Cross-Country Skiing: Kick Up Your Heels!

ant to add some variety and "kick" to your winter? Cross-country skiing may be just the thing. Unlike alpine skiing, in which your feet are completely secured to your skis, cross-country skiing is "free heeled"—that is, the bindings allow your feet and ankles to flex so you can move forward with a normal stride. Cross-country skiing is not just one, but several styles of skiing that allow you to cover varied terrain and get a great aerobic workout. Cross-country skis can take you anywhere from flat, groomed trails to backcountry powder to steep mountain slopes—and without waiting in a lift line!

Cross-country encompasses several styles of free-heel skiing, from in-track to backcountry.
Sleek, lightweight skate gear is made for aerobic workouts and racing on groomed trails.
Touring gear is ideal for day trips on groomed trails. Backcountry touring gear is heavier, more durable and has metal edges for turning, stopping and breaking trail.
Telemark and randonee (or AT) gear is the most rugged and is made for navagating steep terrain.

A Little History
Cross-country skiing was invented as a means of travel hundreds of years ago in Scandinavia. On long, narrow skis, travelers were able to kick and glide from place to place on gentle terrain. They later learned to descend steep slopes using a unique style of bent-knee turns that became known as telemark skiing. Gradually, these modes of travel developed into a sport. Trails were built specifically for the new pastime, many of which were groomed to allow smooth, rapid skiing. Telemark techniques, which were developed for crossing rougher terrain, were reserved for backcountry play.

Cross-Country Skiing Today
Today, the terms "cross-country" and "Nordic" are used interchangeably to describe the collection of related skiing disciplines that use free-heeled ski gear. These techniques all have roots in the original striding style of early cross-country skiing, but they also have distinct features that set each of them apart. Because all of them use similar ski equipment, it is often possible to enjoy a number of these different skiing styles with a single set of skis, poles, boots and bindings.

Cross-Country Skiing Styles—There's One for Everybody!

Classic Striding
This is the original "kick and glide" technique used by cross-country skiers. It consists of a combination of normal walking steps and long, graceful forward glides. It's the most popular of the cross-country techniques, probably because it's the most versatile and the easiest to learn. Best suited to flat or gently rolling terrain, it can be practiced in groomed ski areas, on snow-covered roads or trails, or in the backcountry. Classic striding is the basic technique for all the cross-country disciplines, but there are 2 main categories within the classic style:

1) General Touring—This describes classic kick-and-glide skiing when it's done in a groomed ski area or on maintained roads or trails. Touring on machine-made tracks is typically called "track skiing."

Benefits:

It's easy to learn—general touring is the style most people learn before venturing into other cross-country disciplines. Following pre-made tracks and maintained trails lets you concentrate on learning and having fun rather than navigating.
It's an excellent form of exercise—striding helps you develop balance, endurance and aerobic capacity, while working muscles in both your upper and lower body.
It's convenient—skiing in an established ski area doesn't require a lot of extra gear, so you can stuff a few extras in a fanny pack and be on your way.

2) Backcountry Touring—Think of this style as wilderness exploration on skis. It takes traditional classic striding techniques off trails and beyond the flatlands. Backcountry touring often involves up- and downhill travel and offers the chance to learn and practice climbing on skis and making telemark turns.

Benefits:

It offers variety—it lets you explore a wide range of terrain; plus you can combine ski trips with winter camping or orienteering.
It's challenging—it requires physical work and enthusiasm, but rewards those efforts with great views and experiences.
It lets you "get away from it all"—it allows you to venture into true wilderness, perhaps exploring a mountain bowl filled with fresh powder or making the first tracks across a high meadow.

Skating
This style of skiing is for those who want a great aerobic workout! Developed by racers, skating is a dynamic, exciting style that has a motion similar to inline skating or ice skating. Using angled, gliding strides and long, powerful pole strokes, skaters slide across smooth, hard-pack surfaces, usually on trails that have been groomed specifically for skating. This is a fast-moving and fast-growing cross-country style, popular with everyone from professional racers to first-timers.

Benefits:

It's fast—it's the quickest way to slide on Cross-Country equipment, a natural choice for racers, speed-demons and anyone else looking to "fly" on skis.
It's unique—skating offers a fun, exciting alternative to traditional striding techniques. It can be enjoyed in established cross-country ski areas or out in the wilderness when conditions are right.
It's a highly aerobic form of exercise—skating works the entire body, while developing coordination and endurance.

Telemark
This challenging style of free-heel skiing is used for traveling on steep or uneven terrain. Developed hundreds of years ago in the Telemark region of Norway by the pioneer Sondre Norheim, it combines striding with a distinctive technique for carving turns. Telemark is generally practiced in the backcountry, but can also be done on lift-assisted ski slopes. This style of skiing has experienced a rebirth in recent years and is growing in popularity across the United States and Europe.

Benefits:

It's fun—it combines an element of "downhill thrill" with the go-anywhere flavor of free-heel skiing.
It's unique—it's a cross-country style all its own that can be a refreshing change for skiers of all ability levels.
It's a challenge—telemark offers a different turning technique for both traditional cross-country skiers and alpine skiers looking to try something new.

Randonee
Also referred to as alpine touring and ski mountaineering, this combined cross-country and alpine skiing style allows you to make winter ascents and traverses in the backcountry. The bindings are unique in that they adjust from free-heeled, cross-country mode for striding and climbing, to fixed for making slalom (or alpine) style turns on the way down. Skiing with randonnee gear is ideal for those who are already strong downhill skiers.

Benefits:

It's exciting—randonnee skiing opens up an entirely new world of adventure to downhill skiers. Skiing off the beaten path (often called "off piste") in the backcountry can be a thrill.
It lets you cover varied terrain—ski mountaineering lets you cover more ground than you can on foot, plus it can be more efficient and more fun to ski down from a summit.