Post From New Skier, Sam Hammond '15

Hi my name is Sam. I’m a freshman skier from Minnesota and today on the blog I’ll be talking about Minnesota rollerskiing vs. Vermont Rollerskiing.

            Imagine one trail. It stretches for 12 miles in one direction and 9 the other. This is the only rollerskiable trail in the entire state. You ski it for 2-4 hours at a crack, every day, even twice a day. It’s flat as North Dakota and about as lonely. You get to know the trail so well you are a hundred percent sure you could do it blindfolded. The only people you see are the occasional biker or runner. They gawk at you like you have a second head or some other odd new appendage. This is Rollerskiing in Minnesota. That’s it.

            I get to Vermont and the first trail I ski on is a short art/nature trail. It’s rolling and beautiful. It’s also packed with pedestrians almost to the point of being irritating, but the sound of something other than my own labored breathing is enough to make it worth it. The trail is smooth and well kept and I already feel my training making a noticeable difference in my training and I know that rollerskiing will not be a chore like it was back home.