Discover Alberta in a way that slides your best foot forward: by stepping into cross country skis. If the comprehensive listing at Canada Trails doesn’t get you in the groove then perhaps a brief recap of where the made-in-Alberta, Oscar-winning movie, Brokeback Mountain, was filmed. Besides the numerous small towns, much of the rugged wilderness showcased Kananaskis Country, just an hour’s drive from Calgary, which is laced with cross-country ski trails.
Though Brokeback was shot in summer, this postcard perfect view of pristine mountain wilderness continues to draw tourists and skiers year round, who want to discover where the movie unfolded. From Calgary, it’s a relatively easy winter trip into mountain country that can be made up close and personal with cross-country skis.
Kananaskis Country is a prime location for cross-country skiing in Alberta. It offers easy accessibility, great trails and it’s free. This provincial park also features the Canmore Nordic Centre where Olympians train.
And Olympians bring us to the second inspiring event: the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Alberta was well represented by its cross-country skiing stars, Beckie Scott, Sara Renner and Chandra Crawford who hauled in loads of metal, making Albertans proud and inspired. Their training ground is the Canmore Nordic Centre, a terrific tumble of 80 km of trackset trails, completely open to the public.
Gear to Go
The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre offers cross-country skiing instruction and rentals. J.C. Lauzier is a program supervisor at the centre with 20 years of teaching experience. While the Outdoor Centre is just one of many shops where you can rent cross-country ski equipment (you’ll find others in Edmonton, Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, among other prominent Alberta locations), it’s recognized as one of the best.
Lauzier says cross-country skiing is part of a growing trend toward fitness and getting back to nature. It’s an activity that may be attractive for downhill skiers and others who sometimes find themselves having to manoeuvre their way out of crowds to enjoy the peaceful, easy feeling of having a trail to themselves.
“An attraction of cross-country skiing is that you can get away from the crowds,” says Lauzier. “And, it’s an all around workout.”
Proper cross-country ski selection is based upon a skier’s weight and ability, he says. Skis are manufactured “bowed” to create a stiffness or camber that is critical in achieving the proper grip-to-glide ratio.
To determine the correct ski for your ability, manufacturers indicate whether the ski is for a learner, average or skilled individual, says Lauzier. A more skilled skier would want a stiffer camber to maximize the time spent in a gliding phase; this is achieved with increased balance and time on skis. Conversely, he says, a learner would be better suited on a ski that has a softer stiffness with more emphasis on grip; and it would result in more initial success.
Of course, you’ll need poles and proper boots (with a binding system) as well. And there is another factor to consider when choosing the skis: waxable versus waxless skis.
To Wax or Not to Wax
Here are some technical considerations: why wax your skis at all? For one, you need to achieve grip; secondly, glide, says Lauzier. When selecting classical (track) skis, you have the choice of waxless or waxable bases. No-wax skis have fish scales or a similar pattern etched into the middle third of the ski. This pattern provides grip when the ski is flexed onto the snow, giving a “no fuss, no muss” ski experience, he says.
Why then aren’t all skis waxless? No-wax skis have a very limited range in which they perform optimally, this is at 0 Celsius. As you move away from the melt/freeze point of snow ski performance decreases considerably.
“As our Alberta winters tend to be cooler and dryer, waxable skis come into their own; you can adapt to a wider degree of snow and temperature changes with no loss in performance,” says Lauzier. “Keep in mind that both the tip and tail areas of your waxless and waxable bases, still need to be hot waxed for maximum glide.”
Dress for the Cold
Cross-country ski clothing needs to be comfortable and functional while protecting you from the elements, says Lauzier. Thermoregulation (now there’s a word you can toss out on the trail to impress your friends) is the key to staying warm.
If you perspire heavily, you’re prone to rapid cooling as soon as you stop exercising. Layering your clothing will allow for quick temperature and moisture adaptations. Your first layer needs to take the perspiration that accumulates next to your skin and to wick it outwards. Synthetic underwear works very well, as does a silk under layer. Cotton (T-shirts and jeans) should be avoided as it absorbs water readily and takes a long time to dry out. The next layer should allow for freedom of movement and provide a measure of protection from the elements. Polyester and lycra blended materials allow for a quick shedding of snow if one takes a tumble.
If cold temperatures are a factor then an additional layer is needed; this insulative layer creates a dead air space, which the body warms up. Pile, fleece and wool are ideal, while down is the warmest insulator by weight; though it is too warm for most ski outings.
Lastly, says Lauzier, you need to shield the warm air you’ve built up around you from the wind and wet. The shell needs to be windproof and, for winter, water resistant. A treated nylon/polyester blend or Goretex material allows for wind resistance, while still allowing for core moisture to escape. For day touring, he says, a daypack is great to carry those extra layers that you may need to put on or shred off as the day progresses. And don’t forget head gear and mitts or gloves!
Getting There
Now that you’re equipped and suited, where to go?
Kananaskis Country: From Calgary, head west on the TransCanada Highway for about 45 minutes to Highway 40, where K Country begins. Turn south on Hwy 40 to the Barrier Lake Info Centre (403-673-3985). Stop there for free maps and current trail conditions. Carry south on this highway and you’ll come to the Nakiska/Ribbon Creek area as well as the Pocaterra Ski Centre (good for flat terrain skills) and the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre (hilly terrain skills). This latter Information Centre is about a 95 minute drive from Calgary city limits.
More cross-country ski areas, just south and west of Calgary:
- Turner Valley: Sandy McNabb, 36 km of groomed trails. Easy-intermediate.
- Bragg Creek: West Bragg Creek: 40 km groomed trails. Easy-advanced.
- Ribbon Creek: Ribbon Creek/Golf course: 59 km groomed trails. Novice-advanced.
- Peter Lougheed Provincial Park: Pocaterra to Elk Pass: 78 km groomed trails. Novice-advanced.
- Sawmill-Chester Lake: 36 km of ungroomed trails. Intermediate-advanced.
- Mount Shark: 19 km groomed. Novice-advanced.
