Are modern skis any better than those made 25 years ago? Two experts lean on the issue

Are modern skis any better than those made 25 years ago? Two experts lean on the issue

Gear News, Leaders
If  we were to pick a subject skiers like to discuss the most, it probably would be " are the best modern skis that retail for 1000 euros/ dollars any better than what was sold in the past ( often for half price)?" Now no lesser figure than a coach of Alexander Bolshunov and Natalia Nepryaeva decides to speak. In interview with a newsportal 7startov.com Yuri Borodavko does not mince his words: " The skis that were made 25 years ago glide about the same as the new Fisher Helium or 3Ds, which are advertised so heavily, or the new Salomon, for instance, who's makers say they employ the latest technology." Borodavko goes to explain that there is particular hill in one of the top ski centers in Siberia that's…
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Oberhof to host World Cup again after 11 year pause

Oberhof to host World Cup again after 11 year pause

Leaders, Newsfeed
After an 11 year pause the XCSki World Cup is returning to Oberhof, Germany  Andreas Schlütter, sporting director of the German cross-country skiing federation, broke the news interview with the Thüringer Allgemeine paper this week.   The provisional dates are January 19th to 21st, 2024 which implies two races rather than three, but the schedule is to be confirmed and published by the FIS layer on.  [caption id="attachment_19280" align="alignnone" width="1170"] Lisa Lohmann , seen skiing on the Oberhof tracks earlier this year . Lohmann, 22, is a de- facto xcski ambassador of Oberhof: was born, raised and keeps on training in the area. Photo from personal archive, used with permission[/caption] It was, frankly, weird NOT to have Oberhof to host the World Cup events ( the last one was in…
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We travel to Alps to find out that cross country skiing has truly become elite sport

We travel to Alps to find out that cross country skiing has truly become elite sport

Newsfeed
Cross country skiing has  become an elite sport.  Nothing illustrates it more in 2023 than this object of desire:    [caption id="attachment_19264" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fischer Helium. It's bright, it's bold and it says: I've got  1000 euros (dollars) to spend on a pair of planks. Unless you're good enough to be sponsored by Fischer in which case you have other reasons to be proud of yourself[/caption] After two years of Covid-related travel restrictions the snowy tracks of Europe are supposed to be full. Are they? Let's start with the " snowy" part on and around Christmas and New Year's eve , the time lots of folks traditionally take to skis. But where would they do it? The whole Alpine region looks decidedly springy this January: green fields and rain.  [caption…
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Russians – what gear do they use now

Russians – what gear do they use now

Gear News, Newsfeed
It was interesting to assess what gear the best Russian  skiers use these days. The western sponsors have abandoned them, they say. Or did they? We don't know  and we don't care. Nobody would tell the truth anyway for the risk of wrong kind of PR in these sensitive times. Let's assume that skiers pictured have spent their own hard earned euros to buy the gear they always wanted, shall we? Especially interesting to see who switched away from Swix. The Norwegian company used to have a rare team deal with the Russians, including Juniors. Which,  naturally, turned Russian skis into a total Swix-land, probably 10 out 10 top places in local championships were won on Triacs before.  Not any more though: Alexander Bolshunov is using KV+ Tornado Plus Titan…
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First snow laid on world championship tracks of Planica

First snow laid on world championship tracks of Planica

Newsfeed, Travel & Mass Sport
First snow was laid on the tracks where the 2023 Nordic World Ski Championships will take place. Naturally, not by Mother Nature, but by the good people of Planica Nordic Center. And what did you expect? Says Neža Žerjav from Team Slovenia, who was a dedicated tester of the new track on Friday: " The track was like 1 km in the morning but they are still working. At the end of the day it will be 2,5 km. The snow was fast and the track was compact..." [caption id="attachment_19228" align="alignnone" width="960"] "... just enough to properly feel your tibialis anterior muscles.", laughs a 23 year old Slovenian Olympian.[/caption] Planica is located at the altitude of some 1100m. The weather today: +5 Сelcius, rainy. But snow cannons are on standby…
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