Ok, talk to me about cross-country skiing?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'm going cross-country skiing in January, in Switzerland.

I'm trying to sort out equipment rental.

How does it work? Do I rent boots, or do I bring boots? I get skis and poles, right? And is ski size related to my height?

I gather I should dress reasonably lightly, lots of layers, maybe a nice daypack to store drinks etc?

Rent boots - they are specialist soft ones which fix to ski only at toe. Length of ski relates to height/ability and they are longer than downhill ones , so taller than you, poles are quite long too ! The rental shop can advise and probably sell you the pass for the tracks.

Wear gear as you would to go for a hike/run in mid winter here - thickish stretchy leggings rather than ski salopettes, with maybe waterproof overtrousers if it is snowing, cotton long sleeved top, fleece and jacket, hat and gloves, sunglasses to reduce glare or goggles if snowing heavily. A small backpack with drink and snacks etc would be handy.

Ok, that makes sense.

Um ... I don't actually know how to x-country ski, maybe I should watch a video or two? I did it when I was a kid, a bit, and I gather it's fairly simple, at least to get started. Is it quads-intensive like downhill? (which I also don't know how to do)

(I'm quite fit, run a lot, bike a lot, balance good, coordination good.)

It's more of a body workout than downhill tbh because you have to generate your own mommentum and cooridnate hands and feet. You should be able to get a lesson locally to get you going if you aren't sure fo technique but my parents managed without in a sort of walking on long sticks/skating kind of way !

I think LIZS has covered it all, i.e. rent everything once you get there & dress as for a long run but take some extras in a backpack.

I recommend a lesson to get you started, on the flat you'll pick it up fine but you'll need some pro advice for any (slight) downhill bits. What I'm saying is that if you have ever been downhill skiing you'll know about leaning your shins forward into the boot, in cross country you effectively have to put the weight in your heels to go downhill IYSWIM.

Have a great time, it's a great sport .

I have done downhill once, but just got taught by my then-boyf, who thought that snowplow wasn't worth learning, so just taught me to ski parallel. I spent all day falling over.