ADVANCED CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

OED 049-01

Read: A Nordic Skiing Teaching Progression for the V-2 Skate

Read: Nordic Ski Technique Summaries

Follow this link to view a directory of ski related websites

Meeting Time: M 1:30-3:20 p.m.

W 12:30-5:20 p.m.

Meeting Place: CSE 168 (Monday meeting)

Instructor: J. Grant White; Wh 312/Ext. 1350

Texts: The Complete Guide to Cross-Country Ski Preparation, by Nat Brown

The Wax Book, by the Ski Research Group

Readings from: “The Master Skier”

This course is not designed for expert skiers but for students who would like to become expert skiers. The most important requirement is a desire to engage in a serious study of cross-country skiing.

The emphasis will be on technique for groomed trails and will include both classical and skating techniques. It is your instructor’s belief and experience that good, efficient technique as practiced by racers transfers very well to back country applications. The efficient technique that allows a racer to be fast, allows the backcountry skier to get through the day with less fatigue, reduced food fuel consumption, and reduced metabolic heat output (reduced heat production=drier layers/improved fluid retention).

The course will include units on base preparation/repair, waxing, equipment, classical and skating styles, and techniques analysis in the field and on film. This will be accomplished during weekly classroom meetings, weekly ski sessions, and two, one day weekend sessions (t.b.a.)

Because we will be outside in a winter environment, your clothing selection is a matter of both personal and group safety. A warm hat is mandatory. Try to obtain long underwear made of wool or one of the synthetics such as “Thermax” or polypropylene as any of these will keep you warm even when wet. Dress in multiple light layers made of wool or one of the synthetic pile or fleece fabrics. A light wind shell is best over layers such as these. Avoid heavy coats, which allow few adjustment options beyond on or off. You will become wet from perspiration and then become chilled in something such as this. You will need a daypack in which to store clothing layers as you heat up. Wool pants or wind pants over “polypro” or fleece may be best in cold weather and mittens are warmer than gloves. Neither cotton or acrylic is serviceable nor appropriate.

Grading

As of fall semester 1999, students in all Outdoor Education activity classes will receive a letter grade. Grades in this class will be calculated on a straight percentage basis. This is accomplished by dividing the number of points earned by the total number of points possible. I do not grade on improvement except to the extent that improved scores will bolster the student’s overall point total. Full and enthusiastic class participation is expected of all students and should not be viewed as something extra that can be counted on to compensate for poor performance on written assignments.

The written work will include:

Personal Journal

In addition to attending every session, each student will write a set of specific, personal, technique and knowledge goals for the class. As the course progresses, the student should keep a running journal relating class and personal experiences to the achievement of these goals. The entries should include:

A name or brief description of the technique goal

A brief description of the learning activity

A brief discussion of progress and challenges

Waxing Journal

Students should keep a waxing journal in which they’ll log the snow and weather conditions for each day of skiing, the wax and base structure used, and describe the performance of the combination.

Take-Home Exam

The grading scale is as follows: 93-100 A; 90-92 A-; 87-89 B+; 83-86 B; 80-82 B-; 77-79 C+; 73-76 C; 70-72 C-; 67-69 D+; 60-66 D; 0-59 F.

Attendance

Students must understand that attendance is of paramount importance in any activity class. It is more important than, and cannot be made up by, either the knot exam or the written assignment. This class meets 13 times. Therefore, if classes are missed, each class will be considered to be worth 7.5% of the class, and 7.5% per session missed will be deducted from the final percentage total. Students in the class will be expected to attend each session and participate to the fullest. Excused absences include illness; school sponsored activities, and selected family obligations. Missing a class to study for another class is not excused on the basis of being a school sponsored activity. Misses of the instructional parts of classes must be made up by researching the topics covered in class on the day in question, and writing a summary of the findings. Under no circumstances should a student assume that by merely submitting a paper, they have made up for 100% of the class missed. In order to be considered equivalent, the paper must reproduce the content covered on the day missed, and be of adequate length, substance, and quality based on the judgment of the course professor. For purposes of calculating a final grade for the class, the paper will be graded, and the 7.5% deduction for the one absence will be reduced, commensurate with the quality of the make-up assignment. Therefore, the degree to which the paper actually substitutes for the class experiences on the day missed, will be directly reflected in the final grade. The student must meet with the professor to discuss the possible make-up work. Only two misses (equivalent to one week of the course) can be made up in this way. Any student missing more than two sessions must drop the class. Experience has shown this professor that it is impossible to anticipate all possible situations, which may affect a student’s final grade. If, and when such situations arise, a decision will be made by the course instructor, based on the norms of the profession and his best judgment. The professor may consult with departmental colleagues, the Division Head, and/or the Dean of the College.