<p>Ok, sort of a silly question - does anyone know if plebes are allowed to have (and use) things like roller skis during the ac year? I'm a nordic skiier and I'd really like to continue skiing while at the academy 'cause some day I hope to do most of the World Loppet races.</p>
<p>Hm. Does it even snow in Maryland? The most I've ever heard of in recent time in a couple of inches for a couple of hours.</p>
<p>Perhaps as an upperclassman, but as a plebe, and from what I've heard, it doesn't seem like you'll have any time.</p>
<p>MD definitely gets some snow most years (see USNA pics), but the 6+ inches for Nordic not too common.</p>
<p>But wasn't the question about ROLLER skis? I thought they were used on grass.</p>
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Hm. Does it even snow in Maryland? The most I've ever heard of in recent time in a couple of inches for a couple of hours.
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<p>You need to do some studying about Maryland weather. ;)</p>
<p>As a lifelong resident, trust me, it snows every winter. We get at least three or four 6"+ snowfalls every year, and 12"+ are not that uncommon. Just 2 years ago in Feb 2006 we had a 22" blizzard.</p>
<p>In summer, we see 90+ degree days for weeks, with humidity that would rival a tropical duty station, and hitting 100 degrees happens every year.</p>
<p>Autumn and Spring are usually fantastic, beautiful weather rivaling anywhere in the country, but we also have had 90 degrees in early April and experienced snow at Oriole Park on Opening Day. One year kids can "trick-or-treat" in shorts and t-shirts, the next year they're in fur-lined parkas and Eskimo gloves.</p>
<p>Be prepared for the most wide-ranging weather patterns you will ever experience in one location. :D</p>
<p>hersheybear -</p>
<p>While roller skis will keep you in-shape for skiing during most winters you are probably going to have to go far from Annapolis to get decent x-country skiing.
I think some of the ski resorts in WVa offer it but it depends on the winter. Lately, winters in the mid-Atlantic have been very mild, with few inches of snow.
I would say for Nordic skiing you are going to have to make a trip to upstate New York or Northern New England. I am not sure you will even have luck finding natural snow in the Pocono's.
Are you sure you don't want to re-consider West Point? ;)</p>
<p>haha - just see Luigi's post - </p>
<p>yes that is true but the snow tends to come and go. We might get a 12" snowfall but it could be gone in a week - unlike in Wisconsin where it just piles up.</p>
<p>For excellent Nordic skiing (going back to my Nordic days in the 70's and 80's) - it is preferable to have a nice base of 6-12" on the ground with some powder or packed powder on top. The base being necessary for good ground cover to avoid rocks.
Yes if Annapolis got a 12" snowfall or even 22" one could get out there the next morning on Nordic skis and shush away - but it could be 50 deg the next day. It will just be difficult to get consistent use out of X-Country skiis.</p>
<p>are there even hills in maryland????</p>
<p>hmmm....</p>
<p>have some folks around here that use roller skis on grass.... and one guy who even adapted his to use on regular ole blacktop! (seems rollerblades would do just as well, but what do i know!) </p>
<p>Can't imagine anyone rollersking on the yard (seems to me that would be against the rules, along with rollerblades and bikes).... let alone trying to rollerblade down the cobblestones of Annapolis! :eek: West street- riva road.... have some little bumps on riva road, but I think inhaling all the carbon monoxide, and fighting the traffic, might prove counterproductive to your cardiovascular enhancement!</p>
<p>any chance of considering another activity??? maybe running???? ;)</p>
<p>(come to think of it... I did see some pics posted of mids sledding down the steps of Mother B on mattresses during a snow storm several years back.... and some kayaks being used on the flooded plains of the yard following Isabelle.... :o)</p>
<p>whatever you decide, just don't bring them with you on I-Day. Get through plebe summer first and then figure it out.</p>
<p>Well, all of the roller skis I've used are for black top. I've seen bikers and rollerbladers on the roads by the sea wall. So mids aren't allowed to use bikes or anything like that for recreation on those roads? Doesn't the academy have a cycling team? Are they only allowed to practice on their bikes as part of the team?
As for running - I'm an XC and track runner and I definitely plan on running at the academy (not on a team, but on my own). However, nordic skiing isn't that similar to running. All I really want to do is help my body remember how to ski so I can continue doing some of the longer races later on.
Ha ha, and you can't really run the World Loppet races.</p>
<p>LOL - no way would I even consider bringing them on I-Day!</p>
<p>And I've used rollerblades before, too, but they're actually too fast as compared to roller skis (they don't have enough resistance to simulate actually skiing) and you can't get the necessary "kick" that you need for classic skiing.</p>
<p>You can bike along the sea wall but as my mid says it is somewhat life threatening with the traffic. On the other side of the Academy Bridge you taske 450 under 50 to the trail head along side Hwy 2. Can get to Glen Burnie. From here you can pick up the connector to the BWI Bike trail. My Mild did ride that as a Plebe.</p>
<p><a href="http://bikewashington.org/trails/ba/ba.htm%5B/url%5D">http://bikewashington.org/trails/ba/ba.htm</a></p>
<p>ah, thank you Profmom! Was your mid on the cycling team?</p>