In the 1800s, Norwegians used to use cross country skiing as a way of transportation over snowy grounds. However, cave drawings from 7,000 years ago show people using skis as a method of transportation. Today, cross country skiing is a competitive sport used in the Olympics and a fun way for people to explore snowy environments.
Types
There are three types of cross country skis: Classic or recreational skis, backcountry skis or racing skis. Many skis in these genres are also waxable skis.
Backcountry Skis
Backcountry skis are utilized by those who enjoy hiking through the backcountry. These skis are much wider and used for people who wander off the track onto ungroomed tracks. Backcountry skis are also heavier than classic cross country skis, giving a skier better stability and control when traversing through deep snow. Lastly, they have angled edges, which gives skiers better traction on hills.
Classic Skis
Those skiers who enjoy skating on cross groomed country tracks will benefit from using classic or recreational skis. These skis are much skinnier than other skis. They are lightweight and flexible, allowing for more speed on flat surfaces. However, these skis are not recommended for going down hills. Classic skis are wide and long, which provide more stability on the groomed tracks that other skis may not be able to give you.
Racing Skis
Racing skis, also known as skating skis, are much shorter and lighter than the other types of cross country skis. Skating skis get their name due to the technique that racers use, which is similar to ice skaters. This technique involves pushing off from each ski in a "V" shape, with the top of the skis angled outward. These skis are versatile and flexible but should not be used for climbing hills. These skis are not waxable and are much stiffer than other skis in order to give skiers the maximum velocity when pushing themselves through the track. Racing skis are best used on groomed trails.
Waxing
Skis that have scales in the middle of their base are called waxless skis. These skis are designed for beginning cross country skiers and those that do not ski often. Waxable skis are very smooth on the bottom and require periodic waxing. Although this costs more in the long term and can be a hassle sometimes, they outperform most waxless skis. The three types of wax that can be used on cross country skis are glide wax, kick wax and klister wax. Glide wax is used to make the skis glide faster, kick wax is used to provide more grip and klister wax is used for older snow that has refrozen.
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