Two types of skiing dominate the interest of snow sliders around the world with the most popular being downhill skiing which is also known as Alpine skiing. Getting to the top of long hills and mountains is made easy thanks to ski lifts so it’s just a matter of pointing the skis downhill and pushing off.
The other skiing discipline is the original type of skiing that was enjoyed before mechanical ski lifts made Alpine skiing accessible. This type is called either Nordic skiing, otherwise known as cross-country skiing.
Nordic skiers enjoy travelling over flatter, longer distances as well as uphill allowing them to take in the backdrop and getting wonderful 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 motion when climbing hills.
Cross-country skiing is as fun as it is a useful way to cover long distances in the snow. It is a great way to open up some lovely scenery and the skis and boots have been particularly crafted to cope with any snow-covered landscape.
Generally the varieties of cross-country skiing can be grouped under three categories: ski touring, track skiing and backcountry skiing.