FAQ

A: You need to become a member of US Ski and Snowboard, who organizes Junior Nationals. You also need to be a member of High Plains Nordic, our qualifying region. You need to race at least SOHO and Jackson. You can race any HPN, IMD, and RMD race. As a minimum you need to finish in at least three of these sanctioned qualifying races within the following percentage of the top 3 finishing times:

–Lander: 8% from top 3 avg. or 6% for U16

–Jackson or any other IMD and RMD Qualifier: 15% from top 3 avg.

–SOHO: 20% from top 3 avg.

–US Nationals: 20% from top 3 avg.

Visit https://www.highplainsnordic.org/qualification-standards.html for details.

• • A: No worries, athletes of all skill levels including beginners are absolutely welcome to join the team and give Nordic Skiing a try! As long as you are willing to put in the work, we will make sure you become a proficient skier.

• • A: You do not need to own all equipment. The school has some equipment for rent or we can help you find a store to rent gear as well. We will also provide a race uniform. Just be sure to have the right winter clothing (e.g. hat, gloves, jacket, etc.) to stay warm.

  • If you like to purchase ski equipment but you are not sure what to buy, reach out to us and we are glad to help

  • Ski Swaps are a good place to get affordable equipment. Here a list of some upcoming "nearby" swaps that are know for their great selection.

• • A: No, all 7 races are held across two days. One day we skate ski, the other day we classic ski. Hotel accommodations are provided by the school.

They refer both to the exact same thing - to skate and classic skiing on groomed trails. Crosscountry and Nordic terms are interchangeable. Other popular forms of skiing in WY are alpine skiing (downhill), backcountry skiing (wider skies, no groomed trails), and telemark skiing (downhill with the heel of the boot being detachable from the binding).

A: Skate skis always glide. They never come to a complete stop during the movement. Therefore they only have a glide zone. The movement is similar to roller blading, and bicycling is a great way to become stronger in skate skiing. In contrast, classic skis have the glide zone only in the front and back of the ski, while there is a kick zone (also called a wax pocket) in the center of the ski. To movement of the skier is more like running. When the athlete pushes the ski down, the kick zone touches the snow and the athlete pushes off from the snow similar to a runner pushing off from the ground to move forward. Therefore, classic skis and skate skies are different. A third option are combi skis which can be used for both techniques; however, they require re-waxing to change techniques. Removing kick wax and applying glide wax to the center area of the ski is messy and time consuming. That is not an option in the high school context as we race both techniques. We therefore need two pairs of skis, one pair for each sport. The pole length for classic skiing is also a bit shorter. Concerning boots, there are classic boots, skate boots, and combi boots available. If you rent equipment, you typically receive a combi boot. It is highly recommended to purchase a skate boot in addition if the athlete has ambitions to place in racing. This allows the athlete to race classic ski events in combi boots which fit that movement well, but use skate boots that have a higher arch support and are more rigid for best skate performance.

A: There are 8 high school ski teams in Wyoming. While these schools typically compete in different divisions in other sports, we compete in one joint division for Nordic. The schools are:

• Cody HS

• Jackson Hole HS

• Kelly Walsh HS (Casper)

• Lander Valley HS

• Laramie HS

• Natrona HS (Casper)

• Pinedale HS

• Sheridan HS