by Susan Ow

Created on: October 26, 2008   Last Updated: October 30, 2008

Are you an outdoor activities lover? Are you grumbling when the Weather Man forecasts a blizzard during winter? If you answer "Yes." for both, cross-country ski will change your attitude towards winter. Skiing, however, can be an intimidated sport. Nevertheless, with proper training and preparation, you will rejoice during winter months. This article will tell you how to become cross-country skier.

First, get ready and head to the gym to train for your physical fitness three or four months before winter. Training includes running or biking, strength training, and stretching in order to strengthen cardiovascular system, build up upper and lower body muscle, and increase flexibility and agility of your body. The better shape you are and the more effort you put in training, the more you will enjoy cross-country skiing.

Next, you need to either rent or buy equipments, which include skis, boots, poles, and clothing. The skis come with a variety of designs depending on the type of skiing you plan to do:
classis or skate. The boots must able to keep your feet dry and warm and provide a system that connects the boot to the ski. The poles can be fiberglass or metal and should be able to provide a neat fit in arm pit when standing on the floor. Preferable clothing is clothes that are made from synthetic materials that keep moisture away from your body. Also, do not forget to dress layers, wear a knit cap and gloves.

Once outfitted, a place has to be chosen to ski. You can find a place nearby to ski, as long as snow is on the ground. The recommended places include golf courses, public parks, and Nordic centers. Not all golf courses welcome outsider, but in winter, some golf course might be opened to you. Golf course is an ideal place, because of its smooth and grassy surface, and you only need an inch of snow to ski on them. Some public parks also groom trails and offer cross-country skiing. However, the best place for beginners is Nordic centers, where it has extensive and complete trails and tracks. It also provides rental equipments and lessons.

There are two cross-country skiing styles, which are classic or in-track skiing and skating. Beginners are recommended to learn the classic skiing first because its basic techniques are very similar to running.

Once you have chosen the style, learn to move forward. Similar to running or walking, your left foot and right arm come forward while your right foot and left arm go backward as you ski. The differences are you need to learn to push off with your poles and pause at the end of each stride to let your ski carry you forward. Once you are comfortable with moving on the snow, skiing is more fun if you master these four techniques: going uphill, going downhill, turning, and stopping.

Last, the best way to become a better skier is to take lessons. Like other sports, you progress faster by having an instructor to show you the techniques. Lessons usually begin with how to get up when fall and not to fall.

Also, do not forget about practicing proper nutrition. Skiing not only burns more calories than other sport, but the cold weather also helps you to burn more calories by staying warm. So, eat well and drink well.

As you learn to love the sport, reward yourself by planning cross-country skiing vocations to fancy downhill resorts and indulging yourself in the beauty natural scene. If you follow my advice above, you will enjoy the cold and freezing winter.

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