The Nordic Series: The Snowcat, Part 2

This post I want to discuss the plows and the pans of the snowcat. They are both critical parts of grooming to provide a quality track. Let's start with the pans.

The pans (above) are set for classic cross country skiing. During classic skiing, the skis grip the snow as you move in a similar fashion to running. The grooves help keep the skier balanced. It is important to keep these pans as straight and smooth as possible. Due to the length of the skis, sharp turns especially on hills can be quite difficult to maneuver. Classic skiing is usually the place to start for cross country skiing. We see a lot of "first-timers" out there classic skiing.

The pans can also be used during races for any type skier. We usually set a number of pans for our events at the starting line.

The plow in the front of the snowcat certainly helps moving snow and leveling out the track. Often times when the wind is blowing, we use the plow to manage the drifts. The wings of the plow help carve out the snow required. The plow can used to move snow onto thin areas of the track. The plow can also be used to scratch up a hard/icy track so the snow can be processed through the tiller easier.

The wings of the plow can be helpful with the edges of the ski trail.