October 28, 2011 (Park City, UT) – In this edition of Kikkan Randall’s Q&A, we received a great question related to equipment. Just how many pairs of skis does a World Cup racer need…? Check out Randall’s Training Rap HERE and check her MAILBAG for all Q&As thru the season.

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Oct. 27, 2011 – Q/A – Equipment

Hi Kikkan,

Thanks for taking time to answer questions from your fans – I enjoy reading your training rap as it inspires me with my own training. As a World Cup level skier I’m wondering about your equipment – how many pairs of skis, poles and boots do you own or need at your level of racing? Is there a big difference from say when you were a national level skier?

Good luck this season.

Bob Thompson
Bangor, Maine

Dear Bob,

As a World Cup skier there is plenty of gear involved!  Let’s start with the skis. I usually travel the World Cup series with about 30 pairs of skis. Split those into 50% skate and 50% classic and then you have different flexes, different grinds and even different base materials for different temperatures.

While I have a few pairs of favorite skis that seem to be great in many conditions, I still have to have those specialty pairs for certain conditions. For poles I travel with two sets of each for skate and classic and usually have a couple spare shafts on hand. For boots, I travel with three pairs: skate, classic and skiathlon.

I have found that as you go up the ladder of performance, the need for more specialized equipment has become more important. On some days the level of fitness is pretty even at the World Cup level, and it might just be the racer with the fastest skis that can win.

The good news is that the faster you get, the more companies are willing to help you find the best equipment. I’ve been working with Fischer, Salomon and Swix for skis, boots and bindings, and poles respectively for several years now, and having a strong relationship with these companies helps me focus on skiing my best performances.

Thanks for your question and good luck this season!

Cheers,
Kikkan 🙂

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