How To Find The Right Cross-Country Ski

Nordic skiing encompasses two distinct techniques: the traditional classic technique and the skating technique, which has been in existence since the 1980s. The most important thing when buying a cross country ski is the purpose of your skiing, and what type of cross country skiing you want to focus on. Some go to spend time with family and friends, others go to train and develop. All ski models have different characteristics and are adapted to how and where you will use your skis. 

Classic Skiing

In classic cross-country skiing, you navigate within parallel tracks specially prepared for this purpose. These tracks aid in maintaining your balance and provide optimal guidance for your skis. The technique involves a combination of the diagonal stride (similar to walking with poles) and double poling. The advantage of this technique is that progress is relatively swift, as it mimics the natural walking motion. However, if you aspire to master a dynamic skiing style, akin to what you see on television with elite athletes, you'll need to invest a substantial amount of time in training. Nevertheless, classic skiing offers a wide spectrum of experiences, from leisurely ski hikes to highly dynamic diagonal styles.

Classic cross-country skiing requires longer skis compared to skating.

Additionally, to gain traction on the snow when pushing off, a kick zone beneath your binding is needed. 

There are three different types of kick zones: 

• fishscale skis 
• wax ski 
• skin ski 

Skin skis are the most common nowadays, since both the handling & care is very simple and a high skiing performance is given. Skintec is the name of the skin skis at Atomic. The Atomic Skintec family offers a model for every performance level and every age group.

Skate Skiing

The skating technique is often considered the more athletic and dynamic choice. To reach a top-level, you need to invest an equal amount of time in both techniques. However, especially in the beginning, skate skiing can be slightly more challenging to learn than classic skiing. Unlike classic skiing, skating doesn't rely on parallel tracks but instead requires a prepared, flat snow surface. You must guide your skis independently, necessitating a bit more balance and foot stability. Skate skiing shares similarities with ice skating, as the propulsion involves a lateral kick. In any case, getting an introduction to the skating technique is essential for making progress at the outset.

The skating ski is typically 10 -15 cm shorter than the classic ski.  Furthermore, skating skis have only one gliding surface since you push off laterally with the edges, eliminating the need for a climbing zone.  For beginners, slightly shorter skis tend to be recommended at the beginning in order to  facilitate rapid progress. 

In general, the length of the skis for both technique variants depends on the performance level and weight. 

What distinguishes cross country skis and gives them their characteristics suitable for different types of skiers and type of cross country skiing?

• Dimensions: A wider cross country ski will be more stable, but also a little heavier.

• Camber: The ski must not be too hard in the camber, as you will then not be able to push the ski down in the snow, which means that you will have difficulty getting a grip on the ski when you move your body weight from side to side. If the ski is too soft on the otherhand, the grip zone is in when you have your body weight distributed on both skis and then slows the ski down.

• Base (underneath): A better base has an easier time absorbing the glide wax and thus provides a better and longer-lasting glide.

• Core (inside the ski): Different materials used for the core of the ski make for variances in weight, speed, control, stability and responsiveness.