Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderfully written
This book is awesome. I read it first at my local library but someone had torn out some key pages! And so desperate to know what it was that I was missing, I started checking around for this book. Much to my surprise, I found it here. This book single handedly helped me to learn how to XC ski. I'm no expert but we dont have any places locally that teach it so I had resorted to videos and books. None of them compared to the simplicity of this book. You can truly tell how the writer enjoys XC skiing and conveys that to you. Not making you feel like you have to be an expert or a scientist to be able to understand the sizing/equipment usage etc. He explains all the types, pros and cons of them, and even how to size. I bought my used skis on ebay since I knew I'd be a recreational skiier. I can't wait to use my skiis again. It's so much fun. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

One Stride Ahead - Marty Hall
When published, this book was THE best thing available on ski racing technique and training.Marty was the US Ski Team coach when Bill Koch won his silver medal in 1976 and later went on to coach the Canadian National Team.This book is about classsic technique since that was the only technique around then.Yes it has changed somewhat mostly due to the use of longer ski poles and better course preparation.The basics are still sound.Training is good too.Marty was one of the first to advocate a regular regime of weight training - Guess where the US Ski Team is now.He is a tireless campaign against drug use in our sport.Marty is Controversial, yes, Opinionated, yes, Usually Right, yes.

Hopelessly out of date
Not only is this out of date, but I question whether the Mr. Hall was making this up as he went along. Noone of consequence cross-country skis like this anymore.

Limited print
I friend sent me this vintage book (pre-skating)for my collection.It was a good read but many of the ideas (considered radical at the time) never panned out... which is understandable given the author Marty Hall who is described by xc ski world as: "controversial ... never afraid to pick an issue and beat someone over the head with his unique perspective. Marty is a personality rarely seen in the pristine XC landscape. Someone who stands up and will go toe to toe with anyone, anytime, anywhere. Right or wrong. Marty says what's on his mind and means it"...it would appear on technical issues Marty has more often been unique, than correct.

Historical Interest
This book by Marty Hall is quite dated - much has changed. Although the title suggests the content is meant for an expert skier, from the photos the author is suggest a recreational level by todays standards.

The text is good for historical purposes.

Still an excellentpractical guide for the XC ski racer
I bought "One Stride Ahead" when it was first published in 1981 and still refer to for training advice or to motivate me to get out there and train. Although the technique work described is all classic, even skaters will find this book useful for the traing advice the book has to offer.

The book begins with off-season principles of training: a power endurance athlete must focus on the proper mix of specificity, duration, intensity, load, and frequency to maximize training benefit. Hall describes the "Training Effect Zone", shows the best sample training log I've ever seen, and provides a self-evaluation test for evaluating your conditioning. He then goes into a discussion of training activites including types of activites (roller skiing, ski walking, etc.), interval training, strength training, flexibility and stretching, and mental training. Copious examples exist showing how to perform many of the activities. This chapter is outstanding.

The next section describes winter training, with month by month training guides, with hints for both marathon and cit racers.

The section on racing techique (diagonal stride, uphill technique, double pole, kick-double pole, downhills and cornering) is still solid. The chapter on racing strategy and tactics is not bad - the section "Psychological Games and Tactical Ploys" is actually pretty entertaining!

The information on XC ski equipment and waxing are dated - there's been a revolution in waxing and base structuring in the last few years. It does a nice job describing how classic skis work, however.

Overall, I greatly credit this book with motivating and teaching me to become a better ski racer. An excellent read. ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the techniques of cross-country skiing, the equipment and its upkeep, cross-country races and how to prepare for them, and champions of the sport. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduces in text, photos, and diagrams the techniques and equipment of cross-country skiing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Still the best all-around cross-country manual
I've been a serious Nordic skier for about 20 years, getting out every possible weekend in the winter; serious, but sort of a permanent "upper intermediate". Along the way, I've collected many cross-country ski books and guides, from the 1960s to the present.
Gillette and Dostal's has remained my favorite, and overall the most useful. It was issued by the Mountaineers press, and is better than the Mountaineers later effort. A good practical guide for the novice through intermediate, and if you have only one, this is the one to have.

For the novice to intermediate skier
Cross-Country Skiingby Ned Gillette, John Dostal will appeal to theactive person wanting to take-up the sport of nordic skiing. Why 3 stars?Because skate skiing is covered only at a novice to intermediate level (seecover photo)and would be of limited use to the more advanced crowd.

The definitive reference for classic nordic skiing
Gillette died a horrendous death in the Hinda Kush.He left behind this book and one on a circumnavigation of Everest.This was the best book for nordic skiing up till about 1990, when the current telemark equipment evolution took the sport out of its nordic contextinto the realm of pure alpine skiing.For those who still arenostalgic for skiing on skinny skis, this book is still the best.Foranother classic, see Steve Barnett's Cross Country Downhill.For the latest on telemark skiing, read Paul Parker's book on Freeheel Skiing.

excellent overview of a sport, and a good read too
Too many manuals are written without a sense of humour, but this one doesn't suffer there.The authors write in a way as to appeal and interest across all levels.This book is useful for an XC skiier to help hone theirskiing, and useful to loan to doubting friends to get them interested.

worthwhile!
Ned Gillette was a talented and experienced xc skier -- he was on the US nordic team in the sixties and ran the xc center at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT in the 1980's.He also skied around the base of Mt. Everest and wrote a book about that as well, it is called Everest Grand Circle. ... Read more