Cross-country skiing: winter hiking

The history of cross-country skiing goes back a long way. It was probably invented at the same time as skiing, about 4,500 years ago. The first time cross-country skiing was practiced as a sport was not until 1826.

Cross-country skiing involves gliding across the snow in a running motion with two skids under your feet. The skis needed are similar to those you see in skiing, but the technique is very different. In skiing it is mainly a matter of gravity, while cross-country skiing requires a lot of muscle power in both your arms and legs.

Styles and Techniques

There are two techniques you can use while cross-country skiing. These are called the classic and the free style.

Choose the classic style if you want to practice a quiet form of cross-country skiing. This offers the opportunity for a relaxed and beautiful trip through the snow. You use the sticks as support, not to push off. You stand parallel to each other with your skis. The movement is just like walking diagonally: you move your left leg and your right arm forward at the same time. This form of cross-country skiing is easy for beginners because the movement resembles normal walking. The difference is that you have two skis tied.

Freestyle is common in competitions. The technique is similar to the technique of skating. You push off sideways with the slats. In contrast to skating, you also train your upper body by using the sticks. With this style, you use the poles to provide strength rather than support.

Supplies

The clothing you wear during cross-country skiing adapts to the level of effort. Usually this clothing is sporty, not too heavy and breathable. Ski clothes are suitable, but if you don’t want to buy a whole set of equipment right away, you can also wear the sportswear you already have at home.

Make sure you have special cross-country gloves. The inside is made of supple leather, which gives you a better grip on the sticks. The thumb of the gloves is often reinforced, so that you can grip the sticks well. In addition, you will need a number of other materials:

• skis
• shoes
• sticks
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There are different types and sizes of sticks, made of materials such as aluminum, carbon and fiberglass. Most are aluminum. The stick always has a handle and a loop. The loops are especially important because they ensure that you transfer the power of the push-off to the poles.

You use the wax to process the tread of the cross-country skis. Apply it to the front and back. This is because you have to push off with the middle section during many cross-country styles. This part must therefore remain rigid. With skating skis (skis that you use in freestyle), you do treat the middle part with wax.

trails

Predefined cross-country trails are called trails. In the classic style, a trail consists of two parallel tracks through which the skis slide. For the free style, a cross-country trail requires more space. This is due to the sideways movement you are making. This trail has no tracks, but is a smoothed snow path. These trails are often located on the side of the ski slope or off-piste. Off-piste the trails are often safer because you can cross-country ski more calmly here.

roller skiing

Have you not had enough of cross-country skiing after the snowy winter days or your winter sports holiday? Then go roller skiing. Roller skiing can be compared to what rollerblading is for skaters. You cross-country ski without snow on a very thin board with two wheels. One wheel is all the way to the front and the other all the way to the back. It started as a training form for the fanatic cross-country skier, but roller skiing has now grown into a real sport with competitions and tours. So if you don’t like the cold and wetness of the snow, this is a good alternative. And even more fun, the Netherlands is perfect for making trips with its flat landscape.