Looking to really shed those holiday pounds? It might be time to give alpine skiing’s lesser-known sister a try. According to NutriStrategy.com – a comparative exercise website – cross country skiing is one of the No. 1 calorie burners around.

Participants burn up to 1,200 per hour and the exercise supposedly does wonders for stress levels as well. Cross country ski areas are notoriously less crowded than primarily downhill resorts, equating to less hustle and bustle and more quality time in nature. For die-hard, downhill powderhounds it’s also a great training ground while sunny skies prevail.

For this week’s Experts Corner we went over to the quiet, cozy Spooner Lake Cross Country Ski Area on Lake Tahoe’s East Shore. Run on a special operating permit through the Nevada State Parks and United States Forest Service, Spooner’s 13,000 acres of trails offer unparalleled peace and quiet. It’s one of the only cross country ski resorts in Tahoe that doesn’t run by a neighborhood. The only structures on the property are two ski-in only cabins that serve as overnight getaways for peace-seeking skiers.

Patti McMullan and Max Jones, a husband and wife team, have operated the small center since it opened to the public in 1986. That makes 23 years of experience in providing wilderness trail access, cross country rental equipment and lessons to newbies and pros alike. In addition, both Patti and Max have spent years racing.

I caught up with Patti on a sunny day last week to ask her what advice she gives to folks heading out for their first or 50th time on the trails. Check out what she had to say.

How to have a good day
• Expectations
“It’s been said that if you can walk, you can cross country ski,” Patti says. “I don’t think that’s necessarily true, at least not to begin with. If you’ve never cross country skied, you should take a lesson.” The key to having a great day regardless of ability, Patti continues, is to “set low expectations.” Sure, it’s easy to look at a trail map and think 10 km shouldn’t take longer than an hour, but for a beginner that might not be the case. Spooner’s flattest, easiest loop – the Spooner Lake Trail – is 4.5km and staff advise skiers the loop can take anywhere from one hour to six hours. The moral of the story – increase expectations only with ability.

• Equipment
The reason cross country skiers can travel so much faster than walkers, and even runners is because of one key factor – glide. “The idea is to glide as much as possible,” Patti says. Glide is essential to your speed on the track and enjoyment of the sport, so make sure you’ve got the right equipment. Some classic skis are also referred to as “no wax” skis, but Patti says, that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be waxed. Patti recommends rubbing F4 on the bottom of no wax skis to keep new or soft snow from sticking.

• Falling
Lacking the metal edges of alpine skis, cross country skis can be a little more difficult to control on the down hill. Generally, Patti says, a good snow plow works well. If you’re feeling the flow, you could even try alpine or telemark turns to check down hill acceleration. However, the faster you go the more likely you are to fall and when you do it might help knowing how to get up. “Work your way around so you’re on your hands and knees,” Patti says. “And avoid the urge to cross your skis and get tangled.”

• Fuel on the fly
Just because you’re burning calories on the trail doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat! In fact, it’s the perfect time to splurge on sugars you might otherwise avoid, like M&Ms. “Especially for the kids, I recommend bringing M&Ms or some kind of candy like that,” Patti says. “You’re burning a lot of sugar out there.” Her favorite on-the-trail pick-me-up? “Gu! I love Gu,” she says. Also, good are hydration packs.

Interested in visiting Spooner Lake Cross Country Ski Area? Visit www.spoonerlake.com.
Snowmobiling!