How to Choose Cross-Country Skis

Newcomers to the sport of cross-country skiing are almost always surprised to learn about the myriad of ways that the sport has grown and evolved over the centuries. Because of that growth, there are numerous styles of cross-country skiing that range from simply gliding along a snowy surface to almost skating down a path at top speeds to going hundreds of miles on a set of skis. The common denominator between the interpretations, though, is the skis. Everything starts with a pair of proper fitting skis.

Things You'll Need

  • Money
  • Tape measure
  • Piece of paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Break out the tape measure and find out how tall you are. Make sure to get an exact measurement because that will be important when finding the right set. Skis are first selected based on a chart system that starts with height and then factors in age, gender and skill level. This will get you the right length of ski.

    • 2

      Know where you plan to ski because that will affect the width of the ski. A skinnier ski is better for areas you plan to speed through. A wider ski is best for areas that require a lot of turning.

    • 3

      Put the skis on while standing on an even surface such as cement. Have someone try to slide a piece of paper under the skis. This tests to see if you are too heavy for the ski. If the paper gets stuck, then go with a different set of skis.

    • 4

      Decide on whether to use pre-waxed or unwaxed skis. Pre-waxed cross-country skis don't glide as easily, which means less speed. The upside is it saves the user from constantly having to wax the skis. The wax-your-own style allows for more speed. But the challenge is waxing, which sometimes must be done in the middle of a trip.