How to Choose Cross-Country Skis for a Beginner

Cross-country skiing, also known as nordic skiing, involves walking through the ice and snow with specialty skis attached to your feet. Beginners to this field might find it difficult the first time they buy equipment because it's so different from shopping for traditional skis. You need to take your time before you choose cross-country skis for beginners.

Things You'll Need

  • Ski shop
  • Ski shop employees
  • Range of skis
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Instructions

    • 1

      Visit a specialty ski shop and look at the different cross-country skis. Look at skis specifically meant not only for cross-country skiing but your gender as well. The center of gravity for men is different from that for women. Cross-country skis made for women are more lightweight and flexible than those created for men to better suit a female's center of gravity.

    • 2

      Talk with the staff at the ski shop and get recommendations. At a shop you also have the chance to try on different skis and feel how each pair fits your body.

    • 3

      Decide whether you need touring or backcountry skis, skate skis, or traditional cross-country track skis. Backcountry skis are meant for use in areas with a lot of debris and a lack of trails. The skis have metal pieces along the front and edges, which let you blaze through areas without any trails. Skate and track skis are meant for use on ski paths and trails, with skate skiers using wide trails and driving each ski against the snow at an angle like an ice skater and track skiers skiing in a pair of grooves cut into the trail.

    • 4

      Pick a length based on your body height. In general, you want skis that feel comfortable for your height. Longer skis are better suited for taller people and shorter skis for shorter people. Shorter skis are often more lightweight and flexible than longer skis, which is better for those who need these features.

    • 5

      Determine the width of cross-country skis that you need. Wider skis offer more stability but are often slower and harder to move with than thinner skis. Those who need more stability when walking across the snow should look for skis that are wider. Keep in mind that your skis need to fit in the width of a track if you are planning on using traditional cross-country skis on groomed trails.