Cross-country skiing is ‘hiking on skis’
Slides along, admiring the alpine scenery - give or take a few face plants.
Stephen Heard
Wsport. e visit New Zealand’s home of cross-country skiing to try our hand at the self-propelling snow
The basics
Cross-country skiing is far more than a demanding alternative to the chairlift. What started as a form of transportation is now a globally practised recreational activity. It’s a style of skiing where participants use their own motion to propel themselves across terrain — rather than start at the top and hurtle down. At Cardrona’s Snow Farm there are 55 kilometres of trails open to experienced crosscountry skiers and complete beginners. The course has classicalstyle terrain, where inverted grooves help to keep skiers in a straight line. It also lies on the doorstep of the Pisa Alpine Conservation Area, allowing for more of a freestyle approach on both groomed and untouched mountainous terrain.
Giving it a bash
The objective was to complete a roundtrip from Snow Farm headquarters to the backcountry Meadow Hut. Before embarking on the first 4km leg we were briefed on the basics of the sport. The instructor took us through each piece of gear, the process of getting from A to B, getting back up (because eating snow is a given), and how to stop.
The obvious difference from downhill skiing is that the heels of cross-country boots are free from the skis to assist with locomotion. The underside of the skis have a fish-scale pattern which helps to propel you forward on flat and uphill terrain. The basic kick and glide movement is a bit like ice skating — weight is shifted to one foot as it glides in front of the other. The biggest dilemma is getting your head around the rhythm of the skis and poles. Further techniques covered included the downhill position which resembles someone sniffing their fingers with bent knees, the herringbone movement that uses the inside ski edges to retain grip on the snow when moving uphill, and the comical task of turning 180 degrees while stationary. With our newfound skills we embarked on the mostly downhill hut expedition. The classic ‘‘pizza slice’’ stopping technique came in handy here, as did the ‘‘if all else fails, bend and fall over’’ tactic. The inverted grooves created by Snow Farm’s cross-country grooming machine helped facilitate an almost fluid gliding motion and served well as a guide in the right direction. They didn’t completely remove the possibility of face planting, however. It’s effectively hiking on skis. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Why you should try it
Cross-country skiing is a great way to cover distance across rolling terrain. One of the benefits of the ‘‘take it at your own pace’’ activity is the ability to appreciate the beauty that comes with alpine terrain, often overlooked in other snow sports. The physical benefits of cross-country also outweigh traditional downhill skiing. It translates as aerobic exercise, stimulating the heart rate and engaging the upper and lower body and the core — depending on how much effort you put in.
One of the benefits of the 'take it at your own pace' activity is the ability to appreciate the beauty that comes with alpine terrain...
Risk rating
Although cross-country sidesteps a number of risks that come with the speed of downhill skiing, the unpredictable alpine weather and snow contact are contenders for things like hypothermia so warm clothing is a must. Snow Farm is well equipped for beginners and the instructors are well trained.
For more information about crosscountry skiing visit snowfarmnz.com