devashish_paul wrote:
Halvard wrote:
pookie87 wrote:
Saw this on Faster Skier-so excited. Interested in seeing how Jessie Diggins does in classic after her wins this past week. Never strong in classic, but has been working on it this off season. Two of the top women out pregnant too-Marit and Kikkan.
Classic skiing will be really interesting this year. Especially since many skiers have done a lot more double poling during the summer. In the season opening in Norway almost all the men used double poling on the 15k and 3 women did on the 7.5k. The skiers are double poling hills that were unthinkable just a few years back. This strength will also help on the V2 in skate.
The USA needs to step up on the classic. We need more nations at the top to make the sport more than just Norway and Sweden.
It is too bad that classic has turned into a double pole event. They should almost paint lines in the snow, when double pole is illegal and you have to stride it out. Back in the 80's diagonal stride was being made obsolete by skating until they broke out skating as a separate event. Maybe they need to break out double poling as its own event, and re instate classic and have only certain zones where double poling is permitted which could be similar to using a skate stride in classic events when you need to change lanes. Other than that, you use your legs and arms. Its gotten a bit ridiculous now.
In this case, classic turns to the "racing walking" of nordic skiing. The weird event that is the slowest way of getting point A to B, but still a valid technique and the most simple means for a human to get around on skis on snow (just like walking is on land).
I think it is amazing how much better the skiers are in double poling. Now the challenge is to make race courses that are hard enough to use grip wax. A good example is the sprint course in Drammen, it changes and then all had to use grip wax. The courses in Falun and Holmenkollen also have the long hills you want to keep the classic striding.
But all classic long distance races will be won by double poling, including the US Birkie.
I am SO looking forward to the world cup starting this weekend. I am also looking into going to some of the races in Canada this winter.