Cross-country skiing is a fun, and enjoyable way to exercise and enjoy nature in the winter months.<\/p>\n
Despite the sport\u2019s strong ties to Norway and the Olympics, it is not exclusive to that country or elite athletes.<\/p>\n
Whether the goal is a family-friendly day in the snow or a calorie-scorching workout, cross-country skiing is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.<\/p>\n
Cross-country skiing has been around for longer than you might imagine. According to\u00a0Ingebretsens<\/a><\/strong>, ancient Scandinavian rock art shows early skis were used for hunting.<\/p>\n Other records report that early skis were used for transportation. In the early 1800\u2019s, Norwegian Sondre Norheim developed modern techniques and equipment that would transform skiing into a recreational activity.<\/p>\n Cross-country skiing has been an Olympic event since the first Winter Olympic games in 1924.<\/p>\n NBC<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>explains the six different competitive formats of cross-country ski races, for men and women, that are held in modern-day Olympics: individual, sprint, team sprint, skiathlon, relay, and mass start.<\/p>\n To maintain the integrity of the classical technique, officials of a classical cross-country ski race can distribute violations if racers make illegal moves when switching tracks or while going around corners, or if caught misusing the herringbone technique.<\/p>\n Britannica<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0reports that cross-country ski races are typically 10, 15, 30, or 50 km for men, and 5, 10, 15, or 30 km for women.<\/p>\n The ski marathon, or \u201cturrenn\u201d as the Norwegians call it, is a race of 40 km or more.<\/p>\n At 90 km, the\u00a0Swedish Vasaloppet<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is the longest and oldest ski race in the world, having been inspired by the rebellious path of Gustav Eriksson Vasa in 1521.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is another historically significant long distance cross-country ski race.<\/p>\n At 54 km in distance, this race commemorates the rescue of 18-month-old Prince Haakon from civil war-torn Norway in 1206.<\/p>\n Nordic skiing<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is any type of skiing where the binding holds the toe of the boot, but the heel is free.<\/p>\n In comparison, Alpine skiing is any type of skiing where the binding fixes the boot and the heel to the ski.<\/p>\n Nordic skiing encompasses cross-country, telemark, ski jumping, Nordic combined, and the biathlon.<\/p>\n Sport-conrad.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0explains the difference between these two techniques. The classic technique is cross-country skiing in its purest form.<\/p>\n It is described as a natural movement similar to walking, however with a kick to help you glide faster through the snow. Skating style is the controversial modern version of cross-country skiing.<\/p>\n It is characterized by a V shape created by pressing the inner edges of your skis into the snow in order to power forward, in a similar fashion as ice-skating.<\/p>\n Aside from the technique, there are also slight variations in the types of trails and equipment used in each style.<\/p>\n Cross-country skiing has tremendous anaerobic benefits, helps develop balance, and builds strength.<\/p>\n \u00a0Humankinetics.com<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0explains that a large number of muscles are used while skiing.<\/p>\n The use of poles exercises the bicep and tricep muscles of the arms, while the coordination and strength necessary for propulsion engage\u00a0core and leg muscles, particularly the quadriceps and gastrocnemius.<\/p>\n Cross-country skiing burns an insane amount of calories.\u00a0Calorielab.com<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0reports that a 150 lb. a\u00a0person can burn between 408 – 1,054 calories in an hour, depending on their effort and the terrain. In comparison, walking burns 170 calories an hour.<\/p>\n Experienced skiers can actually go quite fast. According to\u00a0skipost.com<\/strong><\/a>, the top racers in the world can reach 40 mph on downhill portions, and 20 mph on flat stretches.<\/p>\n Beginners won\u2019t be able to reach those kinds of speeds, but they will notice an increase in speed with experience and improvement in technique.<\/p>\n The answer is yes and no, and honestly depends on an individual\u2019s related experiences and the style being learned.<\/p>\n Cross-country skis can be awkward the first time you put them on, but starting with the classic technique will enable you to shuffle on the snow in no time.<\/p>\n Hills can be a different challenge that results in some falls, but downhill skiing experience can help a skier safely glide down hills if they don’t get overconfident.<\/p>\nOlympic Skiing\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Distance\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
What is the difference between cross-country and Nordic skiing?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
What\u2019s the difference between classic style and skating style?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
What muscles are used for cross-country skiing?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
How many calories do you burn cross-country skiing?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
How fast can you go cross country skiing?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Is cross-country skiing difficult?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n