Ski in Norway is like soccer in Brazil. It looks like every Norwegian baby is born with skis on their feet.
There are two different types of skiing: cross-country and downhill.
Downhill is probably the most famous. You take a lift up to a steep mountain. You leave the lift once you are up there and you ski all the way down. You need a helmet, glasses, wider skis, thicker pants and jacket. All you have to do is to manage speed and swings on your way down. In case you fall, you can get seriously injured like the famous formula 1 racer Schumacher and my dear niece who broke her leg in two places, when she was seven years old.
That’s why I prefer the other type.
Cross-country skiing, or langrenn (in Norwegian) is when people go skiing over terrains covered by snow. It’s different from downhill because you use only your body to move up (there’s no lifts or machines to help), and the speed is not so high. There’s groomed trail you follow up and down some hills. It’s amazing. All that snow, the contact with nature… It’s so peaceful.
That’s why I decided to write this post. To help you new beginner immigrant avoid making the same mistakes and enjoying the fun. It is so much fun.
If you are one of those who say that Norwegians don’t smile and greet, it’s because you’ve never met them while skiing.
If you are a foreigner who’s never gone skiing, it’s not too late. I love skiing and I began as an adult when I moved to Norway. It may not be easy but you can have a lot of fun. So, if you want to give it a try, here are my tips.
If you’re going skiing for the very first time, keep in mind that it requires balance. If you have gone surfing, skating or at least practiced yoga, you’ll probably make it. Cross-country skiing is such a great exercise for the whole body as you use practically all your muscles.
I still remember my first time. It was super scary and embarrassing. You can read about it here.
You don’t need to buy ski equipment yet. In Norway there are places you can borrow all kinds of sports equipment. There are many kinds of skis and poles. It’s wise to test some kinds before you know which ones are best for you. At https://www.bua.io/ you can find your kommune and how to borrow. For cross country skiing we don’t need helmet nor glasses.
Find an instructor. Admit you’re a new beginner and take ski lessons, or find a good friend to teach you some techniques. In Sirdal, Oslo, Voss, Geilo, for example, there are ski lessons in the Winter season.
The moves.
Here are the basic moves for cross-country skiing:
- Straight forward. You should slide the skis forward, one after the other. The movement is together with your body. Opposite arm goes forward with the pole. Right arm forward with left foot. Then the opposite. Think of your nose pointing to the ski that is moving forward. Lean your body slightly forward.
- Up hill. If the snow is fluffy, you can ski with your skis in parallel, just go straight forward. If it’s too slippery, then you have to shape your skis in a V, your toes far from the other foot. Heels near each other. You should press the skis in this position each step on the way up. It’s called fish legs (fiskeben). Head and body facing forward.
- Down hill. You make the V again. This time, toes together, heels apart. This way you can control the descent. In case you want to follow the track and go parallel, just do it. Relax your knees, one foot slightly in front. Relax, the track will lead you. Just have your body more laid back.
You can also watch my videos (check my Youtube channel and Instagram).
Food to bring. Specially if you have children with you, it’s imperative to carry some refill. Be prepared to take a few breaks. Kids get extra motivated if they get goodies. Cocoa, tangerines and chocolate are the Norwegians’ favorites.
Watch the others doing it. The way locals slide, hold the poles, keep balance can help us improve our skiing techniques.
Learn how to fall. A dear friend, Anita, who has learned how to ski as an adult, told me this:
-In case you are skiing down a hill and feel like you don’t have control, sit down on your butt. It works every time for me.
My fall. Of course, no type of skiing is 100% fall safe. It depends on the snow and weather conditions. Even an experienced skier like my husband can fall sometimes. I had a bad fall four years ago. I was learning to ski and I had no idea how to slow the speed as I was following the track. The thing is: I was on the wrong side (ski tracks follow the right hand, just like driving) , skiing down, at the same moment, another woman was skiing down in my direction. Two hills coming down like a V. We were both coming down towards each other. As a new beginner, I expect all the others to be better and more experienced than me. They usually left the track so that I could humbly pass. It didn’t happen this time. She couldn’t stop, I couldn’t stop. What to do? I threw myself to the side. I fell down in the snow. I twisted my right knee as I landed in the snow. I saw my glasses two meters ahead. So scary. So embarrassing. She came to see if I was alright. I apologized. She apologized. I learned the lesson.
1.Never ski on the opposite track.
2. If you can’t brake with your skis and stop before the crash, nor leave the track in high speed, sit down on the snow. This way, you’ll be able to reduce the speed and eventually stop. It hadn’t occurred to me before, to just sit down because I didn’t know if it was allowed to spoil the track. Silly thought. Life comes first.
Keep your expectations low, the most important is to have fun. If you aim to be a professional skier and you start in your thirties or forties, you can get disappointed. After a scary fall, I realized I needed to adjust my expectations to the reality. I do what I can and I have a lot of fun. If I take baby steps, I go further on my own pace. Last week I broke my record: 8 kilometers. I mean you have to feel it for yourself. Know your limits and how much you can push that day. As a beginner, if the conditions are not so good, like the snow is hard or icy, I was happy to stay at home with a good book and bake cinnamon rolls or waffles.
What I don’t do: ski up hill when it’s too steep, narrow and uneven. It’s a no go for me.
Good luck. I’d love to read your ski story here in comments. Check my Instagram for more pictures and videos.
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Very interesting