Cross Country Skiing ? An Introduction
7459
Recreation & Sports > Snow Skiing
Mar 1, 2007
Jack Smith
Cross Country Skiing ? An Introduction
Considered to be one of the best aerobic exercises, cross country skiing is also called Nordic skiing or XC skiing. It involves the simultaneous use of ones arms and legs and making use of skiing equipment like boots, skis and poles.
Cross country skiing, finds its origins in Scandinavia and is over 4000 years old. It used to be the sole method of transportation for these snow and ice-bound regions. Today, cross country skiing has come a long way from being a mode of transportation to a major competitive sport, played at the Olympic level.
Did you know that a third of all medals are awarded for Cross Country Skiing and other Nordic sports? Nordic sports include the biathlon, which combines cross country skiing with rifle marksmanship and ski jumping; Nordic combined, which is a combined scoring of jumping and cross country skiing events; ski orienting, which is a marker search on skis with aid of compass and map; and telemark, a recent technique which involves using a free heel like cross country skiing.
Beginners are often confused about the difference between cross country and alpine or downhill skiing. Of course one can surmise that downhill skiing involves coming down slopes - we?ve all seen that in the movies! But the technical difference in the skis is that in XC Skiing, the skier?s heel is free, that is, only the toe is attached to the boot. This allows the skier to climb, slide down, and navigate the terrain making it a truly cross country sport. In alpine skiing and even snowboarding, the skier?s entire boot is attached to the ski, and thus one can only come down on the skis or snow board. Although cross country skiing today is not as popular as downhill skiing, it is an ancient sport and mode of travel, and the ancestor from which downhill skiing and snowboarding have been derived in the recent times.
Also called Langlauf in German and Ski de Fond in French, cross country skiing mostly takes place on prepared and signed trails called ?Lopie?. These are graded in order of difficulty, form blue to black, or from easiest to the toughest, the latter having more climbs and descents. Overall, most cross country skiing trails are on relatively flat terrain and therefore found at the bottom of a valley or on a high mountain plateau. You could also ski ?off-track?, where you find your own trail. Off-track ski conditions, on the other hand, are up to the weather and any previous skiers. For instance, one can have a great experience with previously "skied-in" tracks. Did you know that in places like Finland, in the smaller towns, you will often find children making their way to school in the morning on their skis!
Cross country skiing, finds its origins in Scandinavia and is over 4000 years old. It used to be the sole method of transportation for these snow and ice-bound regions. Today, cross country skiing has come a long way from being a mode of transportation to a major competitive sport, played at the Olympic level.
Did you know that a third of all medals are awarded for Cross Country Skiing and other Nordic sports? Nordic sports include the biathlon, which combines cross country skiing with rifle marksmanship and ski jumping; Nordic combined, which is a combined scoring of jumping and cross country skiing events; ski orienting, which is a marker search on skis with aid of compass and map; and telemark, a recent technique which involves using a free heel like cross country skiing.
Beginners are often confused about the difference between cross country and alpine or downhill skiing. Of course one can surmise that downhill skiing involves coming down slopes - we?ve all seen that in the movies! But the technical difference in the skis is that in XC Skiing, the skier?s heel is free, that is, only the toe is attached to the boot. This allows the skier to climb, slide down, and navigate the terrain making it a truly cross country sport. In alpine skiing and even snowboarding, the skier?s entire boot is attached to the ski, and thus one can only come down on the skis or snow board. Although cross country skiing today is not as popular as downhill skiing, it is an ancient sport and mode of travel, and the ancestor from which downhill skiing and snowboarding have been derived in the recent times.
Also called Langlauf in German and Ski de Fond in French, cross country skiing mostly takes place on prepared and signed trails called ?Lopie?. These are graded in order of difficulty, form blue to black, or from easiest to the toughest, the latter having more climbs and descents. Overall, most cross country skiing trails are on relatively flat terrain and therefore found at the bottom of a valley or on a high mountain plateau. You could also ski ?off-track?, where you find your own trail. Off-track ski conditions, on the other hand, are up to the weather and any previous skiers. For instance, one can have a great experience with previously "skied-in" tracks. Did you know that in places like Finland, in the smaller towns, you will often find children making their way to school in the morning on their skis!
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com
Jack Smith writes about winter gear, winter sports, winter clothing, and winter accessories. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, all links remained intact, the bio remains in full and the rel="nofollow" tag is not added to any of the links. Thank-you - Please visit this shopping directory for more resources on winter shopping, winter clothing and winter sports.
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
Commonly referred to as vitamin B complex, se are water soluble vitamins, several of which are deemed extremely important for carbohydrate metabolism. The most important types, ir functions and sources are:- B1 or Thiamine helps in
Category:
Winter is a spectacular time of the year. From dog sledding to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing to snowmobiling, or just camping out in the woods, it?s a time when you can experience the hushed, serene world of white. However before planning any
Category:
Have you ever wondered if what you know about leather furniture is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on leather furniture. Leather is the most durable fabric used for furniture today.
Category:
Often taken to treat ailments like colds, arthritis d osteoporosis, d sometimes taken to offset issues like stress, nervous tension d even memory loss, vitamins are commonly misused d their benefits misunderstood. Vitamins are not wonder drugs
Category:
Today in our modern age we have just about every supplement possible. Every vitamin from a-z can be found in supplement form. Along with vitamins, herbal capsules and high concentrated of other things such as bee pollen and folic acid are common. Todays
Category:
Life style changes Several changes in lifestyle, related to individuals? habits are recommended. As mentioned before, reflux is more troublesome at night when the individual is lying down. Relief can be provided by elevating the
Category:
Up to 50 million Americans, including 2 million children, have some type of allergy. For most people, allergies are just an inconvenience. According to National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, y are a major cause of disability in
Category:
Air purifier have been around ince the Second World War, when the firt ever HEPA filter were ued to protect worker from airborne nuclear matter. Today air-purifier are found in hopital, home, office and even in car. We?ve been breathing the
Category:
Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is caused by a dysfunction in the sympathetic nerve chain. A patient suffering from hyperhidrosis will find himself sweating beyond the physiological need of the body to maintain a regulated temperature. The Body
Category:
We naturally perspire, all through the day, to help our regulate its temperature. In fact sweating is necessary for the healthy physiological functioning of our bodies. It is a mechanism in which fluid containing salts is released, by which the
Category:
Considered to be one of the best aerobic exercises, cross country skiing is also called Nordic skiing or XC skiing. It involves the simultaneous use of ones arms and legs and making use of skiing equipment like boots, skis and poles. Cross
Category:
Winter sports and activities can be a lot of fun. It?s a splendid time of the year when it seems like you are enveloped by the pristine whiteness of the snow. But it is also a hazardous time of the year for the outdoor adventurer. One has keep warm
Category:
Today, air pollution has become a distressing reality in most parts of the world. Ecologists never tire to remind us about the need to maintain the delicate environmental balance between humans and plants to ensure the healthy survival of the human
Category:
Often performed to music, figure skating is an ice skating sport where individuals, duos, or teams perform moves like spins and jumps on ice. Figure skating can trace its origins to the mid-19th century. In 1902, the World Championship that used to
Category:
Body building requires alot of work dedication and of course a good idea of health and nutrition. One major aspect of body building includes diet and nutrition. Making sure the body has all the required amno acids, enzymes, proteins, carbs, minerals,
Category:
Video Editing Software Video editing software can be found with very little trouble now that you've arrived at software-spot. There are many different types of video editing software. Video editing software is any program that allows you
Category:
Other links at Recreation & Sports > Snow Skiing
Snow ing is one of the most popular winter sports in the world. Millions of people hit the slopes every year for fresh air and fun, and a large percentage of them are beginners. This is a fun sport, but it is equipment-oriented. Without the proper
Category:
Due to the great variety of skis available, the beginner can easily become confused as to what equipment to get. Instead of buying a set of ski equipment right away, renting is a good option to consider. Here are some tips to help the beginning skier
Category:
Considered to be one of the best aerobic exercises, cross country skiing is also called Nordic skiing or XC skiing. It involves the simultaneous use of ones arms and legs and making use of skiing equipment like boots, skis and poles. Cross
Category:
After waiting for four long years the time for the winter Olympics has finally arrived again and is only a month away. For the fanatics out there many of you have probably arranged your tickets to Torino, Italy a long time ago but certainly those of you
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68206
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
