What is it?
Cross-country is the oldest ski discipline, originally being used for hunting and travelling. Competitors ski over all types of terrain - uphill, downhill and flat - with races usually taking place in or around wooded areas. Just like athletics there are various disciplines, ranging from the sprint (1500m) to the marathon (90km). The sport is divided into two main sections: Classical - racers make parallel tracks and stride in a straight line. Freestyle - racers use a skating style technique pushing off with both legs.
Rules
For classic events the races are all started individually with the winner having the best overall time. For the freestyle events there is usually a qualification round to find the fastest 16 skiers. These are then split into four groups of four with the top two skiers from each group advancing. These eight skiers are then split into two groups of four. The two best finishers from each group then go into the final. In both classical and freestyle the most important rule is that any competitor being overtaken must immediately give way.
History
Cross-country skiing is the original Nordic sport, becoming popular well before Alpine disciplines like downhill and slalom. The first recorded competition was in 1879 but until the early 20th century the events were rare. Cross-country was normally joined with ski jumping to form Nordic combined. Until recently cross-country skiing had only one technique: the diagonal stride, or classical style. Competitors would always keep both skis in prepared tracks and would put special kick wax on their skis so they could climb uphill sections of the course. However, in the early 1980s freestyle skiing evolved and now a skating style stride is used for some events.
Random fact
Classic cross-country races have specially pre-laid tracks for competitors, while freestyle is contested over unprepared courses.
The lowdown
- In the past the Norwegian and Swedish military used Nordic skiing to patrol military areas.
- Norway are the most successful cross-country skiing nation having won over 70 Olympic gold medals. Until 2002 France had never won a World Cup cross-country race.
- In Norway Nordic skiers are treated like pop stars with the best competitors earning upwards of £2 million per year in endorsements and prize money.
- The most common injuries for Nordic skiers are back problems thanks to the technique they use.
The one to beat
Norway's Bente Skari is one of cross-country's toughest, most aggressive racers. She has won over 30 World Cup events and is a triple World Cup overall champion.
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