| Although nowadays cross country or nordic skiing is | | | | walk up this way. Remember there's bound to be a |
| viewed as the little sister of alpine skiing, itshould be | | | | nice glide downwards atthe top. |
| the other way around. Alpine skiing wasn't invented | | | | Heeelp! I can't stop! |
| until the 1930s, whereas cross countryskiing has been | | | | It's great when you're swooshing down the tramlines |
| around for 4000 years, originating as a way for | | | | with no pushing needed, butsometimes you'll want to |
| hunters to get around inthe Scandinavian mid winter. | | | | ease off on the speed. To do this, either bend down |
| Based on a natural walking motion, it's very easy to | | | | and sit on yourskis, reducing your centre of gravity |
| pick up. Novices that have "defected" from thealpine | | | | naturally slows you. Or take one ski out of the |
| slopes are often amazed that they can master the | | | | tramlineand use it as a brake. It's also possible to |
| basic techniques on their first day,compared with the | | | | come out of the tramlines all together and do a |
| days of painful sidestepping endured on the nursery | | | | fullsnowplough as you would in alpine skiing. |
| slopes to learn to skidownhill. | | | | What you'll need |
| As you don't need a ski lift to start, it's much easier | | | | Skis |
| to get off the beaten track. Skiers oftencomment | | | | Cross country skis are light and long - normally as tall |
| on the wonderful stillness of the forest in winter, | | | | as the skier using them - helping you move forwards |
| where the only noise breaking thesilence is the gentle | | | | easily. But you also need some friction to stop you |
| swoosh of their skis. In Scandinavia, ptarmigan and | | | | sliding backwards. Favoured by beginners, waxless |
| Arctic foxes are oftenspotted on the trail; in Canada, | | | | skis have a herringbone mesh to give you some grip. |
| moose sightings are common. It's also much kinder on | | | | Aficionados prefer skis that needcoating with wax to |
| theenvironment, cross country trails are normally | | | | give you some grip. By using different wax for the |
| hiking or biking tracks in the summer whereas | | | | temperature, a waxed ski improves your glide as it |
| themountains are "scarred" with defunct chair lifts | | | | creates just enough friction without slowing you |
| once the snow melts on the Alpine slopes. | | | | down like a waxless ski can do in some snow |
| And unlike downhill skiing, this is a sport that can last | | | | conditions. But they're more fiddly! |
| you a lifetime without taking a lifetime to learn. | | | | Boots and bindings |
| A low impact aerobic exercise, there's no jarring of | | | | Cross-country ski boots are like a trainer that allows |
| joints so grandchildren and grandparents can taketo | | | | your foot and ankle the full movement necessary to |
| the trails together. | | | | push you at the toe. Under the toe of the boot |
| How you do it | | | | there's a clip that slots into a groove on the ski. |
| Moving forwards | | | | Poles |
| There are two basic techniques - classic and skating. | | | | Ski poles come up to your shoulders, giving you the |
| Classic is when you "push and glide" in pre-prepared | | | | extra "push" needed to keep you gliding along. |
| tramlines carved into the snow. By placing your | | | | Clothes |
| weight on one leg to push, you then glide forward on | | | | Unlike downhill skiing, no costly clothes are required. |
| the ski that has no weight on it. By alternating this | | | | First timers can get by in a pair of jogging trousers |
| step you move forward easily in the tramlines that | | | | with a pair of waterproof trousers over the top, a |
| keep the tips of your skis straight, so it's ideal for | | | | thermal vest, a fleece and a light waterproof over |
| beginners. The skating technique is favoured by more | | | | jacket. You'll also need a warm hat and a pair of |
| athletic, lycra clad types. It's based on the same push | | | | sunglasses. |
| and glide idea, but herehow to do it you ski out of | | | | Want to give it a try? |
| the tramlines and your ski tips are pushed out in | | | | If this has whetted your appetite for a touch of |
| opposite directions as you ski, like the opposite of a | | | | nordic skiing, your next port of call should be a |
| snow plough. | | | | specialist in cross country skiing holidays such as |
| Going Uphill | | | | Headwater Holidays. We've years of experience and |
| Yes, you do ski uphill - but it's not as difficult as it | | | | can help you to choose the best location for your |
| sounds! To do this you can either side stepdigging | | | | holiday. So wrap up warm, strap on your skis, and |
| your ski edges in to stop you falling backwards, or | | | | give it a go! |
| make a V with your skis diggingyour edges in and | | | | |