Cross country skiing can still be done on the cheap and provides unparalleled enjoyment for millions of folks every year. Most people opt to stay with skinny skis and leather boots. The options are many: You got your ultra-lights, skate skis, race skis, carbon poles, and special gear enough to make you blush and broke. I entered the free-heeled world from alpine skiing. I like my heavy boots, that feeling of being locked and loaded, of carving tight turns and skiing glades. I also love solitude. While I could find plenty of adrenalin downhilling, untouched powder and quiet were hard to find.

Skiing regularly with an expert telemark skier, I was convinced it was time to make a break for the backcountry. A confident and very competent skier on alpine equipment, I was eager to strut my stuff on the wimpy slopes at the neighboring Nordic venue.

I opted for Karhu 10th Mountain Division backcountry skis over the skinny skis and had some burly Hammerhead binding slapped on. I paid about $200 for some high end Alpina backcountry leather boots. Going up wasn't too bad. I was grooving. The skis and boots were weightless. Granted, they felt a little flimsy. Ok, a LOT flimsy. As we switchbacked up on a green trail, I knew this was a sport for me. So quiet. Beautiful, pristine wilderness and not a lift line or a snowboarder in sight. This is IT.

Two sweaty hours later, I slid none too gracefully onto the summit of Bald Knob. I was now ready to cash in on some turns I had earned. "This," I thought, "is where the fun begins."

Not so much. Leaning forward in my flimsy boots with a free heel brought about predictable results. Superman I.

I gathered myself and my dignity up and adjusted. I leaned back and promptly fell flat on my tail.

For the next hour and a half, I weebled and wobbled all the way down. On greens. Groomed greens. No fresh pow for me. I couldn't even stay in a set track. I reverted to snow plowing and prayer. And I kept falling. The real workout for me was in getting up 20 or 30 times.

Wait a minute. I ski expert slopes. Bumps. Trees. Steeps. And I can't do this???

Let us bow our heads for a moment of silence in remembrance of my hyper-inflated ego. I made it back physically uninjured, snow covered and exhausted. I struggled to free myself from the tele-bindings. Even that's harder. After several moments of self-pity and self-flagellation, I traded my Aplina boots for some Garmont Excursion, hard plastic boots.

And I went out again the next day. The beefier boots gave me a modicum of control and much more importantly, confidence. The next weekend I took my stuff over to the downhill resort and started again. And again and again. I took telemark pointers from my husband. And I fell some more. After a few weeks I managed to ski a two-mile green without falling, linking wobbly telemark turns the entire way down. I wasn't finding adrenalin, but I was punching my tickets for freedom. What I gave up in adrenalin was more than replaced by finding endorphins and satisfaction.

This year, we passed on buying season passes at the alpine resort and saved several hundred dollars with season passes as a Nordic ski area which actually offers more vertical than the neighboring downhill venues. This is the year that Ullr, the Norse God of Skiing, has blessed us with epic powder. I am now skiing back country powder clumsily and haltingly, but I'm doing it. And every successful tele turn is as sweet as clover honey. I am now rewarded with both adrenalin and endorphins. I still strap on my alpine gear for some flawless runs at lift-serviced resorts, but there's nothing sweeter than earning a turn. Nothing.

So the Beginning of another season and I can only dream it's gonna be a good winter. The weather so far has been somewhat normal,I wish it was a lot colder and the snow guns were firing away everywhere. With that said lets move on to the subject at hand. The Boston Ski and Snowboard Expo at the baside Expo Center. I will be attending this Saturday Nov. 21st. It runs from Nov 19th to the 22nd.

I went last year and grabbed a bunch of discount and free lift passes, not to mention I won a free trip to the berkshires. It is not just for northeast resorts either, there were canadian resorts there, Tahoe region, and Colorado. I brought my 2 and 4 year olds and they had a great time. I cannot say enough good things about the Expo. All I can say is if you are a serious Skier or Rider you needto get there for at least one day. You'll save alot of money in the long run and have a blast while your there.

SO if your in the Boston area this weekend and want to see the hottest new gear, grab some killer gear discounts and possibly lots of free stuff, stop in. You won't regret it.

See you on the slopes folks Bryan

Previously I had wrote a blog about my dislike for spring (Corn) snow. Well Yesterday I had the opportunity to change my view. Although I am still not entirely found of wet hills and puddle filled bases, I really enjoyed cutting through some of the best corn filled slopes of my life. The highly moveable snow had formed some excellent elements on most of the slopes. Which I took full advantage of. I rode the mountain like I owned it and I do not regret my choice to go during spring conditions. Contrary to my other spring boarding sessions, I did not end up injured. This was a contributng factor to me changing my mind.

SO I leave this season a happy and extremely wet boarder. Yes with all the melting yesterday and me using the mountain to the fullest I absorbed at least 95% of the water on the slopes. It was worth it. I will return next year to as many slopes I can and still try to do it for a budget. I think next years challenge will be 20 mountains under $200 in lift licket prices.The quest is on again.

So here it is at last, Spring has made it to New England. With one of the best Skiing/Riding seasons we've seen in years, New Englanders have been tearing up the slopes.That is about to a lot more literal meaning to it. With Spring comes Corn snow. What is corn snow I am asked every spring. Obviously by a non Skier/Rider.
Dictionary.com provides the folowing Definition.

CORN SNOW

–noun Skiing

Also called corn, spring snow.
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Origin: 1930–35 Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

I fall on the side of hating corn snow. Most other people I know really love it. They say it's part of New England Skiing/Riding. I am mostly a just freeride snowboader and I find that the corn snow makes for a slow and rather wet day. Everytime I ride corn snow I tend to get hurt. Call it a curse, back luck or whatever you want I know it has to do with the snow. I will take -20*F and icy slopes over corn snow.

The other thing that drives me insane about corn snow is how easily bare spots pop up. I have damaged my board on many occassions while riding corn. I know,I know, it is just the natural effect of spring melting away our winter playground. None the less it is depressing. Knowing with the coming of corn snow my winter fun will be coming to an end shortly just takes the beauty out of spring for me.

Sorry I had to go on this rant but I needed to get it out. Maybe with time I will come to like corn snow. Nah, I doubt it! I will however still ride it because God put it there for our enjoyment, and I guess corn Snow is better than no snow!!!

The only way I find the kind of dolphins I'm talking about is to go uphill. Perhaps some background on these special creatures will help. Like most good stories, it's a little convoluted at first, but eventually the story comes together.

My husband is one of those natural born athletes gifted with exquisite coordination, endurance, and a passion for outdoor sports which has earned him a physique worth writing about. I inhabit another spectrum, that of a human draft horse. I am inordinately strong but have a slow, plodding form of endurance that while noble, isn't terribly colorful or pretty. Mike is a beautiful athlete, his telemark technique merits "wooHOO's" from the chair lift. I get down the slope safely. The only "wooHOO" I ever got was for a spectacular fall.

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