With the arrival of cold weather, ski resorts open their doors to all lovers of winter sports. Snowshoeing excursions, snowmobiling... and a wide variety of activities await you on the slopes. This time, we’ll talk about cross-country skiing—have you heard of it before? 
Cross-country skiing demands good physical fitness, as the activity engages your entire musculature and endurance. To enjoy this sport comfortably and achieve good results, as mentioned, it’s advisable to be in good shape. But don’t worry if you’re a beginner—it’s a technique that’s easy to learn.
Want to know more? Read: Physical preparation for cross-country skiing
In this article, we’ll discuss cross-country skiing, focusing particularly on the types of techniques skiers use to traverse snowy trails. Who knows—it might just be the perfect guide to kickstart your journey in this sport.
The Classic Technique
This technique exemplifies a simpler style, allowing you to enjoy the sport in a more traditional way through a series of movements on the skis.
The skis feature a grip or snow retention system (scales, micro-textures, or grip wax), enabling you to push with your legs without the skis sliding backward on climbs. To facilitate this, trail groomers create a track known as a "classic track", where skiers place their skis. The use of poles, reinforced by arm propulsion, aids in gliding. 
The most distinctive step in this classic technique is the diagonal stride. It involves alternating forward glides of each ski while the opposite arm drives the pole into the snow.
The Skate Skiing Technique
Known as the skate technique due to its resemblance to ice skating, it emerged in the 1980s, making it a relatively modern style. Here, the edges of the skis serve as the support and propulsion surface, eliminating the need for additional grip mechanisms.
In this method, skis aren’t placed inside a track but instead glide in an alternating, V-shaped motion; arm propulsion is typically simultaneous rather than alternating. With no grip mechanisms on the ski base, gliding is optimal, allowing higher speeds than the classic technique. 
Both techniques incorporate movements adapted to downhill terrain, similar to other snow sports like alpine skiing or ski mountaineering: basic straight-line descent stance, snowplough, parallel turns, or the "schuss" position.
Cross-country skiing is one of the most rewarding ways to explore snow-covered valleys. If you’re unsure, it’s best to hire a professional to guide your first steps before skiing freely. What could go wrong?
