Cross-country skiing

[PrettyCandles]

Anyone done this with preschoolers?

I used to love downhill skiing long ago...long ago. I wasn't particularly good, but good enough to thoroughly enjoy it. I think I have to accept, though, that with my knee and back trouble I will never ski again, but I wonder whether I could cope with cross-country.

I've been reading an article about cc skiing in Norway, and they said that if you are fit enough to manage a 5mile country hike, then you can manage cc skiing. Well, I can do that!

Dh is very sporty and fit (earlier this year he climbed the Eiffel Tower carrying the buggy, a substantial full rucksack, and a 3yo). I'm not. Plus a 3yo and a 5yo. How old can you start cc skiing?

Anyone?

bump

It is really hard work and whilst you do occasionally see kids doing it - competitively even - they tend to be a minimum of 8-10 I'd say. The skis and poles are very long compared to height and think they would tire very easily, even if eqiuipment si availavble to hire in their sizes. The tracks aren't always flat either - up and down, can be icy - so some technique/coordination is required.

It is really hard work and whilst you do occasionally see kids doing it - competitively even - they tend to be a minimum of 8-10 I'd say. The skis and poles are very long compared to height and think they would tire very easily, even if eqiuipment si availavble to hire in their sizes. The tracks aren't always flat either - up and down, can be icy - so some technique/coordination is required.

sorry either pc or MN is slow to respond this morning!

a swedish friend of mine says that she learnt as soon as she could walk and plans to buy her 16mnth old cc skis this year. There are 2 types, the classic which is possibly less hard work, easier to learn but slower and the skating type, which is faster, but more difficult to learn.

I'll ask my friend about it and try to come back and post here again.

Hijack:-
Hi LIZS, how is life back in the UK? Have you all settled back in OK? We've had some snow here in Zurich already!
L
x

{Hijack :-
Hi Leogaela

It was a bit strange settling back here at first but we are well into the school run routine now and I have Waitrose a few minutes drive away ! Hope Niklas is still doing well and enjoys the snow ! take care,

LIZS }

btw Pretty Candles, my mum enjoys x-country skiing - she's 70 - and isn't fit. She took it up after a few downhill accidents. She tends to stick to very flat loop circuits and only for and hour or so.

So here is what my friend said about cross country skiing -

crosscountry skiing is ok for unfit people. the skating is quite hard work, but if you are a bit fit it should be no problem. you get into it really fast. the first time you get really tired, but already after 3-4 times you feel better. im still a beginner, so my style is not the best which i think cause harder work for me than it actually is do the skating.
the classic type is really no problem. with the classic style you can go really slow (walking), or fast. thats what its good with the classic style beacuse anyone can do it, you just have to be able to walk. I think kids can start with cross country skiing early. for small children maybe its hard with the balance or to understand that they can not lift their feet wuth the skiis. maybe they can just stand on the skiis and we pull

Sounds like it might be feasible for us. I wonder whether it's possible to hire kit for tinies? Must do some Googling!

If it's a matter of trailering them, then dh can tow, and maybe I will have a slightly better chance of keeping up with him then. Not likely - I couldn't keep up with him on the Eiffel Tower!