He Knew He Was Right

Remember those roller ski things I bought? The whole point of them was fitness, and being ready when ski season got here. Well, not too long ago, I figured I'd be sailing like this by now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbqiF0y6Occ&feature=colike . Yeah, I was going to be in great shape, better shape than I had been in any recent ski season, in fact. That's right, I was going to put more time in on the skinny skis this winter and be ready to glide, well, something approximating this: http://youtu.be/XDZTHQlc1N8 . Ok, maybe not nearly so well, but certainly be able to move effortlessly along the trail, up hills, around turns, and all that.  Instead, ski season is just about here, and I realize I don't quite have my ski legs ready. So, I'm frantically trying to get in shape. And, forget the roller skis, I'm getting ready for the season the old-fashioned way: http://youtu.be/qaeRaHNszws

After my downhill skiing struggles , I decided to give cross-country skiing a shot. I did a little research, spoke to some trusted staff at a frequented Eastern Mountain Sports store, and I purchased some classic cross-country skis in late 1993. I had never tried it, and wasn’t even sure that I would like it, but I jumped into the whole xc skiing thing feet--or skis--first. I recall testing them out in a local park early that winter. Yes, a park, i.e., a FLAT, wide-open area, where I got the gist of the whole pushing forward and sliding thing. There was no worry of unwanted acceleration, and it was a good cardio workout. I liked this. Kick-slide-kick-slide-kick-slide... I returned to the Catskills with one of my buddies, to try this some more. He went downhill skiing while I headed over to a local golf course and did my cross country. Again, I found myself enjoying this activity. Yeah, there were some mild hills and more turning dictated by the contours of the trail, but the fa...