The Lure of Cross-Country Skiing
The majority of people, when they refer to skiing are talking about Alpine skiing which is also known as downhill skiing. Getting to the top of long hills and mountains is made easy thanks to ski lifts so they can simply point the skis down the nearest slope and take off.
The other skiing discipline is the original type of skiing that was enjoyed before mechanical ski lifts made downhill skiing fun. It is known as either cross-country or Nordic skiing.
Nordic skiers can travel over flatter, longer distances as well as uphill able to take in the countryside and getting huge health benefits from the exercise provided. The skis used for cross-country are dissimilar to the skis used for Alpine skiing in that they are longer and narrower. Also, the bindings and boots required for cross-country skiing differs. The heel is not fixed to a cross-country ski which allows the skier to pick up their feet in a walking movement when climbing hills.
Cross-country skiing is as fun as it is a convenient way to cover long distances in the snow. It is a great way to walk around some magnificent countryside and the skis and boots have been specifically crafted to handle any snow-covered land.
Normally the varieties of cross-country skiing can be grouped under three categories: ski touring, track skiing and backcountry skiing.