Welcome to the 2021-22 Ride and Glide Season
The first night of class will be Nov 9. We will meet every
Tuesday from Nov 9 through the end if Feb at 6:30 at your respective locations.
- Lake Elmo
- First night will be Introduction and Review of Dryland Training at
Lake Elmo Regional Park 6:30
- Fat/Mtn Bike ride. Meet in Nordic Center Lot 6:30, head over
to West Side at 6:45 (Bring Lights)
- Following nights are the same
- Elm Creek
Everything you need to know about how the
club works can be found below. Please feel free to ask questions if things
are not clear or if I forgot something. There's a lot of information here.
Be sure to read it.
Meeting time
- 6:30 inside the Nordic Center (LE or EC). Please be on
time and masks
are required inside the Nordic Center
- Before the trails are open for skiing (Dryland) meet outside near
the Nordic Center
- Come in early, stretch, put on your boots, Start with warm feet.
- Head out for work by 6:45. Please come inside, don't wait for us
outside,
- We need to get a head count each night before we head out.
Ski passes and Parking.
- Lake Elmo skiers need a Washington Co Parking Pass
and a Lake Elmo Ski Pass
- Get one at the Park Office or call 651-430-8370 and it can be
mailed to you
- You do not need a
Minnesota Ski Pass, but you do at many other places
- Elm Creek skiers need a Three Rivers Ski Pass
- Buy one at the park office
- Parking passes are not required
- The Minnesota Ski Pass is not
needed at Elm Creek or Lake Elmo but if you plan on skiing most any other place in
Minnesota you will need one
Coaches
- Lake Elmo (Divisions within groups vary each night)
- Classic: Jyneen Thatcher, Kurt Ware, R.J. Ochman
- Skate: Steve Thatcher, Ed Corazalla, Hank Carbonne, Pete
Dahlberg
- Fat Bike: Ken Taillon
- Elm Creek (Divisions within groups vary each night)
- Classic: Ken Tobacman
- Skate: Andrea Potyondy-Smith, Pete Thurmes
Communication
- E-mail/web site: E-mail is primary method of communication.
- Expect weekly messages on Monday morning or Sunday night and also late in week about
weekend activities.
- When conditions are marginal expect more messages on Monday and Tuesday
as we try to figure out what we'll be doing on Tuesday.
- Web site will have general information each week. It's updated at least
once a week.
- Web site has lots of info on waxing, technique, and equipment
- Check out the links to the web cams at ABR and the Birke Trail.
- Weather forecast, radar and Sunrise/Sunset. Useful info
for all skiers
- Links to World Cup videos of
current races
- You can get a member list
(Off the sign-up page).
Only names unless you know the password, which I will give out to
members only
- Detailed contact info
displayed if you give the password
- www.rideandglide.org
- Mailing List :See address on your e-mails
(not listed here for security purposes)
- Note: "Reply All" to a message from this will send your
message to everyone. Simple reply goes to me or whomever sent
message
- Not a problem if that's what you want. That's what it is for. Use it
to contact all members about activities. (carpooling, workouts,races,
weekend trips, ski buddies).
- Always put R&G or Ride and Glide in the subject so messages don't
get filtered by SPAM software.
- There will be 2 or more e-mails per week from me. Sun/Mon and
Thurs/Fri
- All messages from Me will go to the entire club list as my messages
usually include general info as well as Lake Elmo info
- www.skinnyski.com
- Should be a daily visit. It changes every day!
- Tells you everything you might want to know about the XC Skiing scene in
the Twin Cities.
- Check it out. Especially the trail condition reports or if you need the
latest info on a race.
- Consider becoming a member to support this great resource.
Teaching
- There are 14 Tuesday night classes this year.
- New Years day will be a "Daytime
Group Ski" Possibly 1pm'ish
- You are not expected to attend
every session. We do reviews all the time and you will not miss
anything
- Later in the season we do progress to more advanced topics. We
teach what is needed each night depending on who shows up.
- We will most likely be doing Dryland through the month of November.
Snow by December 4 is a good bet.
- Dryland is important for everyone
- Gets you muscles ready for the snow season
- Trains your muscles in the movements required for skiing
- It can be an excellent workout for the more advanced skiers.
Check out this
dryland video. We will do these. Not as intensely.
- Once on snow you'll know what to do
- If you skip the dryland sessions we'll make you do them anyway once
the snow falls
- Please be sure to attend at least 2 dryland sessions or you'll be
behind when we get on snow.
- Once on snow we'll break you into groups using your initial self
assessment of your ability and work from there
- Given that so few people claim to be beginners the coaches will look
at you and put you with other people of similar ability
- Advanced Skaters
and Race Training people (Still under development)
-
- Snow conditions (or lack there
of) at Lake Elmo
- If things get bad at Lake Elmo
we plan on encouraging travel to Elm Creek,
- We will try to get carpools
together to make it easier
- If there's no snow by the middle
of Dec we will consider this
- Also Lake Elmo members have the
option of not paying until it snows
Fat/Mtn bike Rides
- This year the club is promoting
year-round biking in the form of Fat/Mtn biking in the Fall and Winter and
Road riding in the Spring and Summer.
- The Fall/Winter stuff is
new and results in a year-round club.
- The rides are included in
your skiing membership. You can join just for the rides and it's
only $10
- Every Tuesday night there
will be a off-road ride at Lake Elmo at 6:30. It will of course be
dark so bring lights
- Ken Tallion (Ride leader)
has been riding after dark at LE for years and knows his way around the
7 miles of trails
- Other locations may be
possible and once it snows you will need a Fat Bike (wide tires)
Ride and Glide clothing
- If you're interested in clothing I have a full set of sizes and I can
make an order this year. See web site for pictures.
- We have short and longsleeve jerseys, vests, jackets, hats, socks, and
headbands
- We have a heavier
Nordic Jacket. See link to pictures on website
- Drop me an e-mail. sdthatcher@q.com
Equipment:
- If you need to buy equipment we will have an equipment day at a local
ski shop
- FinnSisu: Nov ?? with good prices
and superb service
- Joes Winter Gear sale:
- Watch e-mails for announcements and wait for these events.
- In the mean time if you need equipment read the articles on the web site
about equipment. It defines skier types and then describes what to buy and
about what it will cost. Feel free to ask questions of any instructor or
e-mail me your questions.
- I recommend FinnSisu for equipment, especially classic skis and Joe's
for wax and clothing.
- Joe's is second choice for equipment as their selection and service
is not as good
- In fact if you're
looking for high end equipment don't bother with Joes. Waxing
supplies only.
- At the event we can talk and determine what you want from your skiing
and determine what equipment is best.
- I can even help you decide classic vs skating. Be sure to read equipment
articles on web site.
- If you go by yourself be careful, they will sell you whatever they can
if its obvious your a beginner.
- I've seen this too many times to count, don't let it happen to you
- The club has some loaner equipment if you'd like to "Try before you Buy"
- You can use them for a week or two and then decide. Contact me
for more info.
- Mostly skate, a few classic including "skins"
- Roller Skiing: Roller skiing is NOT a part of the club. You do
not need roller skis.
- A core group of skier do roller ski workouts during the Fall before the
snow flies.
- There will be the option for those who have roller skis to ski in
the parking lot during dryland sessions (LE only).
- If you want to try rollerskiing feel free to contact me with
questions. I have several demo pair
Waxing (Yes skis need to be waxed, even waxless ones)
- We will have a wax party if there is enough interest. Classic and
skate
- Interest has been waning the last few years. Watch for am e-mail
announcement
- It's at my house in Withrow and we have a potluck lunch afterwards.
- It's a chance to see real skis being waxed and a chance to get hands
on instruction.
- Definitely read the Waxing 101 article on the website for how to wax
and what to buy. Buy your wax at Joe's
- Special offer
for members who use Paste Wax
- Over the past several years I have promoted a glidewax option for
casual skiers. It involves using pastewax instead of
hotwaxing.
- It's a much cheaper and simpler approach to waxing. But it
does have a downside in that the performance of your skis will be
degraded a bit
- To alleviate this problem the club will do the yearly "Hotwax" that
is recommended for people who only use pastewax.
- Bring your skis to class and I will take them home and hotwax them.
Or come to the wax party and have it done there.
- I highly recommend you get his done. Your skis will thank you
and you'll be a happier skier when your skis perform better
Trips
- E-mail for more info and to indicate your interest in either of these
trips. ASAP they do fill up
Other Activities
- Racing/Touring Popular events
- City of Lakes Race or Tour. Local and convenient. The
Tour is low key
- The Seeley Classic. Excellent classic race
- Birke Tour. Good way to experience the Birke trail in a low key
environment. Many members participate.
- The Vasaloppet and the famous downtown finish and it's flat.
Recommended first race
- The Birke. The Big Dog. 30+ members every year
- Racers are a boisterous group and tend to demand a lot of
attention. Don't let that intimidate you. We are not a racing
club. You can train a lot and be serious about your skiing and you don't
have to race. Just enjoy being a good skier.
- Weekends:
- Random, Informal ski outings at local ski areas. Watch
e-mails
- A lot of us ski every chance
we get with the short Minnesota season
- No instruction, just skiing with club members
- Weekend rollerskiing workouts until it snows
- FatBike demos the last Saturday of each month at Lake Elmo
- FatBike Demo long rides each Sunday morning lead by Now Bikes.
See our website
Group Assignments:
- For dryland we'll have just a few groups.
- Classic and skate beginner and non-beginner and workout.
- Once on snow the coaches will check out your form and make sure you're
in the right ski group
Dryland
- For dryland (ski imitation) you should dress for moderate workout
in the predicted temps for the evening.
- Hiking/running shoes. Gloves and short poles (mid chest) I have some to
borrow.
- Water bottle and carrier is also a good idea.
- We can teach you the motions
better on grass and shoes than on slippery snow and skis, so don't skip
class just because we don't have snow. You'll be in much better shape
for skiing once we get skiable snow, which historically is by Nov 22nd.
Be sure to make at least 2 nights of dryland especially you beginners.
If you want to get better add more dryland to your regimen.
- Getting better: Get out and practice, watch videos on Youtube.
- You won't get significantly better on class night. You improve when
you’re out practicing on your own
Club sponsors:
- HED - 20% discount on Hed Products. Spring and Fall Team
purchase. Requires buying a R&G or Now Bikes jersey
- FinnSisu - We get High School package prices on individual equipment
items. This is your "Local Ski Shop" They will take good care of
you
- Rudy Project - We get 40% off. Check with me for ordering
instructions. Helmets, Glasses, RX too. Free scratch replacement
- Fast Wax - A local wax producer. We use a lot of their products
and they provide wax for our events
- The club will supply you with ClifShot gels for your racing and Nature
Valley granola bars on class nights. We
get a good price on them an I give them away.