Where to go with skis on: choosing equipment and tracks for classic and skating in Tver

In the first days of December, the Tver region was covered with snow. Tver also suffered. The roadway is actively cleaned by equipment, and the sidewalks are swept by street cleaners, and the townspeople themselves methodically trample down the white, loose cover. Despite the frost, you can meet joyful children with tubing, sleds and ice cubes on the streets. A skating rink has already been installed in Victory Park, the next one will be on Glory Square. There is an increasing demand for small ice rinks in courtyards, and many management companies are meeting residents halfway in this matter.

In a word, Tver, one might say, is ready for winter activities. In addition to skates, city residents are interested in skiing, which evokes nostalgia for school physical education lessons. At one time, many people looked forward to these lessons with great impatience, because this is a great reason to have a snow race with friends.

Now skiing is coming back into fashion; it is an excellent form of physical activity that helps not only burn calories, get in shape, but also “reset” your head and admire the winter views. But the trouble is, in Tver there are no equipped ski slopes or at least a permanent ski track. You can, of course, come to the nearest school stadium and run laps, but you can quickly get bored. Here we are talking exclusively about healthy leisure time, not related to the sport of great achievements; skiing should be enjoyed.

Types of ski tracks

“If you look hard enough, ski tracks can be found in almost every area, they are laid by local enthusiasts, but these are not permanent routes, they change often,” amateur athlete and ideological supporter of cross-country skiing Kirill Sobolev shared with MK in Tver. – You don’t have to travel far to ride through nature. There is a permanent ski track from Komsomolskaya Grove, where Krasnaya Polyana is, running to Chernogubovo along the railway. It was made for themselves by skiing enthusiasts living in the village. It is most suitable for leisurely walks. I also know that there is a classic ski track in the village of Prudishte, it goes through the forest. In general, there are many places where there are classic ski tracks, because in order to lay them, one strong person is enough. A second, a third will then pass behind him, and so the track will only become more well-trodden. You can also enjoy the “classics” in the park near Tmaka, which is undeservedly little popular. Also on the other side, opposite the Palace of Children and Youth, there is a vacant lot. In summer there are paths and tall grass, and in winter everything is covered with snow. This is one of the most convenient locations in the city for classic skiing. Usually people ski there at the beginning of winter, laying the track along the paths or nearby. But by the middle of winter, for some reason it is undeservedly forgotten, although it is a very beautiful area.

According to our interlocutor, the “classic” is suitable for everyone, you can drive it without much effort. If you are not involved in professional sports, do not want to get very tired and generally do not have special equipment, then this ski track is best suited.

“The next most popular ski track is “tailored” for my favorite skating stroke,” continues Kirill. – This is not the usual two-lane snow track, but rather a compacted track. Skating involves alternately moving your legs to the side; the track here will only get in the way. This move is very dynamic, get ready to sweat, so you need sportswear. It also takes some time to master running technique. If you run the classics in one lesson, having previously watched two videos on the Internet, then I personally learned to skate, probably in the fourth lesson, although I am actively involved in sports. The set of movements is quite complex due to the balancing coordination. For the “ridge” you need surfaces two, or better, three meters wide, rolled with a special harrow. At a minimum, you need a snowmobile that will roll the track and update it. Unfortunately, we only have three such places. The first is in Chupriyanovka, the second is in Grishkino and the third is the Kiselevskaya ski track behind Sominka near CHPP-3. Of the slopes that we have, only two are official: in Chernogubovo and Grishkino, because ski schools operate there in both places. There is a place to change clothes, there is even a cafe. Entrance to both routes, by the way, is quite cheap, about 100 rubles. In Grishkino there is a bathhouse nearby, one might say, right on the highway, and around there is a winter forest, like in a fairy tale. But there is also a minus: the route here is technically difficult. I think that it is more suitable for professionals or those who have been interested in skiing for a very long time. This is where you will get the most stress because there are constant ups and downs to overcome. I notice that, for example, when I get tired, my riding technique is disrupted, which makes walking uphill very difficult. That’s why I visit Grishkino once a year. The track in Chupriyanovka is much nicer. It is gentle and also goes through a beautiful forest. True, there is nowhere to eat here, there is only a store in the village itself. You have to take tea and snacks with you. Well, the most accessible ski trail is located in the center of Tver, in Victory Park on Lazuri. There is also a classic one. But there is a natural disadvantage: they are both limited to the park, there is no interesting relief and landscape.

As for the Kiselevskaya ski track behind Sominka near CHPP-3, our interlocutor explained that it was built by ordinary enthusiasts who organized themselves into a small community. They bought a harrow, pull it on a snowmobile, and pay for the gas themselves. Naturally, there are no changing rooms or places to sit and relax on this route. Due to the fact that it is on the banks of the Tvertsa, gusty winds often blow, but there are practically no ups and downs. Beginners will find it most convenient to learn skating here.

Kirill also spoke about a type of skiing that is still little known to the Tver public, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting.

“We’re talking about touring skis, now I’m looking for guys who are ready to join me in this,” continues Kirill Sobolev. – These skis are similar to the classics, but wider and with a metal edge for durability. You can engage in tourism in them, that is, go where there is no track or route, but there may be meter-long snowdrifts or areas of ice. If you have wide skis and poles with wide guides for powdery snow, then you will pass. This attracts me because you can walk freely, like in the summer, walk along river beds, along forests, that is, complete freedom. There is no need for a track for these skis, but with touring skis you can also walk on the classic ski track when it comes along the way.

Ski shop

Most often in stores you can find three types of skis: for classic skiing, skating and combined skiing. Skis for classic skiing have a high and sharp nose, which will allow you to move comfortably on loose snow or deep ruts. For skate skis, on the contrary, the nose of the skis will be short and rounded. And in the combined ones, accordingly, signs of both types can be traced. If you are just starting to ski, but expect to develop your skills, it is better to take combination skis, and then, depending on personal preferences, choose a specific “specialization”.

It is important to choose the right skis for your height, then they will be comfortable to control. Not only height is important, but also weight, however, beginners usually use only the first criterion. When selecting by height, skating skis should be 5-15 centimeters higher than you. For classic – 15-30. Combined ones can be selected with a height closer to the ridge ones. By the way, the shorter the skis, the easier it is to control them.

Now a few words about selection by weight. Take your chosen pair of skis and lean them against each other with the sliding surface, and then squeeze them with your hands in the middle so that they touch. If this was easy to do, then for you they are softer than they should be, which means they will not glide well. But if you couldn’t squeeze them at all, then they are too stiff and you won’t be able to push off correctly during the movement. It is best if the skis do not meet completely at a distance of about five millimeters to a centimeter.

Material plays an important role in comfortable riding. Modern skis have a core made of wood, carbon or cellular material, which is closed on top by a box made of durable plastic. The skis themselves, of course, will move, but it is better to treat the sliding surface with special ointments, which is interesting – only the part that is under the boot is usually marked by manufacturers with notches.

You also need to choose your ski boots carefully. The more active you are going to move, the thinner they should be. When buying them, remember that you will wear thick socks; your feet will quickly freeze in boots that fit too tightly. By the way, ski shoes also differ depending on the type of skiing. For skating, boots are usually high, with ankle support. But for the classic one – low and without fixation. In the combined ones, although the manufacturers have made ankle support, it is not rigid. And yes, don’t forget that your boots must match your ski bindings.

Chopstick Science

There are nuances in the selection of ski poles. The main thing is that their handles should be non-slip and have loops for fixing on the hand. To find comfortable ones, place the poles in front of you and insert your hands into the loops from bottom to top, then clasp them together with the middle of the handles – the lower part of your palm should rest on the loop, even if you open your palm.

The poles themselves are made of aluminum, carbon or composite materials. The more expensive they are, the lighter and stiffer they are. But they are also more fragile when hit from the side or when hit by skis. Experienced skiers consider aluminum poles or those made of mixed materials to be the most durable. Poles for skating are higher than for classic skating. The optimal length for a skating or combined stroke will be from the chin to the nose in height, for a classic one – to the top of the shoulder. Usually the most comfortable height option is up to the chin.

We also need to pay attention to the part of the poles with which we push from the snow – the round legs or rings, which are slightly higher than the tips, differ in diameter. The more prepared the ski slope and the denser the snow, the smaller they can be. But if you want to ride on fresh snow, then the paw should have a larger area.