First Meeting and Group Ski - Tuesday July 6 at 6pm

Please join the Woodlands Inline Ski Team for our first general membership meeting and 10k group ski on Tuesday, July 6. We will meet at 6pm at Terramont Park in The Woodlands.

The purpose of the meeting is to gauge community interest and discuss ideas for the team. Will follow the meeting with a 10k group ski tour around Alden Bridge and Sterling Ridge. This will be a "no drop" ride for all ability levels.For beginners or for those do not have equipment, we will discuss basic technique and equipment.

Learn more about inline skiing / nordic blading. To start out you can use equipment as simple as a pair of rollerblades and inexpensive trekking or ski poles. You may already have these things sitting in your closet.

Below are some frequently asked questions about the sport and our upcoming meeting.

Q: Do I need to buy a lot of expensive equipment?

A: No. Although you can spend a lot of money on specially built roller skis, they are not required. To try things out all you need is a pair of rollerblades or inline skates, a helmet and pads, and a pair of ski poles or trekking poles. If you don't have poles I will bring a couple extra pairs to the first meeting so people can try them out. It's really best to avoid buying new poles until you have been measured for the proper height. We can help with this at the meeting.

Q: Is roller skiing / nordic blading safe?

A: Like any sport there are inherent risks and you are responsible for your safety. Since we have not officially formed a club or purchased liability insurance this first meeting will be "at your own risk." To ride with us you will be required to wear a helmet (I will bring a couple extras). Knee, elbow and wrist pads are a good idea as well. We will be practicing full stops at all stop signs and street crossings. Each ride will begin with a safety briefing and we will discuss technique and safety tips for the benefit of the group.

Q: Do I have to be in great physical shape to keep up?

A: The club and the rides are open to all ability levels. Before the ride we will have time for technique practice and to ensure everyone is comfortable with basic skills such as paceline skiing and stopping. This is a "no drop" ride which means no one will be left behind by the group. We will have a "sweeper" at the back of the paceline and we will regroup at all stop signs and street crossings.

Q: What do I need to bring?

A: You are welcome to just come to the meeting, ask questions and meet the group. However if you choose to ride you'll need the following equipment:

Required - Rollerblades or skis, poles (ski or trekking), helmet (I will bring a couple extra sets of poles and helmets, but I can't promise to have enough for everyone)

Optional but a good idea - Knee and elbow pads, wrist guards or gloves, water bottle, sunglasses or safety glasses

Q: Why not just rollerblade?

A: Roller skiing and nordic blading is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise. By adding poles to traditional skating you engage upper body muscles, raise your heart rate and increase the challenge of the workout. While roller skiing / nordic blading you can burn between 500-1,000 calories per hour. Best of all, this is a low-impact workout that is easier on the body than running.

Q: I want to buy poles, what kind should I buy?

A: Ski poles will be better than trekking poles in the long run, as the collapsible poles tend to break more easily. You will want to look for a steel or carbide tip and "racing straps" will be easier on the wrists than "touring straps" in the long run. A great source is http://www.nordicskater.com/poles.html .

Q: How long should my poles be?

A: As a general rule the longer the poles the faster you will be able to ski but the more difficult they will be to coordinate. A good guideline is that poles should be shoulder to lip height (when wearing your skates/skis). The chart below may be helpful. I am currently using poles about 10cm shorter than this chart recommends, but that is due to availability and I hope to upgrade shortly.