Thanks for great feedback! Yeah, sometimes it's just tough to be done with a thing, success or not. I particularly like to be in the "zone" with whatever I do, but everything comes to an end. And we do need to carry on. I try not to just jump from one goal to the next so as to substitute, so to speak. Time to process is necessary but, at the same time, inertia can play a role in life and if we don't choose to learn/do something else, well, I often find myself just watching a lot of shows and movies! haha :) Progress and learning is what makes me happy, too :) Congrats on the retirement! And I'm glad to hear that getting back into the backcountry is what's up next for you. Very cool :) Thanks again for tuning in, and for contributing to the conversation. I appreciate it.

Thank you :)

Thanks for watching! I appreciate it :) Yeah, I've tried to break that habit of holding my hands too high. Sometimes I'll choke up on the poles, like you suggested, or just collapse them to a shorter length. It's something I've been working on. Again, thanks for tuning in and for the feedback :)

Hey Barbara! Thanks for tuning in and reaching out. Sounds like we do share some similar beliefs/approaches to life. Yeah, it's definitely a nice thing to not have to finish every book - haha :) Those Townsend Warblers were crazy the other morning. When I returned the following day, there wasn't a sign of them around. Interesting the habits and patterns of nature :) Thanks again for checking out my channel. I appreciate it!

Hey Ben! Thanks so much for the great feedback :) The inconsistent road surface can really be a drag, literally. I was skate roller skiing earlier this season on a freshly surfaced road, thinking it would be ideal. However, the road was a bit remote and wasn't smooth at all. It looked great from a distance, but it was very textured and had the finest wave pattern. So much so that as I was working on a slow and controlled V2, I would actually get caught in the "troughs" of the wave pattern and come to a halt. So, in order to negotiate it, I had to add more power and go faster just to get through it. Needless to say, I took a knee at one point and I decided I wouldn't be roller skiing on that road again! In many respects, no matter the snow conditions, xc skiing is just so much more smooth and forgiving on snow. You just have so many more options to deal with terrain features and variable conditions simply thanks to the gliding properties of the whole thing. On asphalt and concrete, none of that is an option. Pure friction and, as a result, I do find that more often than on snow, I'm just roller skiing for survival rather than actually focusing on technique. All of that said, roller skiing in all its forms is definitely a training tool. But it'll never replace skiing on snow and should be (in my opinion) treated as such. That is, a supporting element, not the true thing in which we're trying to do. Anyway, thanks so much for tuning in and providing some great feedback. I appreciate it :)

It appears that this is probably just a duplicate post :)

Thanks for watching, and for the great question! I have a set of NNN BC bindings mounted on my pair of Asnes Falketind 62 (97-62-86, tip-waist-tail) backcountry xc skis. I find that the NNN BC binding is fine for this size of bc xc ski. I wouldn't go any wider than a tip with of 97/98mm with that set of bindings. I do have a friend with a set of S-bound 112mm (tip width) that have NNN BC bindings on them, but I think that's pushing it. He purchased that combination of skis/bindings before he became aware of the relationship between the two. I don't think he totally regrets it, but I know he would've mounted a more robust binding to those 112mm skis now that he's had a couple of winters under his belt. All of that said, NNN BC bindings might be outmatched on a 98mm ski if you're really aggressive with your turns and/or you're really heavy. I also have a set of S-bound 98mm skis with a basic three-pin binding mounted to them. So, at that width, you could go either way. I find, however, that on my Excursion 88mm, the NNN BC binding is totally perfect. Anyway, hope that helps. Let me know if you have other questions or want any additional clarification. Thanks for tuning in, and for the question!

Appreciate the response and how quick. You responded before I asked the question (but it’s yesterday where you are). I agree with your comment. Our snow here can be quite variable so we don’t have the luxury of a wide ski in soft fresh snow. I’m going with the Magnum on a 62 with the Transnordic. Should suit undulating terrain and occasional moderate downhill. Otherwise if I want to Tele I’ll just jump on my XCD setup & hit a resort. Thanks.👍

@@64syth76 Awesome! Sounds like a great plan :) I also have NNN BC (auto) on a set of Spider 62s and NNN BC (manual) on some Asnes Gamme. Both of which work great!

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback :) And I think focusing on technique on snow is the way to go until you feel super comfortable with that single leg balance (and asphalt!). As always, thanks for tuning in and commenting :)

Hey Andrew! You're welcome :) Thanks for watching, and for the feedback. I've found over the years that it's usually beneficial to stick with one style, instructor, focus when learning new stuff before cross-training (in an adjacent style, with a new instructor, or shifting your focus). I consider roller skiing as a method of cross-training because, again, it's similar but different. And if a person doesn't have that solid foundation (in this case, technique on snow), the results can just be less than ideal. Anyway, it's great to hear from you. I hope you're summer has been a good one :)

Hey EC, great to hear from you :) As always, thanks for the feedback and questions. I want to start a mini-series of skate skiing videos this upcoming winter. Whether or not I do one for skate roller skiing beforehand is to be determined. I've been taking a break from all roller skiing this past week (or two) in order to catch up on other projects, but my intention is to roller ski a lot more toward the end of summer/beginning of fall. And a lot of that has to do with the fact that summer work for me will be winding down in mid/late-September, as well as birding (for the Tahoe Big Year). I'll just have more time to film and roller ski once we get to the second half of September. All of that said, perhaps I'll just start that series of skate ski how-to videos on roller skis and then carry on with the series on snow. I'll start to brainstorm that idea over the next month. In the meantime, I agree that it's wise to hold off on picking up classic roller skis. And, even if you don't have tons of skate technique-related lessons to currently be working on with the skate roller skis, you could just go for lots of double pole and step turn sessions. Make yourself a simple slalom course (on flat terrain) and work on stepping around those cones (or whatever markers you use). It's the latter push-off that you want to be developing for skate skiing. And step turns are a very natural way in which to build that into your practice. Okay, time to get ready for work. Thanks for tuning in and reaching out. I hope you're having a great summer!

Haha! That's hilarious :) And I hope that scenario comes true for you. But don't say I didn't warn you ;)

With today's high of 92 degrees at my house in South Lake Tahoe, I'm right there with you. We had a cold spell for a few days last week, which was nice, but not cold enough! haha :)

Thank you for the kind words and feedback! I appreciate it :) It is amazing to see the pros running roller skis at such high speeds. That takes really great technique, lots of confidence, and maybe just a hint of madness! haha :) But for the rest of us mere mortals, I don't know, I'm just not willing to risk going that fast. Even on roller blades I've taken some nasty spills, mostly on hilly sections where I gained too much momentum and couldn't effectively stop myself. So I'll stick to the flats and really gentle terrain while practicing slower, controlled, and repeatable technique. Thanks for tuning in, and for contributing to the conversation :)

Hey Bruce! Thanks for the feedback :) I had to look up pneumatic tires roller skis because I wasn't familiar with them. When I saw them, however, I realized that they looked similar to the pair that I borrowed from a friend years ago. The ones I used also had a type of friction bar that was adjustable so as to prevent the wheels from rolling too fast. That was a really nice feature on that particular model. Super cool! But, yeah, they're still roller skis and you're still mostly rolling over unforgiving terrain. But I like the idea of using them on dirt roads/paths and on terrain that may not be as smooth as pavement. I think for the time being, though, I'm just going to stick with what I have and roller ski on favorable terrain to mitigate risk. Again, thanks for tuning in and for contributing to the conversation. I really appreciate it!

I appreciate the kind words, but I don't do product reviews for anybody.

@@JaredManninen Thanks let me know this

Agreed! And I think I'm already looking forward to them. haha! It's been a relatively hot summer here in Tahoe :)

Hey Jennifer! As I mentioned in another of my responses, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to borrow a friend's roller skis for a couple of weeks (years ago) to give them a test run. Many of my co-workers/fellow instructors have all mentioned over the years to beware. Many of them have roller skied in the past but have since let it go as they grew tired of the occasional crash. That's also why I was able to borrow those roller skis - most of my friends were like, "Use them as long as you'd like!" haha. I do believe there are tons more options for preparing for each upcoming season, especially when a person isn't a dedicated xc ski competitor. And, as much as I love cross-country skiing, I also need a break from that world. Thanks again for tuning in, and for your great feedback. Let me know if you have any questions or want additional feedback. But, so far, there's been a nice selection of personal anecdotes regarding peoples' experiences roller skiing (here in the comment section). Take care!

That's a total bummer that you had invested in so much gear (that ultimately didn't get used as you hoped). I was fortunate in my first go-around years ago that I could borrow a set of roller skis to try them out. So I never invested in anything beyond the elbow/knee pads. At this point, however, I have outfitted myself with skate/classic roller skis and the roller ski pole tips. But I'm taking things lot more mellow on the roller skis so as to limit my risk. Basically, I'm just trying to keep things slow, controlled, and repeatable. Part of my reason for investing know, though, is that I am trying to refine technique and keep up the momentum (pun intended) of having this RU-vid channel and my website. I'm not necessarily trying to be the expert, but I do want to have information in which to share when people ask. Call it research, I suppose - haha! Thanks so much for sharing your experience on roller skis. I really appreciate the feedback. And I'm glad that you were able to try it, determine there were other options, and to explore those options without (hopefully) too many long-term drawbacks (to trying roller skiing). Thanks for tuning in!

I'm with you Yan. I really wanted to like, putting much time into drills. But I took a hard fall on my back and said screw this. Its just not worth the risk especially if you are 50+ like myself.

Sorry I didn't see your reply sooner, but thanks for the comment. Yeah, falling is just no fun anytime 😬

You're welcome! And, yeah, this time I recommend everyone to just save their money :) Or, maybe use that money for more winter gear - haha!

Thanks so much for the feedback! Glad I'm not the only one saying it :) Which I know isn't true because a lot of my co-workers and fellow xc skiers (who've been teaching and skiing a lot longer than me) have told me that they gave it up years ago. That is, once they started getting old enough to not want to deal with crashing anymore. I hope you're having a great summer!

Thanks, Joan! Now that I've been roller skiing with some relative consistency this season, I felt it was time to offer some initial thoughts (based on how many people have told me to get into it over the years). Without a strong xc ski foundation, I just see the endeavor being more counterproductive than anything else. Anyway, thanks so much for tuning in and for the kind words :)

Hey Brad, I appreciate the opportunity that I have right now to dive a little deeper into the art of xc skiing (via roller skiing). But I try to envision the beginners that I've taught over the years, as well as many of the folks who've tuned into my channel on roller skis, and I just don't see it being a very good thing (for many of them). There's just so much that could go wrong without having a solid foundation from which to work. I think roller skiing is definitely for a younger crowd - haha! They just bounce off pavement so much easier ;) That's a tragedy about Jasper. Hoping for the best... Thanks again for watching and commenting. And I'm also looking forward to some cooler temps and snowy precipitation!

Yah pretty much only competitive XC ski racers do this around here, beginning around age 12! 😮

@@TahoeLand It is pretty crazy how young people go for it! But I guess they probably bounce a little better than me! haha :)

Thanks so much for the meaningful feedback! You make all kinds of great additional points about the potential pitfalls of roller skiing. I appreciate it :) The thinner wheels in relation to an actual xc ski base is definitely a concern for me when it comes to skate roller skis trying to simulate the on-snow experience. It's funny because I have fairly good single leg balance in many environments, but I can't walk a slackline to save my life! haha. It's one of those things that I'd like to learn over time, but not everything is a one-for-one transfer. I know that if I was able to walk a slackline, that would ultimately benefit me as a cross-country skier. However, when walking a slackline would I still be modeling a beneficial position/posture for xc skiing? A rhetorical question because I know I mostly wouldn't, but there are all kinds of ways in which we can balance on one leg that won't be ideal in the xc ski environment. So, again, we can see that there could be pitfalls for more novice xc skiers training in another environment (without realizing how different they are). I agree that finding a "safe" zone in which to practice, such as an empty parking lot is more suitable. That's why I mostly stick to the same stretch of bike/hike path near my house. For training this is fine, but for an overall outdoor experience it's pretty ... meh. I'd rather hike a mountain and get some views (and not have to worry about ebikers zipping by at 25mph!). Again, I appreciate all of your feedback. I think it's helpful to have this kind of discussion because, as I mentioned, I've had a number of people over the years try to convince me that I should be roller skiing in the off-season. And, I just don't believe a person should really even humor the idea until they're highly competent at xc skiing on actual snow. Thank you!

It was definitely a great day to be out in the snow!

I'm kinda missing it right now, myself, with this hot summer :)

Thanks, Jennifer! I appreciate it :) With the roller skiing I'm playing it pretty conservative, sticking with slow to medium pace and staying on mostly flat bike paths. And I'm currently only doing it once a week to minimize the risk - haha! But today's little four-mile session was actually quite enjoyable. I'm building up some confidence :) Thanks as always for tuning in, and for the kind words.

Good update. Yeah, I gained weight too, and been trying to road cycle it off but you know what? My in-line skating (rollerblading) and some ab workouts at the gym has help me curb my appetite this week and skip a meal -just not hungry. There’s something about compressing the stomach that really helps the appetite. Glad to see another form of breaking, other than the Fischer brake accessory. I’d like to see how you evolve your roller ski braking. It particularly interesting to see how you don’t let one ski cross in front of the other by step lifting. On skis, we push down on the heels, right? There was a video I saw or heard where people drag their foot, 90* against the direction of descent, but I’m not confident my knee will tolerate it, let alone if I can effectively twist and keep on course. Btw, did you see Tom M’s last ski video for the winter 23-24? He had some great shots where you can see his telemarking moves using the insta360 x4. They look great for teaching. Sigh…. More equipment right?

Have fun with the Origami. Love to see some mountain biking in Lk Tahoe as well. Cheers! E

​@@ecphotographer Thanks for the nice feedback, EC! I've been increasing my activity ever since this video to keep the metabolism up and (hopefully) burn some calories - haha! I think when I stop doing all of these Tahoe Big Years (this is the last year I'm doing one in earnest) I'll get back to grinding out miles in all forms (hiking, xc skiing, etc.). As much as I love photographing wildlife and plant life, you just don't move too fast ever doing it ;) Yes, with a regular snowplow you do push your heels out to shave the snow. But with rubber roller ski tires, well, they don't really skid so I do that step snowplow one roller ski at a time to decrease speed. I've also heard of dragging a roller ski behind, perpendicular to the rolling ski but I've always disliked that approach as it wears those wheels down a lot. I think I tried that on roller blades a long time ago, but had limited success. Terrain management definitely plays a big role in the whole process (i.e. knowing if there's adequate runout when on a small hill, and how steep the terrain is on which you're roller skiing). I can't recall if I saw the specific Tom M. video in which you refer, but I know he has that Insta360. I've actually talked to him about it last season as I've been considering getting one myself. The main problem I have, though, is that I'll have to get a new laptop on which to edit the footage. My old desktop just can't handle the file sizes - they're absolutely massive! But, yeah, more equipment - haha! But I do like the versatility of that camera. It looks really handy for teaching. Oh well, we'll see what I come up with for next season!

@@ecphotographer Again, thanks for tuning in and for the nice words. I appreciate it!

Hey Brad! Yeah, it was definitely a fun day 🙂 Logistically, it wasn't too challenging as i decided to keep the locations simple (i.e. just biking from the house). My roommate has a different style of foldable kayak, so it's interesting how many kinds of foldable outdoor toys there are! I've been keeping up with the weekly roller ski sessions, too. As always, thanks for tuning in and commenting 🤗

Thank you for the kind words, Frank! And for sharing your experiences :) I think I may have to amp up my next attempt because adventures sound way more intense than mine - haha! I love it :) Again, thanks for tuning in and for contributing to the conversation!

Thanks for the kind words! I appreciate it :)

Hey Steve, very cool about your woodpecker :) They are some of my favorite birds, particularly the big Pileated Woodpeckers. Thanks for watching, and for the comment. I appreciate it :)

Thanks, Greg! It was really fun :)

Thanks for the kind words :) Yes, I'm skate skiing rather than classic in this video. In a lot of respects, I equate roller skiing with skate skiing more than classic as the technique lends itself better to the gear. I don't own a set of classic roller skis yet, although I will probably eventually invest in a set. But I'm not a huge fan of classic roller skiing because the mechanism that's used to prevent the roller skis from rolling backwards is a type of stop system. The mechanics of that device essentially prevent the wheels from rolling backwards. And this artificial application of a "grip zone," in some cases, can lead to poor form. Because skate skiing is 100% technique-based (i.e. no grip zone to help you go forward so if you don't know proper technique it's super hard to go forward), I see roller skiing as being much more similar to skate skiing. The wheels essentially roll in both directions so, again, if you don't technique it's hard to go forward. Like I said, I'll probably buy a set of classic rollers skis in the future. But, for now, I'll skate ski roller ski :) Thanks again for tuning in and commenting!

@@JaredManninen I see what you mean about the roller skiing mechanism which is being used to approximate the grip zone. Let me add my perspective as I've been inline skating (rollerblading) for a bit more than a year now. I took this up mainly to get used to the feeling of sliding around given that I'm learning to ski as an adult. You can also carve turns with inline skates. The wheels are shaped in a way that they have the equivalent of edges which allow for parallel turns. I was having so much fun doing inline skating that I decided to take it up as a standalone hobby. The skate skiing method of pointing the feet in a v-shape is a beginner level stride when it comes to inline skating. It is useful for acceleration and going up slopes, but not so much for maintaining speed. There is an intermediate level stride where the supporting foot points straight ahead and the other leg goes out to the side for the push. This stride is more useful for maintaining speed. I've been trying to learn this stride and I'm nearly there at this point. It was quite challenging for me for a while as I realized that I didn't have good single leg balance with my left leg and also I was having a hard time keeping the weight centered on the supporting leg (again left) as the pushing leg goes out to the side. This stride feels more similar to classic skiing because the supporting foot points straight towards the direction of motion and you can also glide as the pushing leg recovers. The shorter wheelbase of inline skates allows for such a stride, so I think it may probably not work very well with rollerskis. There are a lot of fun things you can do with inline skates. My focus for now is on developing an efficient stride and be able to skate a small distance. I just wanted to add my thoughts about striding from an inline skating perspective.

​@@Krishna_Marri That's interesting about the rollerblade techniques. I've only tried them a handful of times way back in the mid-90s. But I fell once or twice and decided that was enough for me! haha :) I don't ice skate either which I'm sure is a slightly different technique, as well. This is all why it can be a mixed bag for people coming to xc skiing, though, specifically to skate skiing. I would say that half of the people who have experience in adjacent disciplines (rollerblading, ice skating, skating on alpine skis) can pick up the basics of skate skiing relatively quick. On the other hand, the other half of the people I work with become completely baffled by skate skiing. I think this boils down to the individual because some people find it harder to make small modifications to body movement (after they've been performing a certain movement for so long) than other people. Sometimes it's just a lot easier to learn from step one rather than trying to break an old habit. And I think that's why a lot of coaches in any sport/art would prefer people to come to them without any experience. Again, working with a blank canvas can just be a lot easier than trying to undo years of habit. All of that said, skate skiing (on snow or with roller skis) definitely sounds different than inline skating. Unless you're double poling or straight lining it downhill, you're always going to be skiing in a v-shape. The rule of thumb, however, is to be as narrow as possible but as wide as necessary. Wider for uphill, more narrow for flats. But there's no way to keep them parallel and still be able to glide and push off (while using proper technique). You always have to commit complete weight to the push-off ski, just like in classic, but in skate skiing it's a lateral push-off. And you're actually gliding on the ski when pushing off in skate skiing, whereas with classic skiing the push-off ski technically comes to a stop when you set the grip zone. That later part is one reason why skate skiing is an inherently faster style of xc skiing. Long story short, I'm just trying to keep all of the roller skiing as close to on-snow skiing as possible so that it's a seamless transition between the two. Thanks for the insight, and for contributing to the conversation. I appreciate it!

Thanks so much for the kind words! And glad I can inspire you :) I hope you're also having a great start to your summer.

Thank you for the feedback, Robert. I appreciate it 🤗

Hey Becky! I agree, not a bad problem/excuse to have - haha :) It appears that I'll be getting back to a set summer work schedule starting next week, so hopefully I'll have some time to produce at least a little more content moving forward. For the past few weeks I've only had one actual day off as we're getting the summer resort at which I work prepared for the season. Always a bit of a hectic push right at the beginning. Anyway, despite doing a lot of volunteer work at various outdoor events in Tahoe over the years, I have yet to help out with the Tahoe 200 ultramarathon. I've met people who've run it before, and it sounds awesome, so I may have to look at volunteering one of these years :) Do you run it or volunteer with it? Thanks for tuning in, and for the kind words :)

First off, good to see your doing A.O.K. Second, you bought a 400mm lens didn’t you??? Indeed it must have been a penny. The firewood takes me back in time. I dunno about you, but I feel soar looking at you work those logs. I’ve been bad in the strength training dept, always been doing the endurance workouts. I hope to change that soon. Anyways, Thanks for sharing the roller ski segment. My budget to buy a pair has been questionable, esp since I have inline skates. When I saw you step turning, I said “That’s another good reason to have a pair”. Since you have the fisher, why not get the brake accessory for the downhills? Anyways, nice views. I enjoy seeing the variable terrain and west cost geology. Cheers. E

@@ecphotographer Hey EC! I actually bought the Nikkor 300mm F/4 as it was moderately affordable on my budget. And, honestly, I wanted something less than the 500mm (max) that I had been using because oftentimes it's just too much zoom, particularly when walking around the forest or in thicker foliage. And I've only used a prime macro lens before, so this was a first taste of a telephoto prime :) Yeah, I was pretty sore after lifting all that wood! But I'm glad I got it. Not sure of what I'll do when I get older though. haha! I had considered buying the braking system by Fischer, but it just seems like a lot of extra stuff. And, it might encourage me to descend hills that I otherwise wouldn't on roller skis. I also like the idea of learning to evaluate/choose appropriate terrain for the gear in which I'm running. In all reality, though, I mostly want to use the roller skis for maintaining single leg balance and a little cardio workout. As always, thanks so much for the kind words and nice feedback :) p.s. I am having a lot of fun with that new lens. A lot faster than my kit lens, and it yields really crisp shots!

@@JaredManninen It always feels good when you can see great results and say to your self that your money is well spent.

@@ecphotographer Agreed! I was reminded last night my appreciation for a shorter lens when I used the longer for a specific bird scenario, but completely lost the shot because I had so much zoom. I just couldn't keep the bird in frame as it swooped directly over the top of me. Alas, everything is a work in progress ;)

You're welcome, Robert! Thanks for tuning in and commenting :)

Hey, thanks so much for the kind words! I really appreciate it. Over time, I'll make similarly themed styles of nature/citizen science/outdoorsy videos. But these ones definitely take a little more effort than some of my hiking/xc ski vlogs, for example. That, and I'm participating in the 2024 Tahoe Big Year (tahoebigyear.org/start.cfm ) right now, so most of my free time is looking for birds and processing photos (of birds). Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to also make lots of videos :) All of that said, if you haven't already watched my 2024 Bald Eagle Count video you should take a look as it's in the same vein of nature-related content (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4kLfLPlD1D4.htmlsi=eymIK0wEXLjmllL3 ). Thanks again for tuning in, and for subscribing!

Hey David! Yeah, spring has been well for me. I haven't been xc skiing in a while, though. Mostly I've been searching for birds for the Tahoe Big Year - but it has been fun :) I haven't had any business with The Backcountry before. I've driven by it plenty, but have never gone in there. And I haven't heard anything about it good or bad. I'm sure it's a decent place, though. I don't have any reason to believe otherwise. Good luck, and let me know what your experience is if you do end up shopping there.

Thanks so much for the nice feedback, and contributing to the conversation Peter :) I often find that I spend too much time analyzing the opportunity costs of embarking on one endeavor over another. And, then, I get caught in the middle somewhere. Pretty frustrating. But learning to let go of doing one thing over another is a great skill to master. And, it leaves you more things to do later, if they're still of interest. Again, I appreciate the kind words :)

Thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words :)

That is hilarious, and I can totally see it as I watch it over and over :) Definitely an optical illusion, though, as I think the terrain was undulating along the ridge so he was already gliding down/uphill when he came into frame. But I love that you noticed that!

Agreed! But living a thing for so long and then letting it go (even if it's only temporary) causes me to pause and reflect. It reminds me of saying goodbye in a relationship, or something similar. And, ultimately, when we're finished with one thing we have more space to do more stuff :)

I think there'll be snow in the higher elevations come June, but there are barely patches at lake level at this point in the season. Unfortunately, we just didn't have a very big snow winter this year (definitely nothing like last year!), in spite of some later season snow storms.

Very exciting! Congrats on the observation. It's funny because here at Lake Tahoe, I tend to see them pretty frequently during the warmer months (despite there technically being more of them in the winter). Then, again, I may end up seeing the same ones over and over during the summer. Or, I might just be traveling to more of the locations frequently that they hang out in the summer. Who knows, but they're always a joy to see!

Thanks so much for your kind words! And glad I could be of service :)

Hey David! Oh yeah, I definitely skate ski at Kirkwood XC, whether it be in the meadow, the Caples Creek trail system (featured in the video), or its Schneider Camp trail system. Lots of good terrain for skate skiing. And I actually taught a skate ski lesson later in the day :) As far as my winter work goes, I work at a couple of different cross-country ski resorts/centers. I've worked at Tahoe Donner Cross Country (Truckee) for 10 seasons, and this past winter at Kirkwood XC was my first season over there. Kirkwood is actually a lot closer to where I live, so I plan to be working there more from here on out. At both resorts I teach, work in rentals, sell trail passes, wax skis, and perform gear repairs if it's possible. And, of course, as needed we all shovel snow, help direct parking, do some trail maintenance, clean bathrooms. You name it, we mostly do a little bit of everything. And, like I said, that goes for both xc ski centers. Although, TDXC is far bigger so there's more personnel that perform more specific duties. Thanks for tuning in. I hope you had a great winter!

Thanks so much for the kind words, Kathleen! I appreciate it :) San Diego is definitely not a bad place to be in the winter, but not a lot of xc skiing down there! haha :) Glad you're enjoying my videos. And I hope you're able to keep enjoying your summers in Tahoe!