FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NORDIC SKIING
1) What is Nordic skiing?
The original form of skiing - a means of travelling on snow through varied terrain. You glide and move uphill, downhill and along the flat.
2) Are there different forms of Nordic skiing?
Yes, the term covers:
cross-country which comprises
- track racing including biathlon (skiing and shooting)
- track touring
- off-track touring including mountain touring
telemarking
Nordic downhill
ski jumping - for further information go to http://www.snowsportengland.org.uk/activities_07ski_jumping-75.html
3) What are the main differences between Nordic and alpine skiing?
Equipment
Nordic skiing generally uses thinner, lighter skis. Boots are also lighter and less rigid. They are just attached to the ski at the toe, which allows the heel to lift (unlike alpine where they are attached at toe and heel).
Cross-country track racing uses the thinnest, lightest equipment. For touring it tends to be wider and heavier, while for telemarking and Nordic downhill it is more like alpine equipment.
Terrain
There's more to Nordic skiing than gliding downhill! Skiing cross-country also involves skiing along the flat and uphill, without using a lift or tow to get up slopes!
Telemarking and Nordic downhill rely more on mechanical assistance but many Nordic downhillers climb hills unaided to explore the backcountry.
4) What techniques are involved?
Cross-country skiing techniques are:
- classic where the skis move parallel
- skating which uses a motion similar to ice skating.
You can classic ski in almost all terrain, whereas skating requires a hard surface or prepared track.
Nordic downhill and telemarking
Uses all the same techniques as alpine skiing, from the snowplough through to parallel turns, but the telemark turn is unique to Nordic and can only be done on Nordic equipment.
5) So is Nordic skiing physically demanding?
It can be, if that's what you want from the sport.
At the top end, track racing is considered to be one of the most physically demanding sports, and telemark racing is similar to alpine racing.
At the lower end, cross-country touring can be as easy as a jog or walk along a forest track, while Nordic downhill and telemarking (especially if using lifts) are similar to alpine skiing. Of course there are all levels in-between.
6) Where does Nordic skiing take place?
If you have your own equipment you can ski cross-country wherever there is snow. Nordic downhill and telemarking tend to use the same places as alpine skiing.
There are resorts in most of the traditional snow areas (the Alps, the Nordic countries, North America, Central and Eastern Europe, Japan and even Australia/New Zealand and South America). Some resorts specialise in downhill skiing and are fully suitable for Nordic downhill and telemarking. Others combine downhill and cross-country while some concentrate on cross-country.
When you look for a resort, consider what you want to do - the facilities claimed for cross-country in primarily downhill resorts are rarely as good as those in more specialised areas.
7) Where can I practice Nordic skiing away from ski resorts?
Nordic is both a snow and dry-land sport. Cross-country skiers train and practice on roller skis (similar to long roller skates with a wheel at each end) on paved surfaces. There are also several tunnels (abroad) which contain man-made snow all year long.
Telemarkers and Nordic downhillers use artificial ski slopes and indoor man-made snow slopes of which there are several in the UK. Indoor snow slopes can be difficult for cross-country skiing because of the thinness of the equipment, but more expert skiers can use them.
8) What about winter skiing in the UK?
Depending on the weather, you can ski in Scotland and the north of England (and even occasionally as far south as Brighton) but this is becoming rarer. Open countryside and parks are usually where people make their own tracks.
Two areas, Huntly and Aviemore in Scotland, regularly prepare tracks for racing and touring.
Touring, mountain touring, telemarking and Nordic downhill can take place wherever there is snow deep enough to ski on, as long as you don't need lifts!
8) What about summer skiing?
You can practice cross-country on roller skis wherever there is a suitable and safe paved area (e.g. a park or cycle track). You can also buy special roller skis for skiing on harder-packed dirt tracks. Snowsport England (SSE) and local SSE clubs run roller ski training courses throughout the year - see www.ssenordic.org.uk.
Telemarking and Nordic downhill can be practiced on indoor man-made snow slopes or on artificial downhill slopes.
9) Where do I get equipment?
Hiring equipment is the best option for your first ski holiday (and investing in lessons is also recommended). Joining a ski club enables you to tap into other members' knowledge and experience before you purchase your own equipment. There are a few suppliers of equipment in the UK - you'll find links to most of them on www.ssenordic.org.uk.
10) What do I wear?
Layers of flexible, breathable clothing are best. Cross-country can be warm work, especially when you ski uphill, yet cold in exposed locations. Follow the three-layer principle used in walking or running - a thermal base layer, a mid layer and an outer wind or waterproof shell.
For telemarking and Nordic downhill, clothing is often similar to alpine, although this may be too warm if you plan to climb a lot of hills.
11) What are the costs involved?
Unfortunately this is almost impossible to answer! It depends on what you want to do.
A weekend training course, including equipment hire but excluding accommodation and food, costs roughly £100.
If you progress and wish to buy your own equipment, a complete set of boots, bindings, skis and poles will cost approximately £200-£400.
You need to add in the cost of getting to and staying in a ski resort, which can be anything from £300 to £1500 per week depending on location and date.
Roller skis and bindings cost £100-£200, and you can use these with the same cross-country boots that you wear on snow.
12) How do I find out more?
See Snowsport England's Nordic websites:
www.ssenordic.org.uk and www.snowsportengland.org.uk.
You'll find more information about the different branches of Nordic skiing, equipment, courses and trips, training and photos. You can also contact us through these sites for specific advice.
During the winter, extensive coverage of biathlon and cross-country track racing is shown on Eurosport, sometimes also late at night on Channel 4.
13) How do I get involved?
Join a local Nordic club and/or attend SSE or local club training events (find your nearest club and details of events via www.ssenordic.org.uk and www.snowsportengland.org.uk). Every April SSE runs a training week on snow in Norway. Events cater for all skiers from complete beginner through to expert and are an excellent introduction to the sport.
If you're a downhill skier, try telemarking or Nordic downhill. If you run, cycle, swim or canoe, then cross-country is a fun way to cross train that delivers excellent fitness benefits.
Commercial travel companies offer skiing trips to a wide range of different destinations. In the London area, the Rollerski.co runs commercial roller ski courses. Links to all of these can be found on the SSE Nordic websites. | 
