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Skiing: Four Basic Lessons about Cross Country Skiing

Cross country skiing is one of the most exciting types of skiing. Keep in mind however that this particular sport is neither for the faint of heart nor for the physically challenged. Cross country skiing takes a lot of courage, skill, and perseverance. Rest assured however that each achievement you accomplish in this sport will always make your efforts worthwhile!

Novice Skiers Always Need a Teacher at the Start
This is a fact. Even if you’re used to learning things by your own or from reading a book, you’re sure to need an expert at one point to teach you a technique or two. In most cases however, three lessons are all that’s needed for any individual to successfully ski on the beginner slopes. Having additional lessons after that is entirely your prerogative.

Do You Need Additional Lessons?
To determine the answer to this, you’ll have to ask yourself more questions.

Ask yourself if you have a goal in mind. If there’s something else that you wish to learn or improve on, then definitely you need more lessons. If, however, you’re already satisfied with your present skills, then maybe it’s time to simply relax and enjoy the gentle slopes at your ski resort.

Ask yourself if you’re still having fun. Having learned the ropes in skiing, you found it incredibly satisfying the first few times you managed to complete the easy courses alone. Ask yourself now however if you’re still having fun doing the same thing over and over. If not, it’s time to move on to whiter and tougher pastures and have a skiing tutor help you out.

If you’ve decided to change skis and you find it particularly difficult adjusting to your new skis, maybe just one extra lesson would do just to help you adjust quickly but properly.

Skiing without Poles
This is purely an exercise to help you maintain your balance. Let your legs do all the work. The only job for your arms is to help you keep your balance. Don’t allow them to move too much!

Learning How to Diagonal Stride
Diagonal stride is the first move or technique you’ll have to learn when cross country skiing. In spite of its name, you’ll not be actually moving in a diagonal direction when doing this. Rather than your feet, it’s actually your arms that are making a diagonal motion. As your left leg goes forward, your right arm swings back and the same opposite directions are made by your left arm and right leg. The diagonal stride is similar to a sequence of kicking and gliding on skis.

The best and safest way to practice making the diagonal stride alone is trying it out on an even or flat area first. Then, you can try doing it on a gentle slope if you’re feeling more confident. Experts however are able to make the diagonal stride even when they’re going uphill.

Learning How to Glide
Gliding is easier or tougher than it looks, depending on how you perceive it, so the best way to learn this technique is by simply keeping an open mind.

The proper starting position for gliding is having your knees and ankles bent slightly. Make sure however that you keep your upper torso straight. Keep your hands and poles in front as you make a gliding motion, remembering to put all the pressure of your weight on the gliding leg. Continue doing this until the movement stops feeling jerky and awkward and gradually becomes natural.

Learning How to Double Pole
This is also one of the basic techniques in cross skiing. There are two types of double polling movements you can make: one with a kick and another one without.

To go double polling, just swing your arms – while holding the poles of course – forward in a simultaneous movement.

To double pole with a kick, just make sure that you have firmly planted your poles on the ground. As you make a single forceful kick, swing your poles to the front simultaneously. Double polling with a kick is basically used when you find it hard to switch to a diagonal stride or plain double polling.

The lessons in cross country skiing doesn’t end there. In fact, that’s only the beginning. If you wish to learn more about cross country skiing, all you’ll have to do is practice and practice some more. Whether you do it by yourself or with a tutor, however, is entirely up to you. Have fun XC skiing!

Skiing Articles:

Skiing: Discover Some of the Best Places for Skiing 

Skiing: Bringing the Family Closer Through Skiing 

Skiing: Skiing Clothing and Gear Tips 

Skiing: Cross-country Skiing Part 4: Fun in the Snow 

Skiing: Four Basic Lessons about Cross Country Skiing 

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