When most people think about cross country skiing, they envision a solitary skier, gliding along the shoreline of a frozen lake on ultra-skinny skis. But, did you know that cross country skis come in many different types? Cross country skis can be divided into "nordic," "skate," "backcountry" and "telemark" skis. Nordic skis (sometimes called "touring" skis) are typically thin, lightweight skis that are designed to be used on prepared surfaces--often with ski tracks cut into the surface of the snow. Skate skis are a form of nordic skis and are designed for high aerobic activity or racing. Backcountry skis borrow many design aspects from both alpine and telemark skis and are made for exploring the wilderness, far away from ski resorts. Finally, telemark skis are similar to alpine skis but use a "free-heel" type of binding that allows you to climb uphill and ski down using the same equipment.
What to Look for
Before buying a pair of backcountry skis, ask yourself how you intend to use them. Will you be gliding across miles of specially prepared nordic courses or exploring the wilderness? Each type of ski has features that make navigating more efficient than the other. For instance, nordic and skate skis are lightweight skis made from either wood or lightweight composite materials. They are designed to be used as high performance, athletic equipment and are not durable enough for exploring the backcountry. On the other hand, backcountry and telemark skis are too heavy to use on nordic courses but work well when breaking new trails in untracked snow while carrying moderate to heavy loads. Most nordic and skate skis are available with either "waxable" or "waxless" bases. Waxable bases are popular for competitive skiers who need absolute control over the gliding surface of the ski, in a specific type of weather condition or type of snow. Waxless ski surfaces are great if you're looking for a reliable, maintenance-free ski base that will perform adequately under a wide variety of skiing conditions. "Climbing skins" are available for all types of cross country skis and are temporarily mounted onto the bottom of your skis to help you to climb uphill. Typically made from synthetic materials or animal skins, they allow you to slide your ski uphill without it sliding backwards.
Common Pitfalls
When deciding what type of ski is best for you, avoid buying a single pair of skis attempting to use them under all skiing conditions. Choose the type of ski based on its primary application. If you try using a telemark ski on a nordic track, you'll be exhausted long before you've had an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the course. Using nordic or skate equipment when you're miles away from home in the backcountry is an invitation for disaster, stranding you miles away from home with broken equipment. Use the right equipment.
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