU?!
Funny you should say this Tite… but, Janine is not so into the ski running. But, Nina’s post might possibly address this – I will ask her t include something. Thanks.
… to be more specific: I’ve been wearing GARMONT ADRENALINE in the last 3 years, but i don’t find them, great. Any suggestion for a lean foot?
If anyone has questions about ski Rando racing, or gear… US Team member Nina Silitch will be answering the questions here.
Ski Running … Mountaineering or whatever…. let’s go back some time.
I perfectly remember my first SR race, it was exactly on my birthday and I was 16 years young in 1992. One of those classical races, where people take part just for the party after the competition. And coincidence, this race is held every year in the Fanes Natural Park from where the pictures of Dan in this post come from
After that, I took part at the first 4 editions of the exhausting Sellaronda Skimarathon (www.sellaronda.it). After the 4th edition, I said to myself “never again” … but it seems that the word NEVER doesn’t exist for an athlete, so 3 years ago I was again ski running, at night, around the Sella massiv chasing headlamps. I’m not a real fanatic of SR races, but I take part at around 5~7 each winter season.
What changed in the ski gear the last 15 years? I think after computers, the SR gear is the equipment that had the biggest improvement. The credit for this, goes to all the athletes and fanatics that helped the different brands to improve their equipment. And of course to this brands like Dynafit, Ski Trab, Scarpa etc. that listened to this athletes and believed in a big market.
In my first SR years, the thing I remember the most are … blisters, blisters and again blisters. This until Dynafit came out with the first Ski Running boot, it was the really colorfull one that you needed to buy together with the ultra light bindings. After that Ski Trab followed with ultra light ski’s and the race for ultra light gear started.
This race doesn’t come to an end. At the beginning of each season, you know about the new products, lighter and better. Then you go at the races … and what you see at the starting line are all the new Ultra Light gear, but with a lot differences. All single athletes are modifying boots and bindings. Some also cut the tail of their skis. As example, if you buy a Scarpa F1 or other boots, the first thing one does is taking away the buckles and replace them with a 4mm string. Does it work? Since I tried that, I’ll never go back to buckles! (opsss, I said never again). Here a picture of my Scarpa F1 modified boots: http://yfrog.com/3iq9yvj
The bottom line?
If you think, that with your last shopping, you have all the last new ultra light gear, you may be wrong. The fantasy of some athletes goes further than you can image in some cases.
PS @tite: Clothing brands already think at the woman side of this sport: http://igort.posterous.com/new-badiasport-skirandoneering-girls-team-sui
Grazie Igor, I saw the girls outfit: good for when it’s really cold, but I wonder why W’s outfit is ALWAYS black, which, if you think at the sun often on us while running with or without skiing, is a contradiction. (yes, I know, apparently black makes you thinner, but we are athletes, aren’t we?!).
My main interest was for technical gear, like boots and skiis: as for buckles, you described its evolution perfectly and I guess it’s valid both for men and for women.
LIGHTNESS, I understand, is the the new stream, all the more important for a woman. I would add another feature, ie. the W’s LEANER FOOT than man’s, which is why my Garmont Adrenaline boot (W)is loose although I buckle it up to the maximum…I’ll go and try Scarpa and Dynafit. Details soon, any suggestions are very welcome.
Tite, I just got the new Dynafit DyNA Boots and they seem narrower. And… amazing how light and precise, but I do feel like I need to re-learn the down part of skiing.
Nice post Dan, I’m living back in the Colorado mts now, and I’m getting back into the groove of rando racing, or ski running. It all started for me with the touring, and I LOVE the downhill, but I’m also a fitness freak and very often can’t find people to tour with, so, rando/running. Love the fitness part of it and April is race season in Colorado. It all starts with the 5 Peaks, the longest rando race in America, right in my backyard of Breckenridge, put on by national champ Pete Swenson. Looking forward to it!!
Dan, My story is much the same; I love to ski, I love to train, and I love to compete in endurance events. Ski rando race training is something that can be done solo, and the races… fantastic fun.
Wish I could make the 5 Peaks but we have back to back commercial shoots then we go right to Italy. And all my race stuff is there anyway…..
Let me know how it goes – have fun.
Dan
Dan,
The 5 Peaks went off without a hitch. With beautiful weather, 38 teams of two showed up for the first race. I know the field was tiny compared to what you’re used to, but the competition was very good, the course was tough, in and out of bounds, it was great all around. My friend Liam took great pics, (http://liamdoran.smugmug.com/5-Peaks-Ski-Mountaineering) and I know you and all your buddies would’ve had a great time. Lots of awesome volunteers and spectators to thank as well.
Maybe next year for ya, it will be a good one.
Dan, I am certainly hoping to make some US races next winter, 5 Peaks tops the list. Thanks for posting.
Dan