Cross-Country Skiing: Basics and Beyond
Etymology
The word ski has Scandinavian origins; dating back to the ancient language of Old Norse, "Skíð´ means stick of wood. English and French now use the same spelling, but change the pronunciation
How Old is Skiing?
Skiing as a practice is extremely old; the first historical reference to using long planks to move across snow date back to ancient China, to over 10,000 years ago, 8000BC in the Xinjiang province of China. This is fitting, since it is a region of China that is very close to the Himalayas.
Further west, Ancient Norse culture has evidence is skiing as a practice found in carvings and archeological fragments dating back to 5000BC in the Sami culture, an indigenous nomadic people north of the Arctic Circle between Norway, Sweden and Finland. One of the oldest and most remarkable intact skis was found in Sweden. Known as the Kalvträskskidan ski, dated to 3300BC.
From Utility and Military to Pleasure.
What kind of uses has skiing had? Skiing has been on quite a journey in its time, pun intended. For a long time, it served as a means to an end: the end being crossing large amounts of snow over long distances. It has in the past had not only practical but also military applications for centuries.
The transition to recreational skiing, skiing for the sake of skiing, for sport or civilian pleasure began in 1809 with Olaf Rye, and in 1861 with the opening of the first ski clubs.
In sport, the first ski jumper and the International Ski federation was formed in 1924, along with the first Winter Olympics, with women’s skiing introduced in 1952. So how does one cross-country ski, exactly?
“For me, personally, skiing holds everything. I used to race cars, but skiing is a step beyond that. It removes the machinery and puts you one step closer to the elements. And it’s a complete physical expression of freedom.”
Kick and Glide: the Key to Cross Country
Skiing solves an age-old transportation problem: how does one get over snow across large distances with least effort? The skis serve to spread thew weight of the skier. But how does one move on skis?
Its called the “Kick and Glide” and happens in three phases:
1. Stand on one leg, with one ski.
2. Changeover: here, the weight is shifted to the other ski. Once the weight is shifted, leading to a quick down movement, the kick.
3. Combine the kick with some arm swing aided by the poles in each hand, and generate the forward motion, the glide.
The Pulka: Skiers Backpack
So how do you carry your stuff? Well, in cross-country skiing, you carry your provision in a Pulka (sounds a bit like "pull car") , packed tight and compact which you take behind you.
Who is it for?
Cross country skiing is for anyone that can kick and glide!
Never Cross Country Skied? No Problem!
If you don’t have any experience with cross-country skiing, it's not as hard as it sounds and we can take you out before heading to Greenland so that you can get the basic technique down before the real thing.
Greenland: Ultimate Cross-Country
Greenland is an awesome cross-country skiing destination: epic backcountry and a wealth of natural and geological sights make for amazing, and changing, views. Here are some sweet locations and cross country options for Greenland, in no particular order.
Icebergs in the Snow: staying in an Inuit village, this cross country skiing adventure takes you among icebergs frozen in place for the inter by day, and Northern Lights by night.
East Greenland Winter Expedition: this 18 day journey takes you between tiny Inuit hunting villages on the east coast; an insights into ancient ways of life with ancient transportation methods.
Ammassalik Crossing: Cross Ammassalik Island over 8 days:starting in Tasiilaq, leading to the Sermilik Icefjord and passing through the hunters village of the hunters village Tiniteqilaaq, population 134!
Greenland Crossing: Fridtjof Nansen and his team were the first known team to have crossed the Greenland Ice Cap on skis in 1888, and every year Greenland Adventures leads an expedition crossing the Greenland Ice Cap east to west.
If you dont do it this year you will be one year older when you do´
Be a Pioneer!
We hope this introduction to cross country skiing not only gave you some background but also some travel inspo for the winter ahead.
If you want to go beyond skiing, see a whole range of winter tours from Greenland adventures. Ski, tour, and be a pioneer!
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