PSI Rollerski Review by Gear West's Brodie Rau

Recently I took the PSI Rollerski for a test ski, and I was impressed. Compared to the Elpex F1, it is a tough competitor in speed, controllability, and smoothness of the ride.

The shaft is made with aluminum and, according to the PSI website, an aeronautical alloy. The wheels are a high density rubber on a lightweight alloy wheel. This combination of materials makes for a smooth and lightweight rollerski. At the same time these materials are tough and will last just as long as any other rollerski on the market.

I compared the PSI with the Elpex F1 with #2 wheels. The shaft is shorter than the Elpex F1, but this allows for more control on the downhill sections of trail. The wheel size makes up for the shorter shaft and allows for a smoother feel on rougher parts of the trail. The speed was comparable to the Elpex F1 with #2 wheels; however, Elpex was a bit faster on the downhill sections. On flat and gradual uphill sections, the PSI easily kept up with the Elpex. I could maintain a nice conversation pace with the person on the Elpex rollerskis without feeling like I was working to keep up.

The wheel speed was very similar to snow ski speed, which is good for muscle memory and overall training. For rollerskiers a bit nervous about roll speed and falling, the slower wheel speed on the PSI and shorter shaft gives that extra bit of confidence needed. Even though the wheel speed is slightly slower than the Elpex wheel, I would still use this rollerski over the Elpex. It’s a smoother ride and easier to control. I have more confidence on hills with the PSI.
Due to the materials used in making the PSI, it is a lighter weight rollerski than the Elpex F1. The lightness of the PSI makes it hardly noticeable on your feet during weight transfer. The shaft and wheel material also provide a nice dampening affect making the PSI a really smooth ride.

The price really makes this ski an overall winner. At a price of $199.99, it’s the best deal for a nice training rollerski. Even the spare wheels are inexpensive. They are $24.99 each which makes them on the cheaper end of the rollerskis. But don’t be fooled by the price as these skis are just as well built as Elpex. Overall I would rate the PSI rollerski an excellent choice for any Nordic ski enthusiast. It’s easy to ride, smooth, and controllable. The fear factor is minimal due to the ease of handling. I would defiantly rollerski again and again on the PSI Rollerskis.

To learn more about PSI, check out their website at http://www.psi-rollerski.com/english.php.

New Atomic Boots

New this year from Atomic is two different widths for the Woldcup Skate and Classic boot. The Worldcup Skate and Classic boots offer the more "S-Lab" narrower last while their new Race Carbon boots offer a slightly wider last for more average width feet.

Those who like the fit of most skate boots, but have trouble with the width, may want to try on the Atomic Race Carbon boot. It is built just like the World Cup, so there isn't any sacrifice in performance. Both the Race Carbon Skate and Classic boots are built with the Pilot 2 Carbon Pro sole and have the same uppers as the World Cup boots with the carbon stabilizers added to the skate boots.

Check out the new boots at http://www.gearwest.com/, or give us a call, toll free, at 1-877-473-4327.

New Atomic World Cup Ski

Last season Atomic released a video of their new Atomic World Cup "Cheetah" Ski....ENJOY!
SOLD NOW FOR $599.99 at http://gear-west.stores.yahoo.net/at20skskic.html

Three Friends for Fall Training

Pictured are three friends every nordic skier should have in fall training. In order, they are the Salomon XT Wing (men's pictured), the Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra (women's pictured) and the Salomon Speed Cross 2 (unisex shoe). All three shoes provide ample stability without sacrficing cushion. Gear West's own Brodie Rau will run nothing but the XT Wing on trails. He claims, "It's the Hum-Vee of trail shoes providing great stability on the most uneven of terrain. This thing is the Michael Phelps of the trail running world. It conquers anything you put infront of it!"

Not quite ready for a full on assualt of roots, rocks and the occasional frog? Opt for the lighter XA Pro 3D Ultra. Made for attacking the trails with vigor and meaness. Light, fast, and stable. This shoe offers a bit more stability, but there is still great cushioning.

Want a minimalists approach to your running? Try the Speed Cross 2. It's Salomon's answer to the trail runner who loves nothing more than beating his/her's personal running interval bests. This shoe will climb the hills and mountains you put in front of it. It eats up the hills and turns them into a pile of gravel. Light weight, great cushion, and non-stoppable. The Speed Cross 2 is the lightest trail shoe Salomon has.

All three shoes are designed for most types of runners, but does favor those needing a shoe to help with pronation issues.

Stop by Gear West, or check 'em out at http://www.gearwest.com/, to try these shoes out. Your feet will be glad you did. On quiet days, you can almost hear the shoes begging to be taken to the limits of mud, climbing, and poor critters in the way.

What's this PSI rollerski?

Gear West has recently added rollerskis by PSI a company in France. At a whopping $179.99, it's a very affordable way to purchase a pair of rollerskis. Its aluminum shaft and wheels make this ski a light weight training tool. Very much comparable to Elpex's F1 for speed and snow ski feel. To learn more about PSI, check out their website at http://www.psi-rollerski.com/english.php.

How to drink Starbucks and still be an Elite Skier

Dear StarbucksYour expensive coffee ROCKS!! I drink you in the morning to get me going. It sustains me on those long rides or runs. You’re there to push me through the hard days, as well as the easy ones. I love you O Cup of the Caffeine.

In all seriousness though…

Caffeine can improve endurance performance and recovery. If taken before extended periods of training or racing, caffeine can help to stimulate the brain, increase blood pressure, pulse, and acid production. It also helps to break down fat stores and distribute fatty acids into the bloods stream. This in turn allows your body to burn fat, while maintaining stores of glycogen (muscle sugar). According to Wikipedia:

Long-distance athletes such as marathon runners, cross-country skiers, and cyclists go into glycogen debt, where almost all of the athlete's glycogen stores are depleted after long periods of exertion without enough energy consumption. This phenomenon is referred to as "hitting the wall". In marathon runners it normally happens around the 20 mile (32 km) point of a marathon, where around 100 kcal are spent per mile,[citation needed] depending on the size of the runner and the race course. However, it can be delayed by a carbohydrate loading before the task.

When experiencing glycogen debt, athletes often experience extreme fatigue to the point that it is difficult to move.

Likewise, caffeine can also have a positive effect on recovery. A recent study, which was published by The American Physiological Society in the Journal of Applied Physiology, stated that, the body will retain 66% of its glycogen stores after extended exercise, when consumed with protein.[1] The body benefits from this because it does not deplete its glycogen reserves between workouts. The athlete starts subsequent workouts with a higher level of glycogen, then if they had not taken caffeine.

As a last note! Like many other substances, the body will build a tolerance for caffeine. Because of this, it is suggested that an athlete abstain from large amount of caffeine between workouts because it can loose its impact on performance.

With that, I encourage everyone to drink a Cup o’ the Starbucks before and after their workouts. No more bland sports drink for this skier!

[1] "High rates of muscle glycogen resynthesis after exhaustive exercise when carbohydrate is coingested with caffeine." (May 8). J Appl Physiol. PMID 18467543