About cross country skiing

Cross country skiing in the Dolomites [M Wray]

A quick history

Cross country skiing, or nordic skiing, originated in Scandinavia thousands of years ago as a necessity for life in snow-covered countryside. In the 1880s the Norwegian Sondre Nordheim developed birch rope heel straps which gave greater control over skis.  For the first time this allowed the skier to execute controlled turns whilst moving. Subsequently ski clubs were set up and the notion of skiing for sport emerged.

Today, it appeals to everyone from those looking for a leisurely way to get about on snow and enjoy the magic of winter, to racers and those wishing to physically challenge themselves.

What differentiates nordic skiing from alpine is that your boots are only attached to the binding at the toe, so your heel is free.

The main types of cross country skiing are:

Cross country skiing in prepared tracks

Track skis [M Wray]Track-making machines prepare the snow surface you ski on. Some resorts have hundreds of miles of prepared trails, allowing you to explore the beautiful landscape. There are two different types of cross track ski-ing – classic and skating.

• Classic skis run in parallel ‘grooves’ made by track machines. This was the first track ski-ing technique and is generally the technique beginners learn first. It's like walking with a glide then pushing with your arms to help you move along.  It's a slower technique than skating and requires less energy.
• Skating is similar to ice skating or inline skating. You ski on a wide flat area prepared by a track machine. Not all resorts have skating tracks. Skating is faster than classic and requires more energy.

The Olympic sport of biathlon combines skating and shooting which also makes it a form of track ski-ing.  Read Club member Nick Jubert's article 'A novice biathlete' [opens in a Word document].

Touring - 0ff-track cross country skiing

Off track ski-ing - NorwayTouring is the winter equivalent of summer backpacking. By donning your rucksack you can make your own tracks and ski from hut to hut through spectacular scenery. For the very intrepid you can also camp outside in your own snowhole!

For this type of cross country skiing you will need stamina and good technique. Equipment needs to be strong and reliable as you ski over isolated and rough countryside. Touring can be one of the most rewarding forms of cross-country skiing and allows you access to unique, otherwise inaccessible, terrain .

Telemarking - cross country or alpine skiing?

The telemark turn is a graceful technique developed by Sondre Norheim for descending steep slopes on nordic equipment.  It gave birth to the modern alpine techniques in the 1930’s.

The skier completes the turn with each ski equally weighted but with the heel of the trailing ski lifted. The technique is especially suited to soft powder. The boots are only fixed to the ski at the toe, like cross country boots, allowing the heel to rise and the technique to be performed.

If you like the adrenaline rush of steep slopes then telemarking may be for you. Any nordic skis are suitable for telemarking but it is easier to learn on specialist equipment.

According to the International Ski Federation [FIS], telemarking is an alpine discipline but in Snowsport England's view it's a cross country discipline.  Does it matter? Yes, if you want to compete in the sport and need to know who sets the rules.