| Nordic? No Problem! |
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| Contributed by Catherine Crone | |
 Joys of Nordic Skiing Based on a natural walking motion, it’s very easy to pick up. Novices that have “defected” from the alpine slopes are often amazed that they can master the basic techniques on their first day, compared with the days of painful sidestepping endured on the nursery slopes to learn to ski downhill. As you don’t need a ski lift to start, it’s much easier to get off the beaten track. Skiers often comment on the wonderful stillness of the forest in winter, where the only noise breaking the silence is the gentle swoosh of their skis. In Scandinavia, ptarmigan and Arctic foxes are often spotted on the trail; in Canada, moose sightings are common. It’s also much kinder on the environment, cross country trails are normally hiking or biking tracks in the summer whereas the mountains are “scarred” with defunct chair lifts once the snow melts on the Alpine slopes. And unlike downhill skiing, this is a sport that can last you a lifetime without taking a lifetime to learn. A low impact aerobic exercise, there’s no jarring of joints so grandchildren and grandparents can take to the trails together.  How you do it Moving forwards There are two basic techniques – classic and skating. Classic is when you “push and glide” in pre-prepared tramlines carved into the snow. By placing your weight on one leg to push, you then glide forward on the ski that has no weight on it. By alternating this step you move forward easily in the tramlines that keep the tips of your skis straight, so it’s ideal for beginners. The skating technique is favoured by more athletic, lycra clad types. It’s based on the same push and glide idea, but here how to do it you ski out of the tramlines and your ski tips are pushed out in opposite directions as you ski, like the opposite of a snow plough. Going Uphill Yes, you do ski uphill - but it’s not as difficult as it sounds! To do this you can either side step digging your ski edges in to stop you falling backwards, or make a V with your skis digging your edges in and walk up this way. Remember there’s bound to be a nice glide downwards at the top. Heeelp! I can’t stop! It’s great when you’re swooshing down the tramlines with no pushing needed, but sometimes you’ll want to ease off on the speed. To do this, either bend down and sit on your skis, reducing your centre of gravity naturally slows you. Or take one ski out of the tramline and use it as a brake. It’s also possible to come out of the tramlines all together and do a full snowplough as you would in alpine skiing. What you'll need Skis Cross country skis are light and long – normally as tall as the skier using them - helping you move forwards easily. But you also need some friction to stop you sliding backwards. Favoured by beginners, waxless skis have a herringbone mesh to give you some grip. Aficionados prefer skis that need coating with wax to give you some grip. By using different wax for the temperature, a waxed ski improves your glide as it creates just enough friction without slowing you down like a waxless ski can do in some snow conditions. But they’re more fiddly! Boots and bindings Cross-country ski boots are like a trainer that allows your foot and ankle the full movement necessary to push you at the toe. Under the toe of the boot there’s a clip that slots into a groove on the ski. Poles Ski poles come up to your shoulders, giving you the extra “push” needed to keep you gliding along. Clothes Unlike downhill skiing, no costly clothes are required. First timers can get by in a pair of jogging trousers with a pair of waterproof trousers over the top, a thermal vest, a fleece and a light waterproof over jacket. You’ll also need a warm hat and a pair of sunglasses. Want to give it a try? If this has whetted your appetite for a touch of nordic skiing, your next port of call should be a specialist in cross country skiing holidays such as Headwater Holidays. We've years of experience and can help you to choose the best location for your holiday. So wrap up warm, strap on your skis, and give it a go! Headwater Holidays
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Article Source: EzineArticles.com |
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