Origin and Techniques of Cross Country Skiing

Origin and Techniques of
Cross Country Skiing

Cross country skiing, commonly referred to as XC skiing, is a popular winter sport in areas with large expanses of snow such as Northern Europe, Canada and the United States of America. This particular sport, along with ski jumping, belongs to the Nordic type of skiing, where only the toe of the boot is attached to the ski, giving freedom of movement to the heel area of the foot.

There are many cross country skiing techniques, the main varieties being Skating technique, Telemark technique and the Classical technique. With the Skating technique, skiers move around just like they are ice skating. By gliding or kicking, the skier can maintain momentum and glide at a faster speed. The snow needs to be smooth and compact to carry out this technique like that of an ice rink. Telemark cross country skiers (also known as free-heelers) simply ski downhill making use of free movement of the heels. Classical technique uses conventional diagonal skiing strides with the skis parallel to each other.

Cross country skiing is a popular hobby for many people and it is similar to any other trekking or hiking activity except it is on snow and skis are worn on the feet. The distance covered varies from skier to skier, some choosing to ski for longer periods, camping out overnight whilst others prefer a shorter trip.

Skiing has taken place since prehistoric times in countries such as Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway along with other Fennoscandian regions. Originally, cross country skiing was a means of transportation for hunters in these snowy areas and armies and explorers of the Nordic countries travel though the snow this way in the winter time. The North American natives used snow shoes in place of skis in order to move about in deep snow during the colder months. Snowshoe Thompson and Jackrabbit Johannsen, two emigrants of Norway were responsible for taking the sport of cross country skiing to North America.

Years ago traditional cross country skiing equipment was made purely from natural materials. Skis were built of wood, ski bindings were made of wood-based threads, poles of bamboo, and footwear and hand straps were both made of leather. In this day and age, skiing equipment is made of various materials and the type of equipment used by skiers is determined by the cross country skiing technique they will use. For example, the classical technique needs the use of long, thin skis while shorter skis are used for the skating technique. Long poles are perfect for the skating technique whereas the use of poles is abandoned altogether by telemark skiers.