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Kenoefca Newt photo by Jobs SorentenCross-country skiing Is a sport for the whole family, according to Edward Wallen. Above, Wallen takes to the ski trail with his wife, Monica; son, Derek, 5, and 14-month old daughter, Victoria, in back pack.Wallen familyt home on ski trAllcross-iersBy SONDRA HORT Staff WriterFor cross-country skiers, that white stuff out there means it’s time to put on the boots and skis, pick up the poles and Join the countless others hitting the trails.Cross-country skiing is reportedly one of the fastest growing forms of winter recreation today.Edward Wallen, 5900 1st Place, associate professor in the Life Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and faculty advisor for the Parkside Nordic Ski Club, said cross-country skiing has come along way since trappers and farmers in Scandinavian countries found it was a lot easier to get from house to field on skies especially after their tracks were set.Wallen said cross-country skiing has become so popular that people of all ages, many of whom shun the speed and possible injury of downhill skiing, are seen gliding acrossthe countryside.“When I first took it up in 1975, there were a few people out, but since then, there’s been such a tremendous increase that the trails are almost crowded when conditions are right,” he said. “At Parkside, you will sometimes see 1,000 people skiing.”Ric Ladine, county park director, agrees.“There’s definitely been a big increase in cross-country skiing,” he said.One of the reasons is that it’s a purely recreational pursuit. It doesn’t require any type of vehicle, and from an ecological standpoint, it doesn’t the spoil landscape.”Wallen said it is a good form of family recreation, and people of all ages can participate.“My wife, Monica, and five-year-old son, Derek, enjoy it. Derek participated from my back-pack when he was a baby, a spot currently occupied by Victoria, my 14-month-old daughter, he said. “What’s more, my mother and father, both in their mid-60’s, also cross-country ski.”It’s an inexpensive way of enjoying winter, said Wallen, and trails are easily accessible.“It has also become widespread because of the emphasis on exercise for physical fitness.“Cross-country skiing is a total body sport,” Wallen explained, “and because it involves use of the arms and legs, it’s comparable to swimming for exercise value.”“It’s more enervating than walking and jogging,” he said, “but it’s easier on the joints than vigorousfindnew vistaswalking because there's no poundinginvolved.“My wife skied on level terrain up to the eighth month of her pregnancy because it’s good exercise.”Wallen stressed that people who are usually inactive or who have a health problem should consult a doctor before starting to ski.“If given the go-ahead, they should start out on fail ly level terrain with gradual inclines, go short distances, and rest periodically .”What conditions are best for goodcross-country skiing?According to Wallen, temperatures in the low to mid-2Gs are ideal along with a six- to eight-inch snow base.“Too much snowfall is bad for skiing In fact, we've had to cancel outings for that reason and because the weather was too cold,” said Wallen.“The terrain should be hilly with wide trails and sweeping turns.”He said Parkside has an arrangement with the Kenosha County Parks Department for mutual use and maintenance of trails at Petrifying Springs.“At Parkside and Petrifying Springs, there are 12 to 15 miles of trails. We’re also trying to develop annf am#that would rth woodsnew system of traiWinclude Parkside'sarea ”The length and terrain of good trails are marked for the novice, intermediate, and advanced skierLadine said there are also 4l/3 miles of trails at Bnghtondale Park, two miles at Fox River Park andthree miles at Silver Lake Park, all flat and gently rolling for beginners “There are also 1.400 acres of county park land on which people can ski without trails ‘ said Ladine Michael Ripp, Bong Recreation Area naturalist, said there are 14 miles of set and groomed trails at Bong which take skiers into woods, through fields, and down small hills“Trails get worn if there's no new snow We use a gyra-groomer,” Wallen said “to break it up and reset it. We groom them twice a week during good skiing conditions.”He frowns upon people who jog or walk their dogs on ski trails.“The tracks take hours to prepare and just one person can do a lot of damage ”Wallen recommends that newcomers take instructions from a class, club, or someone familiar with the sport.Stop Soon and Check Out• NewLineCubCadetSno-BlowersTRACTORS WALK BEHINDS AVAILABLE NOW!DRAWNSNOW BLOWERSWe Have Salt For Ice Control WaterStorage Sk Service Laya way ProgramsAvailableSALES • SERVICE • PARTSfl| mm mmE0UNTR7 STQRT8010 75th St., Kenosha • 694-0701Msn.-W,1:00*5:30Sat.•:00-5:00
Newspaper Details
Kenosha News Courier
Kenosha, Wisconsin, US
Wed, Jan 04, 1984
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Lisa D.
WI, USA 07 Jul 2020
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