Floating across the snow,
Cross Country Skiing at it's best.

Greetings!

This site is for the Love of Cross County Skiing. Many of us have dreams of flying, and cross country skiing almost gets you there. It give you sensations of joy, freedom and flight.

Whether you are a solitary type or you like being with other skiers, there is no more relaxing, aerobic or satisfying recreation than cross country skiing. The most versatile style, from beginners to advanced levels, is still what is called the classic style: the skier kicks and slides, shifting weight from one ski to the other, in a narrow, straight track. Now the other great style, skate-skiing, is a popular racing style of cross country skiing, but requires groomed trails. Also, it takes about 15% to 20% more energy, resulting in more speed, but requires better conditioning and a developed sense of balance on the snow. The classic style is a great way to begin to enjoy the sport, and develop such a sense of balance and flow.

I started in Northern Ontario many years ago on a pair of rough wood cross country skis, with my boots held on by two straps cut from an old rubber inner tube. Luckily I had a friend from Finland who coached me how to balance and shift my weight, use the poles, waxing, and how to relax into the classic style. At a young age I learned to love the feeling of gliding with very little effort. The feeling to-day is the same, no matter what equipment you use.

If you like a cross country ski marathon that suits almost everyone at all stages of skill, one of the best is the Canadian Ski Marathon. The CSM is unique in that it is not a race but a test of individual achievement based on distance covered. The two-day 160 km (100-mile) course runs from Lachute, northwest of Montreal, to Buckingham, near Ottawa. There are excellent, volunteer staffed, feeding stations at the end of each of the ten sections of the course with soup, energy drinks, raisins, cookies, and other great foods that help to sustain you for the duration. There are also professionally staffed waxing stations, first aid services, washrooms and telecommunications all along the route.

Based on the completion of a number of the ten sections, or all of them, you can be a Courier du Bois, with a level of Gold, Silver or Bronze, a Tourer or a team Tourer, a Mighty Mite, (8 and under), Mini CSM or just sign up for a family fun day. There are several levels in between these. And it does not matter what kind of equipment you have. One year I used my classic wood skis, and many times heard "wow, check out those cool classic skis, haven't seen them for a while". They did not seem to notice that the skier was also a "classic".

Whether you are just curious, or are already a cross county skier, read on for more stories and some useful equipment.