Revolutionary Madshus empower

Next winter season is going to be crucial for entirely new Madshus programme, which is called empower. This project is supposed to be revolutionary in cross- country skiing business. The company wants to treat every customer individually by using the empower system. In this way, choosing the right pair of skis in 3 easy steps will take less time than before. How does it work?

Skis are different to each other. It depends on flexibility, length and stiffness. Madshus embedded a special chip on every pair, that helps to identify them accurately. Marked skis are transported to stores. Then it's customer's turn, who put parameters such as weight, length and skill in an application. The app search for the perfect skis matched to the customer. The best part in my opinion is when empower adjust wax areas according to your weight. It's really important for classic skis. Thanks to the chip, customer can find his matching skis immediately and buy them. The animation below explains it all exactly.



Who'll receive an advantage? Obviously ski sellers. This empower system was developed to save time while choosing the right skis. Somehow it seems to be very innovative. The award for Madshus at this year's ISPO wasn't a coincidence. This brand consistently and deliberately develops revolutionary systems setting trends in cross- country skiing. You may be arguing about design, because everyone has his own liking. For example I'd rather choose the look by One Way brand. However there's no doubt about technology. The empower system can be a new method to encourage customers. Speaking about customers: what do they get? With this system they can pick perfect skis. There's no chance to make a mistake while buying them. Even if you aren't a professional skier and don't have any knowledge about matching skis, you can trust the application and be satisfied. In addition Madshus empower App measures your performance in the track and can be great alternative for Endomondo and others. I've written about it in the last post. At last the client is treated individually, what is a big advantage. It makes your skis very personal, which is something needed and notable in my opinion.



The Madshus empower can make a revolution in XC- skiing business. Of course it needs some time to succeed. First effects we'll see perhaps in upcoming season. I'm very curious, how it'll work in Poland, where Madshus is still less popular brand.

Heart Rate Monitor- necessary or not?

Autumn is coming, days are getting very short and weather isn't always perfect. It makes me a little sad, but I've got some time to think. Recently I recalled an inscription on my OW Premio 9 skis: "Nordic sports is a spirit. It's about doing the things you want and looking the way you want", which means pure freedom by skiing. I'm such a hypocrite- I thought. On every training I take my mobile phone with an application, that is supposed to measure a distance, time etc. Usually it doesn't work very well. GPS loses a connection or the phone goes insane. Then joy with skiing turns into anger with devices. That's why I consider buying a heart rate monitor. Do I really need this?

The most important is to precise, for what you need a heart rate monitor. If you are a pro skier and need all the data of your every training, it's obvious. But if you are an amateur and compete rarely, this device isn't necessary. Moreover, it costs near 110EUR, like for example Polar RS300X, which has got all needed functions.

Polar RS300X

I just wonder, why we need to check the watch or heart rate monitor every time when we train. It's the first step to become addicted, literally. We are only amateurs. And that's great. We don't need to inform our coach about everything. So we don't need the "smart coach" in Internet as well. We are free. However it's always interesting to watch our own progress. Thanks to heart rate monitor we can improve our efficiency and do this accurately. Especially, if you have a main goal, like participating in Marcialonga for example. Also, without this device we aren't able to do intervals. So, there are advantages and disadvantages. A heart rate transmiter with Bluetooth seams to be a golden mean. It has to be compatible with your smartphone and application, which you use. In this way you can save some money, because it costs near 70 EUR. But you should be careful. Endomondo Premium can be here an example. It has many great functions but you have to pay for it every month. In addition, today's smartphones don't last long time. In this case, a traditional heart rate monitor may be a better choice.

Polar transmiter with Bluetooth.

Another important thing is our comfort. We can't take our phone everywhere. It isn't comfortable to have it in a pocket. I know that there are many accessories such as armband case for smartphones. Recently it became very popular. But as I see, it's used mostly by people who just go out for their evening jogging and must demonstrate it on facebook. Personally I take my cell phone to the pocket in my OW thermo- drinking belt. And it's work for me because I don't like to wear anything on my arms. I don't even have a watch. Of course I don't take my drinking belt always and then I have to run without anything. And you know what? I like it. At least I don't hear annoying Endomondo voice. Yes, I know that I can turn it off but without it I can't presume if application works or not.

If I had to decide today, I wouldn't buy a heart rate monitor. I would rather spend this amount of money for some nice clothes by One Way. The new Endless Winter collection is out in stores. Meanwhile I'm going to stay by my Endomondo Pro but now I promise that I won't get angry, when GPS will lose a signal. Because skiing is about enjoying perfect conditions and "doing things you want".

Polish biathlon center- Jamrozowa Polana

Few days ago I visited with my friends a biathlon center in Duszniki- Zdrój. You may know this location as a place of the IBU Cup and upcoming Biathlon European Championships. There are skiing and roller skiing trails. It seams to be perfect for training for pros and amateurs as well. Summer is a good time to explore places like this. There are less athletes than in winter. As we arrived I realized how wrong I was...

Shooting range in Jamrozowa Polana (Duszniki- Zdrój)

Weather was good for training, especially compared to last rainy days. That's why we saw a bunch of biathletes on the shooting range. As we had heard, before our arrival was so many athletes that all 30 places were used for shooting training. I think it's amazing. They left before we started our trip. Probably they had a break between morning and afternoon sessions. It was great for us. We had the entire object at our disposal. However before we took our roller skis, I visited PR-SPORT. This shop sells (as the only one in Poland) One Way Sport products. I couldn't restrain myself and bought a thermo drinking belt by OW.

Then we started our training on roller skis. The course isn't easy. There are two loops to choose from. Both begin on the stadium and follow through the bridge. We were a little surprised as we saw the downhill from the bridge. It's really steep. Probably you can't see it in the picture below.

Then the track goes in the forest. We must pass a small uphill up to the intersection. We could choose one of the loops, 2,5 km length or 1,4 km. There are more skiing trails without tarmac, which are groomed in winter. 

  

We took left turn and chose the 2,5 km loop. This one contains a lot of steep uphills and downhills. Less experienced skiers may have there some problems.

After short descent we go up immediately...

... and then even more up. This uphill reminds me a part of the most difficult cycling climbs, like Monte Zoncolan.

This is the most difficult downhill of the loop. You gain a lot of speed at the beginning and then you have to turn right.

After this steep descent you'll manage to lose all the speed going up this hill.

This hill was the last one on the big loop. As we passed it, we could relax a little bit during an easy descent to the stadium.

Here is a look at the small loop. Both meet again next to the stadium.

The stadium was empty. We was taking a look at the shooting range every time as we passed them. Everyone noticed an inscription: "Centrum polskiego biathlonu", which means "The center of Polish biathlon". Then also quick look at the grand stands and we could feel like Martin Fourcade during World Cup race. Sometimes we was doing one or two penalty loops, and afterwards taking another lap. We liked the small 1,4 km course. It was very dynamic and demanding. I think I made a huge effort during this 1,5 hour roller skiing session. After our training biathletes returned for afternoon training session. In team were youth and children. It's great to see that Polish biathlon still have a future ahead. Thanks to this place young athletes have opportunity to achieve results like recent gold medal of Krystyna Guzik (Pałka) at IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships in Tyumen. Of course not only a place for training counts, but it's a significant part of success. Now I know, why this place has been called "The center of Polish biathlon". And even today I'm sure, that I'll come back to Jamrozowa Polana in upcoming winter season.