Nordic Skiing, aka Cross-Country
Now that we finally have some snow, let’s talk about Nordic skiing.
Although I grew up Alpine skiing (aka downhill) and even raced on the Schweitzer ski team in my youth, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve really come to embrace the serenity and aerobic challenge of Nordic skiing. And I am particularly obsessed with skate skiing. As opposed to downhill, which involves chairlifts and going down mountains at relatively high rates of speed, Nordic skiing (or as my kids like to call it, “uphill skiing”) does not rely so much on gravity and therefore tends to be a more continuous aerobic type of exercise.
Within Nordic (aka cross-country or simply XC) there are two main styles: classic, which involves two parallel tracks and basically follows a movement pattern similar to walking or running, and skate, which involves a wider groomed track that allows for more side-to-side motion similar to ice skating. Both are done on groomed ski tracks, but they require different gear and skiers use different lower-body movements to propel themselves forward.
For those of us passionate about Nordic skiing, the benefits are obvious. It’s quieter and less crowded than Alpine, and it’s a great way to get out in nature, like taking a tree bath in winter. Because of the continuous nature of the exercise, it’s not only a great cardio workout but you rarely get cold (this is my wife’s favorite aspect). In fact, I am usually peeling off layers once I get going. And since you are going slower on less steep terrain it doesn’t hurt to fall.
And did I mention affordability? For only $120 you can get a season parking pass for your vehicle at Mt. Spokane State Park so your whole family can Nordic ski all winter for less than just one day of downhill skiing for one person.
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