With all of the emphasis on the so-called extreme sports, cross country skiing seems to have dropped out of the mainstream in the past few years. After all, downhill skiing is faster, snowboarding is more intense, and riding on snow mobiles is bigger and louder. Yet in my opinion, a good cross country ski trip beats all of these other activities. What is so nice about cross country skiing is that it gives you a way to really enjoy the outdoor winter weather. To me, skiing cross country is the winter equivalent of a nice jogging run. You get to really look around you and enjoy nature in a way that most winter sports don't let you do, all while getting a great workout. I'll take that over the intensity of the ski slopes any day!
I actually got introduced to cross country skis through my father's NordicTrack ski machine. When I was a little kid, I used to always see him in front of the TV, passing mile after imaginary mile with his strange, loping strokes. When I asked him what he was doing, he explained cross country skiing to me. I had never heard of anything like it. I loved to play in the snow – as most kids do – but I didn't realize that you could go so far and so fast. When my dad took me on a ski trip for the first time that winter, it blew my mind. Sure it was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun as well. From the very first time I went, I was completely hooked.
It was easy for me to get started cross country skiing because I was being guided by an expert. If you don't have this luxury, you should start with a pretty conservative trip. Although cross country skiing looks easy, it is not! After just a few strides, you start to feel it. It is even harder than running, and unlike a running you are in a potentially hostile environment. If you get tired or hurt, You might be stranded in bad weather in an unfamiliar place. That is why your first cross country ski trips should be easy, and take place in flat, local terrain. That way, if anything goes wrong you can get to safety without too much trouble. Other than that, the only thing to remember is to have fun!
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