In cross-country skiing, the barriers to entry are much lower than downhill skiing. A trail pass at your nearest cross-country ski center might cost $20 for the day or a couple hundred dollars for the whole winter. (Compare that to the $200-per-day lift tickets you’ll see at big ski resorts this season.) Plus, you don’t need huge mountains; you just need the right skis, enough snow, and a few miles of groomed trails.
But there are a few things you should know before your first foray on skinny skis. For starters, there are two styles of cross-country skiing: classic skiing, which involves a basic glide and is more akin to walking, and skate skiing, which is a bit more technical and faster and looks more like ice skating. Most beginners start with classic skiing. If you’re adept on downhill skis or want more of an aerobic challenge, skate skiing might be for you.
“If you can walk, you can classic-ski. It’s the same motion. You’re swinging your foot through like you’re kicking a soccer ball,” says Jessie Diggins, the 2018 Olympic gold medalist in cross-country skiing. “For skate skiing, if you’ve ever roller skated, or skated on ice, it comes pretty quickly. Keep an open mind and be patient.”
We asked Diggins and a few other experts in the field for advice on how to get into the sport.