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Going to Les Arcs, want to try cross country for a day or two - help please!

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi guys, so basically the title says it all... we are a group of 4 heading to Les Arcs in a couple of weeks, we'll spend most time on the pistes but we'd also like to try cross country skiing for a day (or two, if we really like it). I don't mean off-piste downhill skiing, but cross country where you just "walk" on the snow, maybe a bit up, maybe a bit down.

So two main questions:
1) Where can we find suitable equipment to hire? We'll rent downhill skis for the whole week, do we need to replace them to do cross country or is it just the shoes that need to be different?
2) Where can we go? Do we need a guide? (one of us is an experienced crosser) Where to find one if needed?

Thanks!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Most of the local ski shops should be able to provide the gear - totally different. Make sure you tell them you are beginners and want "classique" equipment, not "skating".

You shouldn't need a "guide" if you are thinking of prepared cross country tracks and your experienced friend should be able to help you with the basic technique (which is not, incidentally, "walking").

No idea where the XC tracks are in Les Arcs, or how difficult. if it's just flat it's easy but fairly boring if you just shuffle - good for practicing the gliding steps, though. If it's more undulating you'll find the technique, particularly for downhill, pretty demanding.

An initial lesson wouldn't be a bad idea.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Get a lesson. Going downhill is, erm, amusing. Not for you but for onlookers.
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Totally different skis, boots, movement, clothing, everything.

Cross country skiing is very aerobic its not walking, its more like gliding in a slow-motion-running-way..... so use warm running gear, preferably with a wind jacket, not heavily insulated waterproofs.

Thin skis and no edges mean that downhills are "exciting" and changing lanes is an art.

Definitely take lessons, as you need to learn the technic of using the sticky wax to grip the snow to get traction and the glidey wax to... er... glide with and also the double pole technique for gaining speed quickly.

Definitely try it, its hard work especially on your abductor muscles as you hold the glide, but its very exhilarating especially when you are whizzing along the flat. You will love it!

this might help Very Happy http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=2063548&highlight=vasaloppet#2063548 or might not snowHead
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Where in Les Arcs are you staying. The cross country track is near the Rosuel gate to the Vanoise national park up the valley from Nancroix. To get there you ski to the "bucket" lift from Vallandry to Peisey and catch the free shuttle bus up the valley. IIRC it is marked on the piste map
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You'll need to Register first of course.
Thanks for your quick answers! We will be based in Arc 1800. I found the trail in Nancroix, and we can get to it by car if needed, but I was hoping there'd be a closer trail near the main pistes? Does anyone know?
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Quote:

Definitely take lessons, as you need to learn the technic of using the sticky wax to grip the snow to get traction and the glidey wax to... er... glide with and also the double pole technique for gaining speed quickly.


with basic beginner skis with "scales" you shouldn't need to faff with wax.

Does the Les Arcs website not have maps which show all the downhill and cross country pistes? As beginners you will need something pretty flat.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Found this with information on short cross country tracks in Arc 1800 and Arc 2000, and the longer one at Peisey-Vallandry:
http://www.lesarcs.com/en/activities/winter-activites/cross-country-skiing/cross-country-skiing-bourg-saint-maurice.html#c2915
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
pam w wrote:
Quote:

Definitely take lessons, as you need to learn the technic of using the sticky wax to grip the snow to get traction and the glidey wax to... er... glide with and also the double pole technique for gaining speed quickly.


with basic beginner skis with "scales" you shouldn't need to faff with wax.


^ +1
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
The Peisey area sounds very nice but if it's a bit warm and slushy down there

Quote:
There is also an easily accessible high altitude trail above Arc 1800 at the Charmettoger chair lift.


See http://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/les-arcs-paradiski/test-result/cross-country/
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Quote:

The Peisey area sounds very nice but if it's a bit warm and slushy down there


There is about 100m difference in altitude between the two cross country areas. And yes the one above Nancroix is the lower at 1630m
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