Page 4 - Jan_14

publisher commentary

by Angelo Lynn

YOU GOTTA LOVE how sports can of engagement; that is, the etiquette of conditions and particularly because this
change your environment.
sharing (or avoiding) Vermont’s varied is a sport that thrives on harder surfaces.

Winter in Vermont, for example, trail network—from snowmobiling trails Speaking of hard surfaces, while
wouldn’t be the same had not the to Nordic center trails.
southern Vermont has been hit with some
Scandavians invented skiing; or Jake
Kingdom Trails in East Burke, big dumps recently, warmer weather
Burton developed snowboarding; or Vermont has developed a riders’ protocol has spread some liquid participation
Mad River Rocket or Hammerhead sleds that sets a reasonable standard for around more than most skiers would

developed sleds and toboggans that rock sharing trails, who has the right of way, like. For skiers, that means sharp edges
and roll at high speeds. And it keeps and some basic rules of thumb for this are helpful. But proper technique is even
getting more interesting. Consider that a
new sport. At least, it’s a good place to more important to enjoying days on
Massachusetts firm has recently developed start and makes an important point: Vermont hardpack. Vermont writer and
a ski bike (the photo on the cover just
and that mode of transportation is rapidly because fatbikers will be sharing trails ski racer Lisa Densmore breaks down the
makes you want to go out and get one), that already exist for other sports, and art of skiing hard surfaces. It’s a good
and mountain biking manufacturers are becoming a mainstream winter sport.
because biking can rut trails if the snow refresher for experienced skiers and a
going mainstream with fatbikes.
A few Nordic resorts and mountain
biking centers are opening their trails, or is too soft, it’s going to be critical primer for those
What’s terrific about all these new important for riders to trying to figure out how
toys is that snow conditions don’t have to developing new ones to accommodate the Send your comments
be perfect for skiing and riding to enjoy sport and riders are already challenging govern their not to slip and skid on
own behavior to avoid hardpack.
to publisher@
winter. Today, if we don’t have that fresh new boundaries. Why? Because it’s fun, vtsports.com or go
foot of powder at the ski areas or if the it’s good exercise and riders love to ride conflicts and risk future Finally, for Nordic online at VTsports.
all year around! And why not? If the trails roadblocks to trail access and adventure racers
snow depth isn’t deep enough to get into caused by inconsiderate com and post your
the backcountry, take a fatbike and ride are there and the conditions are right, let ready for another season opinions there or on
on the harder trail surfaces that are ideal the games begin.
riders.
of competition, we
preview dozens of races If riders self-monitor our Facebook page.
for this fast growing sport.
In our lead story in this issue,
The sport was started a few years reporter Evan Johnson reviews the brief throughout the state, and such actions well in the
history of the fatbiking trend, notes a our columnists feature
first years of the sport,
ago when a few hardy souls decided that
adding knobby fat tires to bike frames half-dozen competitive events already several a few individual profiles, discuss we can look forward to fatbiking as part
would work for winter travel. A few on the winter calendar, and catches up the ills of overtraining, and even inject a of the ever-growing world of Vermont’s

tweaks and mechanical adjustments later
with several area resorts about their rules
little humor into our lives. Enjoy.
winter sports, regardless of the snow

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4 VTSPORTS.COM
JANUARY 2014