Cross Country Skiing - Equipment, Boots...

Cross country skiing is a great way to get outdoors, get some exercise and take in the views. When you Ski cross country you can do the backcountry or telemark Skiing with a little practice.

Find, Compare, and Buy Cross Country Ski Equipment - View All Ski Links

Cross country Skiing is an inexpensive way to enjoy snow Skiing. There are miles and miles of trails all over North America, Europe and Scandinavia. In fact, it is suggested that all Skiing started with cross country Skiing in Norway

Where to Go to Find Out
Most Ski resorts have cross country Skiing trails. You can find events, races, Ski vacation packages and more at most Ski resorts. There are also a large number of Ski locations dedicated just to cross country Skiing . There are trade associations in some states that promote Nordic Skiing like the Maine Nordic Ski Council (800.754.9263/mnsc.com. There is a good directory of Nordic Skiing locations at American Cross Country Skiers' website xcSkiworld.com. They can help you find a XC club near you.

Equipment

You are going to need Ski, poles, boots and some basic Ski gear like a Ski hat , Ski gloves and Ski socks. There are XC Ski for light touring to more aggressive touring for off-track Skiing (golf courses, parks and such). For more challenging trails (mountaineering or back packing), look for touring Ski or backcountry Ski.

You measure recreational XC Ski from the floor to your wrist with your hands fully extended over your head. Take advantage of the staff expertise at your local Ski shop or sports store. Look for light poles with small baskets at the end. Starting out, basic poles should fit under your arm pits. For advanced XC skating the poles should measure up to your chin. Boots for XC Skiing should feel snug like a running shoe. The difference between a basic XC Skiing boot and a skating boot is stiffness. The stiffer skating boot should have some extra support around the ankles. Find a Ski hat, gloves and socks that are warm and comfortable. Gloves or mittens are fine.

Rent or Buy

It's a good idea to rent XC Ski the first few times you go snow Skiing. The rental path allows you to discover which type XC Ski works for you. Most Ski resorts have a wide assortment of XC Ski equipment for rent and usually have someone on staff at the Ski shop to guide you through your selection. Look for demo days where distributors bring top-of-the line XC Ski equipment to the resort for you to try out. You might also consider lessons. When buying look for the newer stuff and find a knowledgeable salesperson who actually XC Ski - a lot

Skiing Technique

Again, lessons are a good way to start out. If you have experience with ice skating/hockey, in-line skating or alpine Skiing, you should pick it up pretty fast. There is a difference in technique for beginners and advanced XC Skiers. Try some dry land Skiing with roller boards for practice.

 

 

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