Pro Tips for the Winter World Championship

The XTERRA Winter World Championship promises to be a true test of winter endurance and skill open to both amateurs and professionals.  The championship event will include four disciplines in this order; 5k run on snow, 5k off-track snowshoe, 10k mountain bike on groomed snow, and 8k up and down cross country ski.  Below are some tips on how to tackle each event.

Run:  The first event will be a 5k run on snow.  The course will be groomed and relatively hard packed.  The obvious issue is traction so your choice of footwear can make a difference.  I have raced on snow with everything from a racing flat to cross country shoe with ½ inch spikes and honestly the spikes didn’t seem to help much.  Groomed snow is going to be soft so plan on slipping a little with each step.  I have seen some people race in Yak Traks that add some weight, but probably do help with traction.  For me the best approach is to just focus on being smooth and consistent over the ground.  It is a strength race and it definitely takes more stability to get a good foot plant and push-off when you are slipping around.

Snowshoe:  The second leg will be a true snowshoe race off the beaten path.  Expect much deeper snow and more varied terrain.  A lightweight snowshoe will still be your best choice and I plan on racing on a snowshoe that is 8 inches wide and 25 inches long.  Northern Lites, Redfeather, Atlas, and Tubbs all make great racing snowshoes.  If you thought that the run portion was a strength event, try running through powder on snowshoes.  The good news is that it gets easier the further back you are because everyone in front of you will be packing down a trail.

Bike:  Biking on snow…is that right?  Any mountain bike should do the job either full suspension or a hard tail—it doesn’t matter.  With no rocks or roots in the way full suspension is not necessary but I would say just ride what you have.  The biggest issue will be rims and tires.  A wider rim performs the best in the snow but for most of us a new wheel set is not practical.  Go with a wide mountain bike tire 2.3-2.5 with an aggressive tread.  Don’t worry about a fast rolling tire—go with something knobby!  The most important thing of all is air pressure.  There is a low risk of a flat tire so run low air pressure (ie under 20 lbs).  Imagine you are selecting the best tire for a very sandy course.  You need floatation and traction.

Ski:  The ski portion is some form of cross country/ski mountaineering/randonnee/alpine touring – or whatever you want to call it - but that doesn’t mean you need to have a specific ski set-up.  Cross country skis will work (classic or skate) as well as telemark skis.  Expect steep climbs on the ski leg.  Skins are highly recommended. A ski skin is a long strip of material with glue on one side that sticks to the ski, and directional “fur” on the other side that allows the ski to slide forward, but not backward (as long as you put it on right).  If you don’t feel comfortable on the downhill, then you can just leave the skins on.  If you are more confident in your downhill ability, then peel the skins off at the top and ski down.  I would recommend the full-length skins over kicker skins.

Clothing:  For winter events I always try to dress with just a little less than I think.  With the Winter XTERRA there is going to be non-stop action so expect to heat up right away.  Up top I usually use a thin base layer under a windbreaker.  A basic pair of running or cycling tights should be fine for the legs.  For most winter races a full-fingered cycling glove is usually enough unless it is very cold.  You will need some finger dexterity so keep that in mind with your glove choice.  You will be changing shoes several times so you want a good pair of socks.  I recommend either a neoprene sock or a performance wool sock.  If it happens to be crazy cold then consider cycling booties on your bike shoes and instant hand warmers in your gloves.

Transitions:  Although it may sound like a logistically confusing race, XTERRA will do everything possible to keep it simple.  Each leg of the XTERRA Winter Worlds will return to the same transition.  This means all of your gear is in one spot and any additional nutrition can also be placed there.  You shouldn’t need to worry much about nutrition out on the course since you will be routed though the base area four times.

Need help:  XTERRA is hosting a ton of exhibitors, clinics, and equipment rental companies at the festival before the race, so if you don’t have everything or need more info, you’ll be o.k.  The most important thing is to try something new and have some fun – and this event gives you the chance to do both.