Trip Grades: Cross Country Skiing

our NORDIC 'Off-Track' Ski Touring Grades are available HERE

Beginner

CLASSIC TRACK SKIING

Our beginner cross country ski trips are designed for newcomers, or those who have done just a few days previously. Alpine ski experience can be helpful, but is not essential. Tuition will be pitched at Beginner level and if you feel you are beyond that stage perhaps you should consider an Improver trip. Full instruction is given on the ski techniques for 'classic' style cross country skiing and the equipment. Skiing will take place on prepared tracks skiing in and out of parallel grooves, first on the flat then progressing to more undulating terrain. Instruction will be given on how to control speed and direction including how to initiate a basic 'snowplough' enabling you to control speed when travelling downhill. As beginners develop at different speeds teachers may split the team into smaller group sizes within the ski day to ensure that everyone is improving at their own pace. We will expect you to have a reasonable level of fitness so that you can be active and on skis for approximately 4 hours per day. Anyone with good fitness and who regularly exercises should be able to enjoy this holiday. Be aware that there is a risk of falling while cross-country skiing, particularly when at Beginner level.

SKATE SKIING

Our beginner skate skiing trips are designed for newcomers or those looking to refresh before moving on to more challenging skate ski trips. When starting to skate ski we recommend having some other previous ski experience, but not essential. Full instruction is given on the equipment, on how to develop a 'basic' skate and the different skate travelling techniques. All skiing will take place on prepared flat tracks progressing to slightly undulating terrain. Instruction will be given on how to control speed and direction and how to perform a basic 'snowplough' enabling you to control speed when travelling downhill. We will expect you to have a good level of fitness and balance so that you can be active and on skis over the course of the day for approximately 4 hours. While very active, anyone with average fitness will be able to enjoy this holiday. Please be aware that there is a risk of falling while cross-country skiing, particularly when at Beginner level.

Improver

CLASSIC TRACK SKIING

Designed as a continuation from our ‘Beginner’ classic track ski holidays or for those with at least 3 full days of classic style ski experience with professional instruction. We start with re-visiting the basic travelling techniques, skills to control speed and direction, and how to snowplough to bring your skis to a stop. Expect to ski on a mixture of flat and gently undulating terrain, on prepared trails with parallel grooves. Time will be spent each day practising specific exercises and drills designed to improve your overall 'classic' technique. We will help you develop skills to allow you to confidently travel on a variety of terrain, both uphill and downhill. Each day we aim to do a short journey to give you time to consolidate your technique and skills practised. At all times you can expect a high level of instruction and support to ensure that you make the most of your week and see progress in your technique. The time on skis will be between 4-5 hours covering between 10-15 km (6-9.4 miles) per day, with the possibility for one longer day taken at a relaxed pace of between 15-20 km (9.4-12.5 miles). While very active, anyone who exercises regularly should be able to enjoy this holiday. Be aware there is a risk of falling while cross-country skiing, particularly when developing the skills to tackle more challenging terrain.

SKATE SKIING

Designed as a continuation from our ‘Beginner’ skate ski holidays. We start with re-visiting the 'basic skate' technique, skills to control speed and direction, and how to snowplough to bring your skis to a stop. Expect to skate on a mixture of flat and gently undulating terrain, all on prepared trails. Time will be spent each day practising specific exercises and drills designed to improve your overall basic skate ski technique. We will help you develop the skills to allow you to confidently travel on a variety of terrain, both uphill and downhill learning how to go through the skate ski 'gears', introducing 'skate 2' for flat and rolling terrain and 'skate 1' for hill climbs. Each day we aim to do a short journey to give you time to consolidate your technique and skills practised. At all times you can expect a high level of instruction and support to ensure that you make the most out of your week and see progression. The time on skis will be between 4-5 hours covering between 5-10 km (3.1-6.2 miles) per day, with the possibility for two longer days taken at a relaxed pace of between 10-20 km (6.2-12.4 miles). Please be aware there is a risk of falling while cross-country skiing, particularly when developing the skills to tackle more challenging terrain.

Intermediate

CLASSIC TRACK SKIING

Expect to ski on a mixture of both flat and rolling terrain on prepared cross country ski trails with parallel grooves. You should already be at a level where you are confident about controlling your speed and direction, and have a good ‘snowplough’. You should be able to cope with skiing under control on a variety of terrain both uphill, downhill including some steeper terrain and narrow tracks and be confident about tackling corners while skiing downhill. All of our trips include quality instruction, but for these trips you need to have a good ‘kick and glide’ to be able to travel competently and at a steady pace. You should have a good level of fitness to ensure that you are comfortable with longer days in winter weather, which may include snowfall and cold winds. You should be happy to ski on a variety of snow including perfect fresh tracks, AND tracks less than perfect which may be ‘firm and icy’. On our point-to-point trips you will be expected to carry a small daypack. We do not always use skis with metal edges so it is important that you have good control on descents and while turning. In Norway we normally use ‘waxing’ skis and although you do not need previous experience in this we would expect you to understand the principle and be prepared to follow the guidance of your Instructor. Time on skis will be 5-6 hours per day covering approximately 15-25 km (9.4-15.6 miles) per day with an occasional longer day.

Advanced

CLASSIC TRACK SKIING

These holidays are designed for those who can confidently get on their skis and go. You should already have completed multi-day journeys on cross-country skis and enjoy spending the day travelling from point to point while carrying a small daypack. We would expect you to be able to ski at a steady pace over a variety of terrain and snow conditions, including icy tracks when necessary. As a minimum we expect you to have good control of speed and direction, and have a very effective snowplough. You should be familiar with the colour coding system for cross country ski trails, and be able to assure us you can ski ‘red’ classic tracks with confidence. On any point-to-point journey we can expect to deal with a variety of weather from heavy snowfall to strong winds, and for this reason we expect a degree of self-sufficiency in terms of keeping yourself warm, and dry. It is possible that these tours may encounter sections of 'untracked' snow or old prepared trails, therefore making the distance covered more strenuous. In Norway we normally use ‘waxing’ skis and sometimes 'climbing skins', although you do not need previous experience in this we would expect you to understand the principle and be prepared to follow the guidance of your Instructor. You should be at a very good fitness level and be able to ski approximately 6-7 hours and cover 20–35 km (12.5-21.8 miles) per day.

EXPERT

CLASSIC TRACK SKIING

This is our highest-level 'classic track' cross-country ski holiday. At this grade, expect the same as our 'Advanced' classic track trips plus a little more of everything. This means that distance, height gain, time on skis could be extended due to the terrain and the snow and conditions. The tracks may be perfect or they may not have been ‘groomed’ for several weeks. You should be an experienced and proficient cross-country skier who loves a challenge both physically and mentally. We would expect you to have completed several point-to-point journeys before attempting this trip. You should be able to cope with all kinds of weather, including strong winds, and blizzard conditions, and be self-sufficient in terms of keeping yourself warm, dry, fed and hydrated. You should enjoy being in remote and wild mountain areas. You should be familiar with the colour coding system for cross country ski trails, and be able to assure us you have experience of skiing ‘black’ classic ski tracks. On occasions the ski tracks may not be groomed and you should be prepared to share in 'trail breaking' if necessary. In Norway we normally use ‘waxing’ skis and sometimes 'climbing skins', although you do not need previous experience in this we would expect you to understand the principle and be prepared to follow the guidance of your Instructor. You should be at a high level of fitness and be able to ski for 6-7 hours and cover distances of 25-35 km (15.6-21.8 miles) per day whilst carrying a daypack. These trips can sometimes feature a longer day of up to 40 km (25miles) and up to 8 hrs of skiing. 

NOTE: The Trolls Trail is given 'Expert' due to the length of days and the overnight in a hut, NOT due to the difficulty of skiing.