Interview Subjet for Article on XCD

[lowangle al]

I've been a Nordic skier for almost 50 years, 40 of them were XCD. It's really all I've done, yet I'm not worthy of an interview because of the type of binding I use. Why is there even an issue with binding type?

I guess my skis are too fat too.

[fisheater]

Allen, I was (regrettably) unfamiliar with Cross Country Skier magazine. I did a quick search. It kind of reminds me of Ski magazine. It’s a beautiful magazine, beautiful photo on the cover, they have access to interesting people. All that is the result of a successful formula. If they could allot enough pages, you should be there. They would need a couple other more formula friendly skiers to drive the article. However, you would the gold in the black sand in the bottom of the pan.

[JesseH]

Hi JB. Thanks for the input. A little bit of both. I ski both systems, with different skis, for different situations... I know there are plenty of folks (grew up with them!) that could crush a crazy Colorado cliff line in 90's leather 75mm hiking boots, let alone some mellow fields and logging roads like we've got in Vermont.

I am approaching this pitch, which is me asking the editor if they'll take the idea and let me write it, from the POV that this particular magazine doesn't cover XCD much (though the new Explore binding was in their gear guide). It seemed like it could be fun to dive into to the "Nordic" equipment (I am assuming by their advertisers/gear reviewed/fact that their publisher also puts out Backcountry Magazine that 75mm is not in XC's bailiwick), approaches and personalities involved. And as someone who has been skiing, then snowboarding, then skiing again since the 1980's, getting into nordic as a person who comes from backcountry snowboarding expereince was super confusing with all the binding types and options and niches... So the potential article would be part explainer, part first-person expereince, part slice-of-XCD-life.

I've been a Nordic skier for almost 50 years, 40 of them were XCD. It's really all I've done, yet I'm not worthy of an interview because of the type of binding I use. Why is there even an issue with binding type?

I guess my skis are too fat too.

Al, I don't yet know what my editor will say, and I didn't make these ski niches/publications that cater to them... I will for sure bring up 75mm as the original Nordic setup, which it was. You can imagine I'm confused as well how "telemarking" would be covered by one magazine, while NNBC and Explore would end up in another. I ski pretty wide skis, and pretty much only in powder/softer snow. I get it, but have no real stake in the game. Like I've said before, I come from snowboarding mainly, where one set of bindings, boots, and board could do pretty much anything, unless you want to splitboard or go mountainering.

[lowangle al]

Don't ask on my account Jesse, I'm sure your editors know what they're doing. Funny thing, the only article I remember reading in that magazine was from the late 70s. It was about backcountry skiing in the Cape Bretton Highlands for spring corn. I've been wanting to go ever since.

[JB TELE]

I know there are plenty of folks (grew up with them!) that could crush a crazy Colorado cliff line in 90's leather 75mm hiking boots

The people crushing in leather 75mm boots could do the same in an nnn-bc boot or xplore. The bindings are just free heel connections to the ski with a little bit of resistance to forward flex for tele turns or kick-n-glide. I think this perception that 75mm leather is downhill oriented and nnn-bc and xplore are cross country oriented is misguided.

Sorry for being so persistent about this, but I just want to make sure this niche activity is accurately represented.

[greatgt]

Get a hold of Teleking, Telekid, and take a tour with them. leathers, pins and skinny. Northeast Kingdom, Hardwood Forest. TM

[randoskier]

Hey XCD folks! I'm looking for a potential interview candidate for an article I'm pitching Cross Country Ski magazine on XCD; kind of a "what the heck is XCD?!" look, with a focus on the gear, the approach, and a particular subject's perspective on this niche. Given the outlet, Cross Country Skier, I'm keen to connect with someone who uses "typical" Nordic equipment (NNBC, not 75mm/3-pin) for their exploration and turns. Best possible if it's someone in Quebec or New England-- I am in Vermont, and could possibly meet up.

I remember a while back when I joined this forum there was someone ripping it up in Quebec, possibly talking about a new Alfa boot, two years back? Ring any bells?

Tom M (https://www.youtube.com/@tomm9850/featured) is on my radar as well, but I think he's in Wyoming. As nice as it would be to meet up there, I'm after someone east coast.

Thanks!

- Jesse

"XCD" is xtra cash deficit i.e. we can't afford lift tickets. We are slightly impecunious due to a dearth of funds.

[randoskier]

Get a hold of Teleking, Telekid, and take a tour with them. leathers, pins and skinny. Northeast Kingdom, Hardwood Forest. TM

Or take the word of one of the two most accomplished active polar explorers in the world (both Norwegians). Nice descent footage and nice hat!

[DG99]

I know there are plenty of folks (grew up with them!) that could crush a crazy Colorado cliff line in 90's leather 75mm hiking boots

The people crushing in leather 75mm boots could do the same in an nnn-bc boot or xplore. The bindings are just free heel connections to the ski with a little bit of resistance to forward flex for tele turns or kick-n-glide. I think this perception that 75mm leather is downhill oriented and nnn-bc and xplore are cross country oriented is misguided.

Sorry for being so persistent about this, but I just want to make sure this niche activity is accurately represented.

Nice. I think all three norms are fine. One problem I have found is that the light end of the spectrum, synthetic boots with 3 pin, like my Fischer BCX 675, are made with really flexible soft soles that move all over. I think the equivalent NNNBC or Xplore has more stability perhaps, haven’t tried myself. OTOH with 3 pin, you can go up a notch to old school Norwegian welt leather boots or plastic boots like Scarpas and get tremendous downhill advantage, maybe add a cable, etc. I have heard NNNBC at least wouldn’t handle that sort of torque, not sure about Xplore, but it seems like just a more elegant version of NNNBC.

Fischer has all three norms on their XCD, nordic backcountry, light telemark type boots:
https://www.fischersports.com/us_en/nor ... /adventure

Lots of newbies don’t like 3 pin due to the pain of lining up the little holes!

Anyways sounds like the norm isn’t such a big deal, but rather the terrain and purpose. Also it’s really interesting the whole spectrum of gear from more kick and glide oriented, to more downhill oriented.

[vt_trees]

Maybe call up Umiak in Stowe and see if they can point you in a helpful direction for your article. Or, maybe just interview them.