Cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing (also known as XC skiing) is a winter sport popular in many countries with large snowfields, primarily Northern Europe and Canada.

Techniques

There are three main techniques used in cross-country skiing. Specially adapted equipment is available to suit each.

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The Classical technique was the first technique that was used and although not the fastest (in the same way as the breaststroke swimming technique) it is still used today by many, especially beginners, as it tends to be the simpler easier to learn, but take many years to get really good.

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The skating Technique, developed as a result of racing and is harder to learn but once mastered the skiers can travel much faster. Skating can also be mastered faster than classical.

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Telemarking is a technique used to go down hill on Cross country skis. Usually the skiers will use the classical technique for going up the hill and telemarking to ski down steep downhills.

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Classical

To move when on level ground or uphill whilst using the classical style, cross-country skiiers use a running-like action. When full bodyweight is placed on the ski to flatten it against the snow (skis have camber, and a properly fitted pair of classic skis will leave the centre section of the ski clear of the snow when weight is evenly distributed between a pair), the centre section of a classic ski will either have "fish scales", or ski wax that will stick to the snow (called the "kick zone" or "grip zone" of the ski). This gives the skiier grip with which they can propel themselves forward. Because of the difference in static and sliding friction, the ski that the skiier lands on after each push will not immediately grip, but will slide a short distance. Skiiers also use poles to assist with balance and propulsion, in varying amounts depending on terrain, fatigue and speed. The arm opposite the leading foot is reached forward and the pole is planted. This technique is called "diagonal stride".

Related Topics:
Camber - Ski wax - Friction

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During races in the classic technique, flat and very slight uphill terrain will be double poled, where the skiier keeps their legs together and pushes simultaneously with both poles. This action can be applied at speeds where the snow is moving past too quickly to apply the "grip-and-kick" diagonal stride. At intermediate speeds, a "kick-double-pole" technique is sometimes used when the skiier is still moving too quickly to diagonal stride, but is having difficulty double poling (typically in slight uphills, or at the bottom of a long hill when just before switching to diagonal stride). Some long races in reasonably flat terrain will see racers double poling almost exclusively for the majority of the race (one good example of this is the Swedish Vasaloppet, a 90km race that takes the winners around 4 hours to complete).

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When reaching a downhill slope, they are able to coast down in a similar manner to downhill skiing, or may use Telemark technique - see below.

Related Topics:
Downhill skiing - Telemark

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The classical style is often performed on prepared trails (pistes) that have pairs of parallel grooves cut into the snow, one for each ski, and consequently a special long, narrow and light ski is usually used.

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When skiing away from prepared trails, a much wider ski is usually used. When used by the local population of flat regions, such as parts of Finland, the skis may also be much longer, sometimes exceeding 3 or 4 m (yards) in length.

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Free

Free technique (Freestyle is a descriptive word only correctly applied to a ski sport where the competitors compete over a mogul course and by performing aerial gymnastics such as spins after launching from a short ramp in the snow), aka skating, involves the skier pushing one ski outward with the ski angled, so that the inner edge of the ski is driven against the snow, much like an ice skater. It is also important to balance on one ski to be efficient. Skis tend to be shorter than those used in classical technique, and poles longer. There is also no fish scale or sticky wax applied and no kick area. There are various combinations of ski and pole movements to suit the terrain and conditions. The technique is only suitable for use on prepared trails (pistes) or those with firm, smooth snow. In some places where the snow melts slightly at the beginning of spring a person can ski on the crust.

Related Topics:
Freestyle - Ski - Ice skater

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The distinction between Classic technique and Free technique is made in competition i.e. a race will be designated as Classic or Free*. In the case of the former only those propulsion techniques that are considered 'classic' are allowed whereas in the latter the competitors are free to use any technique although the majority of competitors will opt to skate since it is marginally faster than the traditional classic technique. This is a direct parallel to the world of competitive swimming where in a freestyle race competitors can use any technique but will normally use the Australian crawl stroke.

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• Recent developments in the sport include 'Continuous Pursuit' races where the competitors complete the first part of the event using the classic technique and the second part using the free technique.

Telemark

See the main article Telemark skiing for details.

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The Telemark technique is particularly suited to backcountry skiing (off piste cross-country skiing). While first and foremost it is a technique for descending, for those with dedicated equipment it is effectively a separate branch of skiing that takes place in the backcountry (off piste).

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