So far the Sea to Sky Corridor has seen less snow than what snow enthusiasts desire, and downhill fans are longing for more. Yet cross-country skiers are not complaining at all, as most ski areas in the corridor are open with extensive trail systems available. Unlike downhill skiing, cross-country does not require a big snow base; tracks can even be set on four to five inches of snow, and cross-country skiers enjoy the hard-packed conditions, which is also unlike their downhill counterparts.
Cross-country skiing is possible in every type of weather if you choose the right gear. So when should you grab your classic skis and when should you opt for skate gear? If it is very cold, skate skis will not glide very well, so put on your classic skis and enjoy the tracks and the excellent grip provided by kick wax in cold snow conditions.
The same goes for snowy days with lots of deep, fresh white stuff on the trails; this will slow down skate skis considerably and classic skiing will be much more fun in a groomed track that has been skied-in by numerous skiers. In almost all other conditions, it will be equally enjoyable on both skate and classic skis.
There are two scenarios when you might consider leaving your classic gear at home: temperatures around zero degrees, especially when combined with new snow, can make waxing classic skis tricky. In these conditions try no-wax skis or 鈥榋eros鈥� for good kick and glide. Widely varying temperatures also create challenges when applying kick wax, so this is another scenario when no-wax classic skis or skate skis may be a better option.
Whatever the conditions, cross-country skiing is always possible. If you do not have your own gear, just go to your nearest ski area and visit the rental shop to get set听 up with the perfect gear for the day, skate or classic.
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New ski jumping program
A new exciting Nordic discipline has come to life in the Sea to Sky corridor: ski jumping. For the next weeks, children and adults will be able to try this sport at Whistler Olympic Park on Saturdays and Sundays 1 to 3 p.m., on Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Feb. 7-8, Feb. 14-15, Feb. 21-22, Mar. 7-8, and March 14-15.
New 20 and 40-metre junior training jumps were built this summer to enable young athletes to learn ski jumping on beginner-friendly hills. A multi-week program is targeted at children and youth eight to 16 years of age; they can chose to attend either all seven Saturdays or Sundays 鈥� or even both. Registration is possible at seatoskynordics.ca/programs/ski-jumping-programs.
Children and adults who cannot commit to the seven-week program or who just want to give ski jumping a try can also participate. Those who are eight to 88 years of age and who are at least intermediate downhill skiers can choose the drop-in option for the lessons. Drop-in participants need to provide their own properly fitted downhill gear and snow helmet. There is a small registration fee in addition to the lift ticket or season pass. Registration is recommended at 604-964-0060 ext. 2434 or by email [email protected].
