Tim Farr Photo
Cross-country skiing is a prehistoric method of travel and a sporting tradition originating in Scandinavian and Norwegian areas. Today it is used as a mode of exploration, sight-seeing and exercise all over the snowy regions of the world. If you are just starting out, there are several basic techniques you should practice.
Poles as Balance
Reach your arms out with your ski poles as you transfer weight during your kick and glides. Do not rely on your poles to push off but use your poles as balance points and to enhance your momentum and motion.
Weight Shifts
When skiing up slight inclines it is important to shift your weight from ski to ski completely and do not lean too far forward or your skis are liable to slip. Many cross-country skis are made with a scaled pattern under the cambered middle section for traction on slight hills. Plant your weight into your heels and use shorter strides when going up small inclines.
Herringbone
When making your way up steeper hills splay your skis apart with tips pointing away from each other in a V. Step up, planting one ski in front of the other, planting one pole and then the other behind the skis. This creates a herringbone pattern and is thus called the herringbone technique.
Gaining Speed
Use both poles at the same time to kick and glide and increase your speed down a slight hill. Reach forward with both poles while kicking off on one ski and then onto your other ski with another double pole plant.
Use Your Abs
Use your abdominals to fuel your momentum and motions. Your core muscles will help you to kick and glide and stay strong throughout your entire ski session.
Wax
Keep extra wax on you if you have a ski that takes wax and you are on a long cross-country ski trip. If you have wax-less ski bases, then you can use a glide wax to get an extra smooth ride on warmer days when snow might stick.
About The Author
Naomi Judd, CIG, has been a writer for six years and been published in Tidal Echoes, Centripetal, The Capital City Weekly and Northwest.com. She has a self-designed Bachelor of Arts degree in adventure writing from Plymouth State University and is currently earning an Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Eastern Washington University.
