In 1975, I was a Company clerk in the Illinois National Guard. Every other year we would have winter training in the northern part of the United States. One of the skills we had to learn was that of Cross Country Skiing. At first, I thought that this would be hard to do. I had never been on skis before. To my surprise, it was rather easy to learn and a very enjoyable to skill to master. If you are interested in learning how to cross country ski, I hope that this article will motivate you.
Skiing and Benefits
Cross Country skiing is great for travel and fitness. It can be used in tracks, like on roads, or in heavy snow. It is excellent for getting about in cold snowy weather.
It is less expensive than downhill skiing. You don’t need lift tickets. The skiing gear is lighter and you do not need a hill for energy to move.
Cross Country skiing is different from downhill because your heels are free to move. This allows you the loco-motor process of striding out. Cross country skiing can be used for racing, fitness, travel and enjoying nature. It is like hiking on skis.
Fitness
When it comes to fitness, you will burn calories, develop strength, balance, flexibility and cardiopulmonary strength. As you get better, you will develop confidence in yourself.
Equipment
You will need either track or off track skis, boots, bindings and poles. You will discover that these are different from downhill skiing equipment. You can find these items at a ski store or Cabela’s.
For beginners, I suggest renting equipment and taking lessons. Start with track skiing first. this is usually on a snow packed road. From there, you can advance of off track skiing. These would be trails or clearing areas. Many bike trails are used during the snow season.
There are five basic skills to learn. They are uphill climbing, moving , slowing down, stopping and downhill navigation. You can learn these in a day. Each time you go out, you will get better. From my experience, the hardest was slowing and stopping.
Notes; Always dress warm, especially your feet. Carry a charged cellphone with you as you travel back trails.
I would suggest reading the following articles on Cross Country Skiing for Beginners. Cross Country skiing is a great sport and it is easy to master.
sources; fitsugar.com , Beginners Guide to Cross country Skiing