FEATURES

2017 PERFORMANCE SKI TEST & GUIDE

Over two weeks in March, Cross Country Skier sta , along with friends from the XC community, rallied together—despite Vermont's poor snow conditions—to conduct an on-snow test of the best in what we're calling "performance" gear. We tested skis, boots and poles at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center on a 4 km loop of manmade snow combined with the dregs of the winter's natural precipitation. The big trend this year was in carbon skate skis. And, both Fischer and Madshus showed some skin(s) with their Twin Skin and IntelliGrip classic boards, and the boots were lighter than ever. Plus: Our annual rollerski roundup and review..

THE WOMEN OF TAHOE

Tahoe Cross Country, Tahoe Donner, Kirkwood and Royal Gorge are the four largest cross country ski areas in the Lake Tahoe region. Their combined 400 kilometers of trails makes the Tahoe area one of the largest concentrations of cross country skiing in the U.S. Each area deals with different terrain and snow conditions, and each operates differently, from corporate ownership to small non-pro ts. But they have one thing in common: They are all run by women who have been in the Nordic ski business for decades. All four of them share a similar drive and spirit. And all took interesting paths to end up where they are now. Here are their stories.

Mass Start

CONTRIBUTORS
Nordic Nags and Sage Skiers.

EDITOR'S NOTE
A new book

WAX BOX
Readers from around America share tales from the tracks.

THE WALL
In a small, former industrial town, a new skate park in need of a fence becomes a lesson in world Nordic ski history.

READER ESSAY: HONEYMOONLIGHT IN VT.
They got married on skis, then had a 200-mile honeymoon home through the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Nordic Nation

FROM TRACKS TO TREADS
Andy Newell is America's top sprinter. And his need for speed doesn't end there. Fellow racer (and Fiancée) Erika Flowers asks the tough questions about Andy's 1970 Truimph he calls "The Bonnie."

SALOMON PROLINK
A new binding system bridges the gap between SNS and NNN.

WISING UP
The American Birkebeiner has a fascinating history. And now a home for it in a museum named for the Birkie's founder, Tony Wise.

HEAD GAMES
Racer Erika Flowers weighs mental training through meditation. Plus: The top five books for getting your head straight.

COWBOYS AND CORDUROY
With 60 km of track, Latigo Ranch could be Colorado's best kept secret.

OTB

BIFF AMERICA
A lesson in technique, a message of caution.

BRUSH
Where's Waldo? In 1979 a picture tells the story of 1,000 skiers.