Cross-country skiing is an incredibly fun and rewarding activity to do. It’s a great way to stay active and get outside and it’s great if you want to do something with family and friends.
It is a bit different from snowboarding or downhill skiing, so it comes with its own set of techniques. If you’ve never tried cross-country skiing before then you might not know what to expect (see also “How To Slow Down While Skiing“).
If you are interested in taking up cross-country skiing, you might be wondering how hard it is to do.
We will be going over the difficultly level of cross-country skiing here, and we’ll also be going over a few tips to help you get better!
Is Cross Country Skiing Hard?
It is widely agreed that learning how to cross-country ski is actually quite an easy process. Regardless of if you’re a child or an adult, you can take part in cross-country skiing with relative ease.
Cross-country skiing is quite a bit slower than some other types of skiing, so there are less risk of crashing and hurting yourself. It’s also considered to be a lot less dangerous than alpine skiing or backcountry skiing.
If you have never tried cross-country skiing before and this is your first time, it will take you a little while to find your footing and balance, but once you do get those things down, you’ll be skiing confidently in no time.
If you have any experience in other forms of skiing or even snowboarding, this will definitly help you pick it up faster.
If you’re feeling a bit intimidated about trying cross-country skiing then dont!
It’s an incredibly rewarding activity and it’s a great workout! It wont take you as long to learn as some of the other forms of skiing and very rarely do people find it too hard to learn!
How Quickly Can You Learn Cross-Country Skiing?
How quickly you can learn cross-country skiing will depend largely on you. Every person is different and needs to follow their own timeline.
Some people will find that they can pick up the movements and techniques naturally, while others will need multiple sessions before it finally clicks.
If you have any other skiing or snowboarding experience, this will of course give you an advantage and you will be more likely to learn cross-country skiing faster.
Alpine skiing is especially good to know a bit about before you attempt cross-country skiing.
If you have never skied before though, you should go into your first few sessions expecting the whole learning process to take longer.
As long as you’re consistent with your training and you’re motivated and dedicated though, it shouldn’t take you too long to pick up this winter sport.
You will also learn faster if you have a good teacher. Yes, you can try to teach yourself, but trained intructors already know how to ski and they will be able to guide you as you learn.
They can point out common mistakes and how to work through them, so you can learn how to ski faster than if you were trying to do it just by yourself.
Tips For Cross-Country Skiing For Beginners
So if you have never cross-country skied before and you’re serious about starting it up, it always helps to know a few tips that will make your whole experience easier!
These tips are designed to help beginners, but even if you have a bit more experience, you can still use these tips to further your skill. So let’s take a look at them now!
Get To Know The Different Types Of Cross-Country Skiing
As is the case with most kinds of skiing, there are actually a few different forms of cross-country skiing you can try.
It’s important to try as many different variations as possible, but when you find one you enjoy and you feel confident with, you should really stick to that one as much as you can!
Some of the most popular styes of cross-skiing include classic, where the skis move straight, and skate skiing, where the skis move more like ice skates.
Stick to whichever style you enjoy the most as it will help you progress faster.
Learn About The Different Kinds Of Trails
As a beginner, it’s incredibly important for you to get to know the etiquette of the sport.
One way you can do this is by getting to know the different trails and knowing how to quickly identify which trails are designed for beginners.
As a beginner, if you get stuck on a trail that is too advanced for you can be incredibly overwhelming, so knowing how to identify the different trails will help you more in the long run.
When you know which trails are designed for beginners, you can make sure you stick to those trails and don’t end up on the wrong ones.
Wear The Proper Clothes
One of the most important things you need to know when you take part in any winter sports is how to layer properly. Wearing the right clothes will really save you a lot of time and hassle and will stop you getting cold too quickly.
When it comes to skiing, you will usually wear between two to three different types of layers and they come in the form of base layers, mid-layers, and outer layers.
Each layer has a different function and is designed to keep you warm and comfortable for longer.
It’s definitely in your best interest to learn about each of the different kinds of layers you need and to always come fully prepared for each skiing session (see also “How To Layer For Skiing“).
If you get too cold too quickly, you’ll have to cut your session short, which means it’ll take longer for you to learn.
Conclusion
So overall, cross-country skiing is quite easy to learn, even if you are a beginner. It will take longer for some people to nail, but that doesn’t mean that it’s hard!
As long as you’re motivated and consistant with your training, you’ll be cross-country skiing in no time!
Hi, my name is Jamie Andreas and I am a workaholic. I spent the best part of a decade climbing the corporate ladder, focusing on one thing and one thing only - my career.
Since then, I’ve stepped back in my job so that I have more free time to explore the wild. My mental health, clarity, and well-being have all improved by incredible amounts.
I now have a healthy work-life balance, and I want that for you too.
Life is too short to think of work only. Please enjoy my website and use it for inspiration for your next adventure. Maybe I’ll see you out there!
