I was told today that skate skiing is a great way to keep up your cardio during the winter. Any comments on this?? Are there any place other than Hanover that have groomed skate skiing tracks?? It sounds like it would be alot of fun.
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

1 word. snowshoe.

Skate skiing is an outstanding method of cross-training. Over the past few years, I have found that I enjoy a good hard ski just as much and for all of the same reasons I like a good hard bike ride. It is safe to say that I now enjoy skiing as much as I enjoy cycling ... which, those of you who know me well will realize is saying something!

The best trails in NH south of the notches are at the Waterville Valley Nordic Center (in the interest of full disclosure, they also a sponsor of the road cycling team I manage). On any given weekend day that I have skied there, about 25% of the people I see skiing are people I know from road cycling.

In addition to Hanover/Oak Hill and Waterville Valley, Eastman and Quechee, VT groom trails for skate skiing. The Blackwater Ski Area (Andover, NH) has a well-maintained set of trails used predominately for racing. They are great for a workout ... but will leave you wanting more if you desire to explore. There are some other centers around ... but we really took in on the chin when Norsk went belly-up. Talking about Norsk, there is a ski-club (www.pinehillskiclub.com) that is maintaining a small number of trails that used to be part of the Norsk operation. I am not sure if they groom any of it for skate skiing ... but it is worth a try.

Some of the best FREE skate skiing in this area is in Lyme, near the Dartmouth Skiway. A guy up there maintains an incredible collection of trails that are at least as good as all of the ski centers. You can ski for 2-3 hours without repeating trails. He has warming huts and keeps hot water and cocoa on hand (also free)!

Concord Parks and Rec. grooms trails at White Farm, Beaver Meadow CC, and Carter Hill Orchards. The trails are short ... but very convenient for me and the high school xc-skiing team I coach (which has 45 skiers!)

Hopkinton Parks and Rec. grooms for skate skiing around some of the fields near the fairgrounds. A complete circuit of the trails takes me 8-10 minutes.

I have also skied on the snowmobile trails here in Sunapee. If we have good snowfall, they are ideal for skate skiing ... you just need to remember that the snowmobilers are not expecting to see you out on *their* trails.

Last year I purchased a set of nordic skates, which clip right on to my ski-boots. When it is cold but there is no snow, I take them out on Lake Sunapee and ski around the lake (or as far as it is safe to go). I reckon I can go about 30mph on a smooth sheet of ice with these incredibly fun (and tiring) pieces of equipment. Talking about skating, there are groomed ovals of various distances around the upper valley ... including a 5km oval on Lake Morey in Fairlee, VT. I got my skates from the owner of The Nordic Skater (www.nordicskater.com) in Norwich, VT. The Montshire Skating Club is the group to contact about this.

Hopefully you come away from this posting realizing that there are ample opportunities to skate ski in our area. Getting back to cross training, I would say that at least 75% of the members on my road bike racing team ski in the winter (at least 21 of 27 of them).

Come to think of it, I wish I could head out for a ski right now ... maybe I will go down to my cellar and do some waxing just for fun!

In my personal opinion, skate skiing is the best cross-training winter activity for cycling ... plus it is just plain fun!!!