The beauty of Nordic skiing is strolling along at your own pace Vedran Corluka Croatia Jersey , taking in the tranquility of your surroundings. With your own equipment and a snowy winter, you can ski almost anywhere – your backyard, a local park, walking trails or golf courses. If you don't have your own equipment or don't know how to XC ski, you can usually find touring centers within a reasonable drive where you can take a lesson or rent gear.

It's so simple to learn and far less expensive than alpine skiing Tin Jedvaj Croatia Jersey , that anyone can pick up the sport. In fact, families and seniors are the fastest growing groups participating in the sport, with the cost and exercise benefits included alongside the fresh air. Nordic skiing has long been endorsed by medical professionals for its high level of cardiovascular fitness in a low stress movement, not nearly as jarring to muscles and joints as running. The extended glide on the skis tones all major muscle groups and burns more calories per hour than any other sport, around 800 calories per hour for a 175 lb male skiing at a pace of 5 miles an hour.

Cross country skiing is not without potential for injury Sime Vrsaljko Croatia Jersey , however. Although your fitness level will increase as you spend more time on the snow, basic conditioning and stretching will help prevent muscle soreness. Falling on downhills of course is where you have the most chance for injury. Commonly, Nordic skiers will put their hands out in a fall and the pole grips can strain the thumb. The risk of an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury to the knee is well-known in alpine skiing, but is also possible while XC skiing, even though it is far less likely.

Equipment

Classical skiing traditionally used skis about a foot taller than your head Nikola Kalinic Croatia Jersey , but advances in ski construction has shortened the length considerably; skis your height should be adequate. On the bottom surface, the kick zone (the area under your binding) is usually patterned with square or semi-circle grooves, called fish scales. These grooves grip the snow and as you kick back, they help your body to move forward on uphills. Although most recreational cross-country skis come with a no-wax base, some skiers choose to use smooth bottomed skis and apply kick wax to the underfoot area for grip. Different kick waxes can be chosen based on varying snow conditions and temperatures. By not having fish scales Milan Badelj Croatia Jersey , skiers can also use smooth surfaced skis for the skating technique. Poles are traditionally chest height, to put your arms in a natural 90-degree angle in front of you. Binding choices have significantly improved in recent years, with almost all models having automatic step-in locks. Your binding style must match the toe piece of your boot. Boots for classical skiing tend to be modified versions of light hiking boots, offering flex, but significant ankle support.

The freestyle Mateo Kovacic Croatia Jersey , or skating technique takes advantage of lightweight and compact ski construction technology, used mainly by competitive skiers, but can be enjoyed by any level of nordic skier. Recent trends have had these lightweight, thinner skis at much shorter lengths. Smooth bases allow the skater to shift weight to one ski and glide for several lengths before switching sides. Without the use of fish scales to help on the uphills, skiers must power through the V-like motion and use strong pole pushes or slow down to herringbone – basically walking with skis pointed in the v-shape Marko Rog Croatia Jersey , up the incline. Again, bindings have become fairly standardized and automatic, but skating boots have developed interesting characteristics. They are taller and offer superior ankle support using a combination of padding, soft and hard plastics, allowing the ankle to flex with the forward or push-off motion. Skating poles are much taller than traditional touring poles. They are often up to the shoulders and racers usually choose cheek and eyebrow-level heights.

Samet Bilir is an expert in computer and internet technologies. You can read more about his work at www.ucuzlaptopfiyatlari Marko Pjaca Croatia Jersey , a great website for laptop and desktop computer tips and reviews.

BEIJING， Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Meteorological authorities on Saturday warned of possible geological disasters in northern China as heavy rain in the areas showed few signs of weakening.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) and the Ministry of Water Resources together warned of high risks of flash floods in parts of Shanxi， Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi from Saturday to Sunday evening.

The NMC renewed a blue alert for a rain on Saturday afternoon， forecasting torrential rain in the northern areas of Inner Mongolia， Shaanxi， Shanxi， Hebei and southern regions on Saturday and Sunday， with precipitation of up to 50 millimeters expected in some places.

China has a four-tier color-coded warning system for severe weather， with red being the most serious， followed by orange， yellow and blue.

THREE gay men say they have gained legal recognition as the first "polyamorous family" in Colombia, where same-sex marriages were legalized last year.

"We wanted to validate our household... and our rights, because we had no solid legal basis establishing us as a family," said one of the men, actor Victor Hugo Prada Mario Mandzukic Croatia Jersey , in a video published by Colombian media on Monday.

He said he and his two partners, sports instructor John Alejandro Rodriguez and journalist Manuel Jose Bermudez, signed legal papers with a solicitor in the city of Medellin, establishing them as a family unit with inheritance rights.

"This establishes us as a family, a polyamorous family. It is the first time in Colombia that has been done."

Lawyer and gay rights activist German Rincon Perfetti said there are many three-person unions in Colombia but this was the first one to be legally recognized.

"It is a recognition that other types of family exist Marcelo Brozovic Croatia Jersey ," he told AFP.

A ruling. Wholesale Jerseys From China   Wholesale Jerseys From China   Wholesale Jerseys China   Cheap Jerseys China Free Shipping   Cheap Jerseys China Free Shipping   Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping   Wholesale NHL T-Shirts   Wholesale Collge Jerseys   Wholesale Nike NBA Hats   Wholesale Baseball T-Shirts