OF CLUMPS AND FOOT CARE

Dear Coach!

Congratulations on your victory at the Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon! That is awesome! 

I have a simple question on snowshoes.  I was cross-country skiing on a river in fresh powder and there was water under the snow.  I couldn't see the water and went right into it.  It was probably something like 5 degrees out with a stiff wind (probably -20 wind chill).  My ski's almost immediately froze up with big glops of snow everywhere.  This was a drag. In fact, the ski's didn't work very well even after I scraped them off because the binding froze up and I couldn't clip in.

I was wondering if snowshoes would similarly freeze up?  I mean the powder was great and it would have been excellent to keep going. I think this condition happens a lot on the river where I have started skiing and it would be nice to know that I could use snowshoes.

Many thanks.

Jim Johnston

Chicago, IL

COACH RESPONDS:

Noble Clumped Up Warrior,

Hey, look at it this way,  the added resistance from the snow clumping only increased your training effect!   

 

Answer is YES! Snowshoes are ALL-WAYS more versatile, more durable, and more dependable 

across a vast array of changing snow, terrain, and temperature conditions than skis. Just ask Snowshoe Thompson; the fabled Postal Carrier of the late 1880's who trekked across the Sierra Nevada in epic conditions as his regular "postal route"!

 

The synthetic 'decking' material inherent to modern Sport Snowshoes is a superb cure for 

snow-caking when compared to nordic skis when put under varying degrees of surface

temperature, surface conditions, and changing ambient temperatures and humidity factors.

Having said that, snowshoes DO cake up!  This normally happens in springtime and in other wet snow conditions.  

 

To help deter the "Clumping Up Dragon"  you can, with apologies to Father Sky, spray some WD-40® or  other silicone type of lubricant along the cleats and snowshoe frame.  Sometimes, just relying on good ol' American Know How and thumping your snowshoe frames against the nearest unsuspecting tree or stump will do the trick.  When racing, I have used the top secret; "Jump and Clack" variation which involves some degree of Fast Twitch Muscle Fiber Fitness as you leap into the air high enough to clack the frames together releasing snow buildup underneath the cleats/binding.

 

The civilizations of the Northern Hemisphere owe our survival to snowshoes for one simple reason;  they work!   

 

In cold sweat and nordic spirit,

coach ilg

 

Whether getting ready to toe the Start Line of your first USSSA Snowshoe Race or just heading out for another fantastic body/mind workout upon your snowshoes,  taking care of your feet which slide into those beautiful snowshoes is Step Number One!

Below,  I have outlined what I use before heading out on my Snowshoes for a hard workout or race.  

If your snowshoe excursion is of a more casual demeanor,  you may omit Step Number One,  however,   I do suggest following at least a variation of each step for optimal energy transfer and joint stability to maximize any snowshoe workout. 

May it help and I bow to your Devotion upon the 'Shoes!

Get out and Dance!

Namaste,

coach ilg

founder/www.WholisticFitness.com

2006 Overall Team Champion; Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon

Step Number One:

Ankle Taping

 

When snowshoe training or racing, especially in hard core mountain snowshoe events, your snowshoe frame will clank up against your ankles.  Besides smartin' like the dickens, this repetitive contusion can deter performance by affecting gait.  Taping helps provide stability and protection for your ankle. 

Okay, okay...so my feet ain't exactly my BEST bodypart...gimme a break, they've been through a LOT!   Get any athletic tape...i use my rock climbing tape.   I start with placing 2-3 strips lengthwise along the navicular surface, then begin a second long strip around my ankle once, moving in a clockwise formation, underneath the arch (LIGHTLY!) so that the strip comes out on the lateral edge of my foot, up and over the navicular surface in a counter clockwise direction, around the ankle one more time, then cut.  KEEP FLEXING your foot AS YOU TAPE! 

Step Number Two:

Injinji Time!

Go here: 

http://www.injinji.com/

 

 

Step Number Three:

Frictionless Cycling Sock Secret 

Top Secret;  slide a cycling sock OVER your Injinji sock.  I use Pearl Izumi socks:

http://www.pearlizumi.com/index.php

Do this, Oh Noble One Who Runs Upon Water, and you too will be Blessed by the Frictionless Gods and experience fresh as daisies feet no matter how many kilometers you put in!

Step Number Four:

Preen with Neoprene socks! 

Cold can cause blood not to circulate efficiently.  I guard against this by using an ol' Adventure Racing trick;  neoprene socks.  Neoprene socks are highly flexible and allow fantastic movement of foot...and, as long as you are moving?  Neoprene is superb at keeping your feet TOASTY! 

Here is an example of where an internet search for neoprene socks might lead you:

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14405-516_GATIC5-1-Clothing-18-Socks/Gator-Icelander-Socks.htm

I personally use "Gator" neoprene socks.  I suggest hunting around for the seamless version.