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2018 GEAR GUIDE

Last winter after a hefty dump of snow courtesy of Storm Stella, Cross Country Skier's editors and friends took to the trails at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center to test this seasons best equipment, race and, of course, drink a few beers. Our testers' favorites made it into the magazine, with the highest scoring piece in each category winning our first ever Editors' Choice award.

THE LONERS

Montana's century old Lone Mountain Ranch has had its booms and busts typical of the Big Sky west. And, with 85km of pristine track and more vertical than all but three of Montana's alpine resorts, its ups and downs too. Locals love it for the demanding terrain, Nordic après and kid's programs. It's got divine food, cowboy poets, historic cabins, backcountry and alpine access and it's within minutes of Yellowstone. Editorial Director Adam Howard skied it for himself.

DEPARTMENT CONTENTS

Mass Start

CONTRIBUTORS
Nordorks and skinny skiers

EDITOR'S NOTE
An unruly garage

WAX BOX
Name the mystery wax

READER ESSAY:
More beer and snacks. Fewer intervals.

Nordic Nation

THE TRYING TIMES OF COLLEGE RACING:
Erika Flowers explores the race to save collegiate skiing in Alaska and New Mexico, and, maybe beyond.

AS THE WORLD TURNS:
Fischer and Rossi team up to turn out a new binding system. What gives?

Overland

KATAHDIN:
Brian Threlkeld circumnavigates Maine's highest mountain. On skis. In sub zero temperatures. And he enjoyed it.

Back Shop

BASE STUDY: A FRESH PETEX PATTERN CAN GO A LONG WAY FAST.
If your pre-race routine doesn't already have enough structure, apply more to the base of your race boards.

The Final Stretch

LOCAL HERO:
Who do you think of when you hear the word "Coach?" Harry Poole knows. Do you?

SENIOR MOMENT:
Senior Editor John Dostal rollerskied in eight states one summer in the early 1980s. He was busted in two of them.

PHOTO FINISH
Sticky Business