Cross-country skiing is the perfect winter sport for those who love to enjoy the winter scenery in absolute tranquility. Here are our tips on how to start this activity for the first time.
Cross-country skiing is the perfect winter sport for those who love to enjoy the winter scenery in absolute tranquility. It allows you to perform a full physical activity, since with alternating movements of the arms and legs it tones both the lower and upper limbs. It is a sport that can be practiced on one's own from the first outings, even though beginners are always advised to rely on an instructor to learn the basic technique for the proper use of skis and poles. In this way it will be possible to best practice this harmonious sport, in which gracefulness of movement is preferred to strength.
You can approach it at any age, you don't need lifts, and the slopes are much softer than downhill skiing. The slopes are never crowded and for this reason it is easy to fully enjoy the tranquility of the surrounding natural environment, often wild, which offers pleasant encounters with small winter mountain fauna. For more on style and equipment for skiing, see this link.
There are two types of cross-country skiing style: classic and skating (or skating).
The classic style involves the use of grooves in the snow on slopes (rails), and it is important to approach this style before moving on to skating, which is characterized by skater-like movements and requires slightly different equipment.
Another detail to note is that cross-country skiing is a much cheaper sport than downhill skiing, and equipment can be rented at modest prices.
Now you just have to try and let yourself be enchanted by this sport, full of fun and… tranquility!
A few tips on clothes and equipment for cross-country skiing
Equipment: Cross-country skiing requires skis, poles and shoes, which vary depending on the style used.
For classic (required for beginners), skis must be longer than those used in skating, and poles for classic must be shorter than for skating. The ski binding also differs from one style to another, and the skating shoes are more durable.
In addition, skis can be chosen depending on the type of use: there are those that are suitable for more experienced skiers who prefer speed, and there are skis that, thanks to special "scales" on the sole, create more friction on the snowy surface to prevent slipping back uphill and limit speed on the descent.
The first few times it is preferable to use rented equipment at affordable prices and under the supervision of an instructor.
Clothing recommended comfortable
Clothing: Comfortable and possibly tight-fitting clothing is recommended to facilitate movement. Since this is a particularly active sport, we recommend clothing made from breathable, warm, but not too heavy fabrics (for example, ski clothing is too heavy and bulky). In case of lower temperatures due to windy days, we recommend using wind-impervious materials (eg mountain shells). Don't forget to bring sunglasses, a pair of not too heavy but waterproof synthetic gloves, a warm hat and a small comfortable backpack. Hot water or tea and light but energetic snacks (like cereal bars or dried fruit). It's important to remember that even if it's cold, you should always drink water, especially if you're sweating a lot.
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