Available now is Cross Country Skier’s 2019 Gear Guide—the sport’s most comprehensive review of Nordic skis, boots and poles. Last March, a team of 12 testers spent a weekend at Rikert Nordic Center sampling all of this season’s new gear. From racing to touring, we had a tester representing every interest—our annual gear guide sums up what they liked best. Plus, in this issue, Adam Howard tells his PyeongChang Olympic story and reflects on what Jessie Diggins’ and Kikkan Randall’s gold medal means for the future of U.S. cross country skiing.

FEATURES

2019 GEAR GUIDE
After a weekend of testing skis under beautiful March skies on soft snow at Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vermont, skins were on our minds. Each manufacturer now has a race-oriented version of their skin-skis—and we liked them all. Aside from skin-skis, we saw technical growth in lighter-than-ever skate skis, boots and poles.

TIME OUT OF MIND
When Jessie and Kikkan won their gold medals, the torch was passed, so to speak—Bill Koch no longer stands alone as the only American medalist in cross country. Editorial Director, Adam Howard, reflects on this momentous race and what the result means for the future of Nordic skiing in the United States.

DEPARTMENT CONTENTS

Mass Start

CONTRIBUTORS
Nordorks and skinny skiers

WAX BOX
Timing, frequency and mistaken identities

EDITOR'S NOTE
A Cold War

ESSAY
We were all beginners at one time

Nordic Nation

GONE CAMPING
The rise and fall of summer ski camps

THE NORDIC SOLUTION
Andy Newell at your service

AMERICAN SNOW SURVEYOR
Wooden skis and Sierra crossings

FIGHTER
Kikkan Randall attacks cancer

Overland

ALL ABOARD
Trips on tracks: A Canadian ski tour

The Final Stretch

MAXIMUM GAINS
Recovering the right way

LOCAL HERO: BILL MCKIBBEN
Environmentalist, author and Nordic super-fan

SENIOR MOMENT
Freestyle on the fairway

PHOTO FINISH
Tricky crossings