The snow is here - this could be your year for Nordic skiing.  Those who are nervous about snow may not consider Nordic skis an option for winter fun. We've heard that some people shy away from Nordic because the skis are skinny and harder to control than their wide alpine counterparts. In fact, the most common Nordic skiing questions we are asked at Wild Rock are, "Will I be able to turn?" "Will I be able to slow down?" and "Will I have Grip?". If these concerns resonate with you, some short wide Nordic skis may be your ticket to enjoying the outdoors this winter.

The challenge for ski manufacturers was to make to make a Nordic ski that is more user friendly. The result was a design that was shorter and wider, which means more stable, than a regular Nordic ski. This required rethinking the technology. The resulting short-size concept decreases the overall length of the ski, which leads to easier handling.

Think of that beautiful winter day and how nice it would be to ski through the woods, the hills or a long a frozen lake. Your short wide Nordic skis will take you there, whether you want to glide along groomed ski trails or break trail through forest and fields. The skis are intended for the traditional style of Nordic skiing, also known as classic.

For those interested in why these skis work so well, the design of the shorter, wider ski has a longer but shallow camber or flex which provides easy grip for the skier. Because the skis are easily weighted, even transfer from ski to ski is encouraged. This provides positive traction for an easier, reliable kick but doesn't impede glide. In addition, the virtually maintenance free wax-free base has recessed gripping teeth, which provides reliable kick on just about any snow type.

The brilliance of this design concept is that, for more experienced skiers looking for a faster pace or an on ski work-out, the ski performs as well as a longer ski. Just ask our Wild Rock staff who most often choose the short wide Nordic skis from our rental fleet. Why? Here's a short list of reasons:

These skis are fun to ski. They're easy to control. They are light weight. They fit more easily in the car. They allow you to ski comfortably at any pace or intensity. These skis make you smile!

A number of companies now produce this type of Nordic ski. At Wild Rock, we have the Salomon Snowscape 7 for men and the Snowscape 7 Siam for women.  This new generation of Nordic skis are the perfect choice for getting out and enjoying winter, from beginners learning the basics to experienced skiers looking for some fun. Come in to ask us about buying or renting a pair to Go outside and Play in the snow.