| March 2002 Newsletter |
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Snowshoeing - Another Nordic Sport
On Friday January 25, champion snowshoe racer Tom Sotal of Leadville, Colorado, presented a lecture and slide show titled "Fitness, Running, and Racing with Showshoes" at Cornell University's McGraw Hall. The lecture provided a valuable introduction to this alternative way of locomotion on snow. Tom pointed out many advantages of the sport of snowshoeing. They include the great stability and traction provided by snowshoes, the ability to go most anywhere, and the simplicity and durability of equipment. Snowshoeing is an excellent method for fitness training. It can be done even when the snow cover is very light or very heavy, or when conditions are icy. Modern snowshoes are equipped with metal crampons that provide a very firm grip. The recommended size for training and racing is 8 x 25 inch. Larger may be useful in deep snow, smaller on well-groomed trails. Care is required to avoid "face plants" caused by stepping with one snowshoe on the other. Tom emphasized that snowshoers should stay out of cross country ski tracks. He also stated that snowshoers prefer trails that are much narrower than usual cross country ski trails.
On the morning following the lecture, the Finger Lakes Runners Club organized a snowshoe race in the Finger Lakes National Forest at Hector. Fifty pairs of snowshoes were available to those interested in trying out the sport. Activities started with a one mile fun race/walk on the Potomac Trail Loop. The first thing novice showshoers noted was that snowshoe running is significantly harder than ordinary running. Even walking fast on snowshoes provides a high level of fitness training. Small sections ofthe 1 mile loop lacked snow cover, but this did not pose a problem. The second event was scheduled to be a 7.6 mile race on snowshoes.Too much of this course lacked snow, and the event was changed into a running race. A total of 38 people participated. Organizers Joe Reynolds and Diane Sherrer had arranged for post-race vegetarian chili, hot tea, and a campfire to roast "smores." The weather was sunny and spring-like. All in all, it was a very successful and enjoyable winter happening
-- Tob de Boer
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