|
 tips & tales
I believe that quality ski trails are as important to the sport of cross country skiing as pavement is to drag racing. The purpose of the following information is an attempt to bring together and share some practical information about grooming cross country ski trails and to gain knowledge and skills in the grooming process for all to share for the good of the sport.
Since the winter of 1990 I have been logging in an average of 2000 km per grooming season in an area where the conditions vary from almost no snow all season to when it just won't stop. The site is located just east of Edmonton, Alberta, neighboring the Blackfoot Recreation Center Area where the Canadian Birkebeiner is currently being held every year, if this helps you get a visual.
When learning about grooming ski trails, it seems that no matter how long or how many kilometers experience, mother nature always has a trick or two to keep the grooming process entertaining, or you talk to someone with a better idea. The current Cross Country Canada "Trail Grooming and Tracksetting Manual" is a great reference for all aspects of trail
 grooming information, and our thanks to all those who have shared their expertise for the use of other groomers to create optimum ski surfaces for their clubs and ski areas.
Over the years, I have found that solid background knowledge in the various aspects of trail preparation and grooming processes have been my most valuable tool. Being the primary groomer on site I am responsible for 15 kilometers of eighteen foot wide trails, two instructional grids and a downhill teaching site for daily group ski lessons as well as the general public, the speed of preparing quality ski surfaces is my number one concern.
By always reading, asking questions, experimenting and inventing we try to make the process easier and faster without sacrificing quality. I would like to discuss what we believe to be the most relevant aspects of creating optimum ski trails, as we understand them to be, and pass on the experience to those who may benefit.
|
