Cross Country Skiing Holidays
When we think of skiing; images of hurtling down a snowy slope (and the bumps that often follow) often spring to mind.
Indeed, many thousands of tourists head for the slopes each year. From the Rockies to Romania, there’s no shortage of slopes for those seeking a holiday filled with fun and excitement (as well as some hot cocoa in front of a roaring fire after a hard day on the piste)
But why save your skis for the slopes? Away from the mountains there are vast areas of open snow and forest to explore. Those countries that are further North – such as Greenland and Finland – offer the chance to explore these vast open snowfields and picturesque forest habitats at your own leisurely pace.
There are a number of holiday companies – such as Marmot Tours - that specialise in cross country skiing holidays. Experienced skiers are on hand to ensure that visitors of all levels get the most out of their experience.
There are many methods of transport available to tourists – from sled dogs to snowmobiles, but if you’re looking to explore the snow whilst getting one heck of a workout, then it’s worth looking into taking a cross-country skiing excursion.
Cross-country skiing combines the conditions of skiing with a vigorous cardiovascular workout. For instead of sliding down a slope when held in place by sturdy boots, cross country skiing involves simultaneous use of your arms and legs.
Usually associated with the biathlon event (which combines cross country skiing with target shooting) at the Winter Olympics, many are attracted to the activity due to the ease of motion, low injury rate and relatively quick learning curve.
There are three styles of cross country skiing, with equipment tailored for the intensity of each exercise:
* Classic – where you ski along pre-prepared trails which allows for even distribution of weight and offers a gentle introduction to the exercise.
* Free/Skating – involves pushing the skis outwards in order to gain speed in a technique similar to downhill skiing, there are a variety of different styles for different terrain.
* Telemark skiing – a variety of downhill skiing, which makes use of one ski that is longer than the other, encouraging weight distribution and pivoting to make difficult turns on a variety of difficult terrains.
The equipment tends to be a little lighter than conventional skiing equipment, with narrower skis and poles which have plastics disks or webbing near the bottom.
Instead of a solid boot that pretty much holds you in place, cross country ski boots are a little more flexible, with the heel allowing more freedom of movement to give the feeling that you’re walking on snow, rather than hurtling down it.
This increased flexibility allows the skier to traverse a variety of different conditions of snow. Grip is determined by the kind of wax you use on the bottom of your skis, and there are many different varieties which are used depending on conditions.
Cross country excursions often involve a stay in one of the many hotels in your chosen resort area. There are many different variations – from guided tours along pre-prepared trails to being pulled by dogs or horses (known as skijoring)
And there are a variety of different skiing techniques that can be utilised, and seeing as you usually don’t require as much training as downhill skiing it can be relatively easy to find the technique that’s comfortable for you.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind to keep yourself fit in the run-up to skiing holidays. Even though the chances of serious injury are less than downhill skiing, accidents can still happen, and it’s always best to be fit and prepared should anything happen.
Planning and implementing a fitness regime before you travel will mean you’re better conditioned to cope with what can be long distances, although there are usually a number of trails available for different experience levels which are supervised by trained professionals who are there to help should you run into difficulties.
So whether you’re an experienced skier or just want to try something new away from the slopes, cross country skiing is a great way to experience nature and get fit whilst gliding along at your own pace.
Cross Country Skiing Holidays / Author: DCollins