This spring has offered about the worst-possible weather for the Nordic ski-minded individual. And I saw it coming the whole time.

After area race directors miraculously pulled off just about every major loppet race and series (Grand Nordic only canceled one of their like, 8 events this winter, which is nuts!), it was LITERALLY 100 degrees for a couple 13, 14 days in a row.

Everything melted. Grooming stopped. Seth Demoor started running up 14ers. Sadly, I had my last ‘real’ ski on March 22 — 50 days before the average Seder-Skier storage wax celebration.

And now?

Well, April presented one slush storm, blizzard, 29-degree cloud-fest after another!

The snow doesn’t stick, so you still can’t ski. The 14ers, on the other hand, are covered in more snow now than back in January, so FKT attempts are out. Plus, I’m getting ready for bike and trail races. When every ride requires me to wear MORE clothing than I ever do all winter, however, I’m forced to break all my rules!

{Rule 1: if you have to dress like a Nordic skier to go biking, that means bike season is over and Nordic ski season has begun. This should apply to October and November training only}

And all the while, the universal kick-off date for Nordic training is fast approaching.

{Rule 2: Never start rollerskiing on May 1. If you are serious enough to train that much, you should relocate to a place which offers on-snow opportunities into May. Then, ski until the snow disappears, take June off and start up again in July. You’ll thank me in mid-January}

Normally I don’t participate, but this year feels different.

Here’s what I’m proposing. Instead of bucking the trend in one direction, I’m going to swerve in a different one:

Today, we shall go rollerskiing.

Why?

Because, if we do, we’ll have completed two EXTRA days of training before the 2027 Birkie. I believe the old-school folks would call that “getting a leg up on the competition.”

It’s settled. Sharpen the tips. Tighten those ratchet wheels (or better yet, throw them out altogether baby, because it’s time to DP!). Crash test your helmet, because you know we’re going down hard.

Want more coaching advice like this? Personal plans start at $1,000 per ‘tip.’ (Obviously, this first tip was free. Don’t take it for granted. Just like good training weather.)

Alright, a couple more free tips:

Find your special edge — no matter how quirky it is — and lean into it.

Keep on striving.

Keep on skiing.