A six-lane training grid at Pocaterra hut
Pocaterra hut is a great place for beginners and novices. Not only do you have the cozy hut with indoor bathrooms, but there are two practice grids.
Rolly road trailhead. The access trail to the grid is where my skis are sitting.
In front of the hut is a six lane grid which was in great shape today with the recent tracksetting. The tracks themselves are a little on the icy side because of the rain, but it was snowing late this afternoon, and a couple cm of fresh snow is exactly what they need. Despite the slick tracks, I was able to get plenty of grip with VR50(0/-4) wax.
The access trail to the Rolly road practice grid is about 200 metres long
At the Pocaterra hut is another trailhead, Rolly road. Right beside the Rolly road trailhead you’ll notice another trail which is very wide and has two classic tracks and a skating lane. This is the 200-metre access trail which leads to the Rolly road training grid.
The Rolly road grid has six classic tracks but also a skating lane. Unfortunately, when you’re done practicing your skate technique, you can’t venture out on the trails because skating isn’t allowed on the PLPP trails, so bring along your classic skis.
The Rolly road practice grid
The Pocaterra trail has a small hill at 300 metres, but is otherwise mostly flat for the first 700 metres. You can then ski a further 400 metres on easy terrain on Come-along.
The easiest trail in PLPP for beginners is Spruce road which you would access at the Elkwood Amphitheatre parking lot. After getting your confidence and technique figured out, Braille is an offshoot from Spruce road which you could practice on. Also accessible from Elkwood is Wheeler trail, another fairly easy trail.
