Outdoor Central Oregon January/February 2020

PAID ADVERTISEMENT JAN/FEB 2020 Come Out & Play On XC Skis The key ingredients to make your first few days and winters on- snow as enjoyable as possible. 1.) Start out by going to a groomed XC ski area. For beginners, trying to learn on ungroomed surfaces magnifies the difficulty of every movement. By comparison, groomed XC ski areas use machinery and sport-specific drags to flatten and sculpt snow to be as perfect as possible on a given day for either classic or freestyle techniques. You learn faster and with far less struggle. You have more fun. Life is good. 2.) Start by renting the right XC ski equipment. Beginner XC skiers require a very particular type of equipment to have the greatest success on your first few XC ski outings. After a few days or weeks renting this beginner gear on groomed trails, you can then graduate to the many different types of XC ski designed for all manner of groomed and ungroomed scenarios our sport offers. 3.) Start with a professional lesson. Friends and family that have XC skied in the past are wonderful tip-givers. But when it comes to actually learning how to do the basic skills needed to XC ski, you want to spend an hour or two with a professional instructor. A good instructor will guide you through the basic skills quickly and with the past experience of teaching hundreds of other beginners. If you follow our first two tips, you’ll be learning in the perfect location…with the right gear… and with someone trained to help you. 4.) Start with the right technique for you. Modern XC skiing includes both classic and skating techniques. Classic is the centuries-old traditional motion with parallel skis sliding forward in an opposite leg, opposite arm movement pattern. XC ski skating is a cousin of ice and in- line skating with the poles added. For a never-ever beginner, classic is more of a sure-fire success in the first couple days on-snow. Learning classic skills also gives you the ability to explore ungroomed locations right away. Skating can take a full winter (or two) of practice and will generally require a higher fitness level to start. Note: A background in alpine skiing, ice or in-line skating can help in learning to skate ski. Best local resources for beginners: Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center offers the trifecta of groomed trails, on-site rental gear specific for the needs of beginners, and a merry band of instructors offering daily lessons nearly every day from Thanksgiving until late spring… www.mtbachelor.com HooDoo Nordic Trails also offers all the groomed trails, on-site rental gear, and lessons you need. The schedule is a bit more selective so do your research ahead of time… www.skihoodoo.com Meisner Nordic trails is a community project offering a great spot to practice your beginner skills on groomed trails…www.meissnernordic.org At The Center, our diverse team of highly-trained doctors is dedicated to getting Central Oregonians back to the lives they love through exceptional care and compassion. If you're experiencing pain that's keeping you from your passions, let our specialists guide you back to your best. Whatever your passion, find your strength here. NOWcare walk-in appointments now at all four locations Bend – Old Mill District – Shevlin – Redmond Get Back to What You Love Make an appointment today. 541.382.3344 TheCenterOregon.com 39

Outdoor Central Oregon January/February 2020 | Page 39