What is Cross-Country Skiing?

Cross-country or Nordic skiing, named for it's 6000 year history in the Scandinavian counties, is a sport or recreational activity for moving through complex winter terrain - up hills, down hills, through turns, down straight a-ways, and across the flats. Nordic skiing is aerobic skiing with techniques that are easy at first to learn but impossible to perfect. Cross-country skiing can be a full day in the woods or a sprint of 1km. Two year-olds love their skis and their time out in the snow. Adolescents train and race or just spend time with their friends. Adults may ski for the powder turns or may also race both classic diagonal stride and skate the many techniques or "gears". Winter scenery is well earned and well enjoyed from a-top a pair of cross-country skis!
In contrast, Alpine skiing is lift serviced skiing with rigid boots and a heel binding that can lock the entire length of the boot to the ski. The history of Alpine skiing is much shorter than Nordic skiing. Many skiers ski both Nordic and Alpine.