Preparing for Your First Cross Country Ski Trip...
It’s the best way to experience the wilderness in the wintertime – gliding across powdery hills that reach into deep valleys and alongside stunning vistas of mountain, forest, and shoreline before returning home to the chalet and enjoying a cosy cup of hot chocolate. Like many winter sports, cross country skiing is about experiencing the great outdoors from another lens, whether it’s traversing miles of diverse terrain, discovering nature’s many kingdoms, or simply enjoying some refreshing exercise with friends and family. It’s a great way to exercise as well as provide an ideal introduction to downhill skiing, and for many, it can become a lifelong passion. And even better, just about anyone can do it: cross country skiing is one of the easiest sports to learn. So if you’ve just gotten that new pair of cross country skis for your birthday but you’re not sure how to get started, fear not, soon-to-be-snow-trekker – it won’t be long before you’re navigating the slopes and hill climbs with style.
Finding the Right Fit:
As with any sport, the key to progress is comfort. You want to make sure that you have a ski boot which fits comfortably and snugly, providing enough support for your feet and ankles but not restricting your movement. Unlike downhill skiing which requires an attachment at the front and back of the boot to the ski, cross country ski boots only need a secure fastening at the toes. This allows for greater flexibility when navigating trails as well as freeing up the leg to move easier on steep terrain. Your cross country skis will vary depending on the style you wish to ski, but this is generally established once you reach a more advanced level. You want the skis to be long enough to maintain balance but short enough to manoeuvre with a fair amount of ease; it’s best to try out a pair on a flat surface before progressing to varied surfaces. Your ski poles should be long enough for you to comfortably use like a hiking stick.
Additionally, having warm but light, waterproof clothing is ideal for cross country’s varied weather conditions so you can wrap up or take off a layer when necessary. Always wear protective head gear and carry sunglasses for the longer stretches of slope which reflect a lot of sunlight.
Learning the Basics:
Picking up cross country skiing is fairly simple: it’s all about balance, control, learning to get a “feel” for the terrain and enjoying the ride. You can take a few lessons beforehand at a local resort or ski school in order to get the basics down and practice technique, flow, distance training, and building up your core muscles. Practicing cross country is fairly easy when you live in a generous winter climate; many trails are open to the public free of charge and are kept regularly maintained for skiers.
Hitting the Slopes:
Once you have the basics down, you can begin the next step of your cross country skiing adventure: planning a trip.
There are many factors to take into consideration here, namely: which resort appeals to you (is it affordable? Can it be easily reached? Does it offer friendly accommodation? Is it surrounded by other attractions?), travel, time of year, who you are taking with you, and rentals (or transporting your own gear). Many experts recommend that beginners have a few practice runs before devoting a large portion of their holiday (or entire holiday) to skiing; you want to be in reasonable shape although people of varying fitness levels can enjoy the sport over an extended period. Many ski resorts also offer rentals and lessons, and these can be beneficial when honing your skills and avoiding the cost and hassle of carrying your own gear if you are venturing far from home. If you do choose to take your own skis with you, you can follow a few handy tips and maximise your carrying capacity by efficiently using your storage space. If you are travelling by plane, be sure to review what kind of costs are charged for sporting gear which will vary between airlines.
Throw Yourself Into It:
While you won’t want to overdo it at the start, let the excitement of cross country sweep you away. Learn about the areas you will be skiing in and what exciting natural, historical, and cultural treasures there are. Learn about how civilisations across the world’s northern climes have used cross country skiing for thousands of years, and watch ski championships and videos for fascinating insights into one of the world’s most versatile sports. Enjoy the freedom of being able to cross some of the most beautiful destinations seamlessly, as well as spend time with family and friends. Just remember – anyone can do it, and now is as good a time as any to start!
Finding the Right Fit:
As with any sport, the key to progress is comfort. You want to make sure that you have a ski boot which fits comfortably and snugly, providing enough support for your feet and ankles but not restricting your movement. Unlike downhill skiing which requires an attachment at the front and back of the boot to the ski, cross country ski boots only need a secure fastening at the toes. This allows for greater flexibility when navigating trails as well as freeing up the leg to move easier on steep terrain. Your cross country skis will vary depending on the style you wish to ski, but this is generally established once you reach a more advanced level. You want the skis to be long enough to maintain balance but short enough to manoeuvre with a fair amount of ease; it’s best to try out a pair on a flat surface before progressing to varied surfaces. Your ski poles should be long enough for you to comfortably use like a hiking stick.
Additionally, having warm but light, waterproof clothing is ideal for cross country’s varied weather conditions so you can wrap up or take off a layer when necessary. Always wear protective head gear and carry sunglasses for the longer stretches of slope which reflect a lot of sunlight.
Learning the Basics:
Picking up cross country skiing is fairly simple: it’s all about balance, control, learning to get a “feel” for the terrain and enjoying the ride. You can take a few lessons beforehand at a local resort or ski school in order to get the basics down and practice technique, flow, distance training, and building up your core muscles. Practicing cross country is fairly easy when you live in a generous winter climate; many trails are open to the public free of charge and are kept regularly maintained for skiers.
Hitting the Slopes:
Once you have the basics down, you can begin the next step of your cross country skiing adventure: planning a trip.
There are many factors to take into consideration here, namely: which resort appeals to you (is it affordable? Can it be easily reached? Does it offer friendly accommodation? Is it surrounded by other attractions?), travel, time of year, who you are taking with you, and rentals (or transporting your own gear). Many experts recommend that beginners have a few practice runs before devoting a large portion of their holiday (or entire holiday) to skiing; you want to be in reasonable shape although people of varying fitness levels can enjoy the sport over an extended period. Many ski resorts also offer rentals and lessons, and these can be beneficial when honing your skills and avoiding the cost and hassle of carrying your own gear if you are venturing far from home. If you do choose to take your own skis with you, you can follow a few handy tips and maximise your carrying capacity by efficiently using your storage space. If you are travelling by plane, be sure to review what kind of costs are charged for sporting gear which will vary between airlines.
Throw Yourself Into It:
While you won’t want to overdo it at the start, let the excitement of cross country sweep you away. Learn about the areas you will be skiing in and what exciting natural, historical, and cultural treasures there are. Learn about how civilisations across the world’s northern climes have used cross country skiing for thousands of years, and watch ski championships and videos for fascinating insights into one of the world’s most versatile sports. Enjoy the freedom of being able to cross some of the most beautiful destinations seamlessly, as well as spend time with family and friends. Just remember – anyone can do it, and now is as good a time as any to start!
|
|
