Skijoring

Muscles Not Motors Gear Review - March 2010

I just got back from the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show in Salt Lake City, UT, where 40,000 or so outdoor industry types like me converged for a week-long gear summit. By the last day, I was dehydrated from drooling. Here are just three of the items that I found particularly tasty.

GSI OUTDOORS VORTEX HAND CRANKED BLENDER

The History of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center

For what it is today—a world-class facility that grooms top athletes and attracts Olympians to its races—the Craftsbury Outdoor Center had humble and even uncertain financial beginnings.

Muscles Not Motors October 2009 Gear Review

Whether you’re a snowboarder or snowshoer, mountain hiker or mountain biker, Nordic skier or Nordic walker, you need gear. Each month, I review, right here, three items that I personally feel are especially cool. Here are my picks for this month.

KELTY GUNNISON 2.1 TENT

Skijoring: 0 to 25 in 5 Seconds

I am in the starting chute and the chief timer is counting out loud.

"Five." I lean forward on my poles, my skis in a snowplow. I push hard on my inside edges, keeping my ski tips just behind the start line.

Governor Douglas Proclaims January as Learn a Snow Sport Month in Vermont

MONTPELIER, Vt. (Dec. 31, 2009) - For the first time, Governor Jim Douglas proclaimed January as Learn a Snow Sport Month, endorsing Vermont ski resorts as learning destinations for Vermonters and all winter visitors to the Green Mountain State.

Vermont Ski Resort News

From new chairlifts to wind turbines, from routine trail mowing to new cooperative ownership structures, Vermont ski areas have been busy these last few months preparing for the exciting winter sports season ahead. Here’s a look at what’s new for the 2009-2010 season.

ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN RESORT

Ski Tours & Brew Pubs

Two great things about winter are cross-country skiing and cozying up in a warm pub. Getting off the couch and exercising in the outdoor cold seems to set one’s endorphins on fire. And when you’re tired, a little wet, and realize you’re getting really cold when you stand still, it’s time to hit the barstool.

Vermont’s Best Après-Ski Hangouts

Our steady supply of fresh powder and steadier supply of fresh microbrews means Vermont’s après-ski scene is now in full swing.

The Search for Early Snow

A characteristic shared by most Nordic skiers is the anticipation of getting on snow. For dedicated competitors this becomes an obsession. Swimmers, runners, and tennis players can enjoy their sports year round, but Nordic skiers in this part of the country are typically limited to four or five months of reliable snow cover.

Lateral Ankle Sprain and Chronic Ankle Instability

The commonly occurring lateral ankle sprain, also called an inversion sprain, can be the precursor to painful and disabling chronic ankle instability. The ankle twist, rollover, or sprain may be the most overlooked athletic injury, and for that reason may also be amongst the worst. A common ankle sprain can lead to ankle instability, cartilage damage, arthritis, and a lifetime of ankle pain.

The Winter Olymic Games - Greek or Roman?

I always look forward to, and enjoy, the Winter Olympics. This year was no exception. It was thrilling to watch so many of our sons and daughters of the Green and White Mountains perform and excel on the international stage. While enjoying all of this exciting competition, I was also struck more than ever by the death-defying risks that so many athletes are taking in the pursuit of Olympic gold.

The Phoenix Will Rise Again

Last winter I had the pleasure of cross-country skiing in Willoughby State Forest, just south of Lake Willoughby in Westmore, VT.

2009 Winter Gear

After a cool summer and a relatively early first frost, we have to wonder what Old Man Winter will have in store for us this season. We remember drinking lemonade in our shorts while building a deck at our house in December 2001. We also remember the truly world-class powder skiing we enjoyed back in late October 2005.

18th Annual Holiday Gift Guide

We are pleased to present the Vermont Sports annual Holiday Gift Guide. The goods we recommend on these pages were reviewed by members of the VS editorial staff (Jules Older, Brian Mohr, and Kate Carter) and are their picks for most interesting, impressive, and thoughtful gifts for people who spend time in the outdoors.

Skiing and the Olympics - A Brief Primer

In the past, the skiing at the Winter Olympics was straightforward. The glamorous events were the Alpine disciplines (which originated in the European Alps), slalom, giant slalom, and downhill. Slalom required technical proficiency, while downhill demanded raw courage.

Muscles Not Motors Gear Review - November 2009

Whether you’re a snowboarder or snowshoer, mountain hiker or mountain biker, Nordic skier or Nordic walker, you need gear. Each month, I review, right here, three items that I personally feel are especially cool. Here are my picks for this month.

Swix 2 in 1 Split Mitt

Honing Your Heart Rate?

For years and years we’ve been testing people in our Human Performance lab at UVM for all kinds of studies ranging from fluid intake to heat tolerance. One thing that has always plagued me is the accuracy of the maximal heart rate numbers we get. For the most part we don’t really question the data as it’s all carefully collected and monitored.