HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CROSS-COUNTRY SKATING SKIS?

In the cross-country skiing happy family, we'd like skating skis! A variant of cross-country skiing, skating cross-country skiing puts the emphasis on gliding, so you can get a real cardio and muscle-building session in the open air provided you choose your skating cross-country skis well.

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The specificities of a cross-country skating ski

For this discipline, which puts the emphasis on speed, the skis are shorter than classic cross-country skis but also more rounded at the ends. This allows for greater freedom of movement. Indeed, while cross-country skating is practiced on groomed trails, you will not be moving in parallel tracks.

To move forward in cross-country skating, you use the skater's step, a movement that resembles the one made on rollerblades or ice skates. This sliding support on one foot does not require the opposite foot to be immobilised, making anti-backwards systems unnecessary, which skating skis lack. Instead, they have one or two grooves along the length to easily evacuate snow rearward.

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Criteria to consider when choosing your skating cross-country skis

To properly choose your cross-country skating skis and enjoy this sporty and technical glide, it is imperative to have the right equipment, and one that will meet our technical baggage. Once this characteristic is established, we can choose the right size of cross-country skating skis considering the weight and height of the skier but also his physical condition.

In fact, in cross-country skating skiing, you will need to be able to keep your balance during long gliding sequences and to link movements or else you will not be able to move forward. Downtime will be rare, which is why, if you don't do any or very little sport during the year, you'll need cross-country skis that offer you good balance thanks to their width, manoeuvrability with an easily controllable length and less rigidity for easier speed.

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Level: a key factor in choosing skating cross-country skis

To practice cross-country skating skiing, you must first and foremost have equipment that combines good stability with perfect handling, especially if you are a beginner. This is why determining your level is an essential part of choosing your cross-country skating skis:

• Beginner level: it's time to learn with cross-country skating skis that are easy to steer and rather soft to have a good glide. However, you will have to be content with tracks with fresh and not very compact snow, because their evolution on compact or frozen snow will not be optimal. This is why, even if you start out in cross-country skating and intend to practice it often, it is advisable to take skis with technical specifications adapted to the intermediate level so as not to have to change equipment during the season. You can also rent this type of ski for the time it takes to make your first runs before investing in equipment that will follow you for longer period of time.
• Intermediate level: if you regularly practice this discipline, it is advisable to choose skating cross-country skis which will offer you a good pop (impulse and responses of the ski after a push) thanks to a slightly more toned camber than that of beginners. They will allow you to enjoy a good glide on all types of snow and to solicit your support to help you improve your movements more quickly.
• Advanced level: in order to not be hindered in any way when you're on the slopes, you'll need a cross-country skating ski that's light and has a stiff camber to ensure a good pop. At this level, you are also supposed to have gained stability, which is why the tips in this category will be thinner. This means that you will be able to cover a lot of ground while maintaining an intense pace. Note that intermediate skiers looking for a challenge and to improve their technique can also opt for skating cross-country skis meant for this level higher level of practice.

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The stiffness of your cross-country skating skis: an essential point

Cross-country skating skis have a camber that allows you to move forward. It is indeed by pressing down on the ski and therefore the camber that your ski tip will allow you to glide forward. However, unlike classic cross-country skis, your cross-country skating skis should not be completely flat on the snow when you put all your weight on them. Thus, if your ski is too stiff, you will have to exert more effort to progress, and you will tire much faster. On the other hand, if your ski is too soft, you won't benefit from good propulsion, and your skis won't glide as well.

In general, the more a skier progresses in their technique, the more their choice of cross-country skating skis will lean towards stiffer tips. However, weight and height must also be considered to find the most suitable stiffness for your morphology. For example, a skier weighing 75 kg and measuring 1.80 m will require less stiffness than a skier of the same weight but only 1.65 m tall.

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Choosing your cross-country skating skis: size guide

Once the skier's level is determined, all that remains is to know their weight to choose the right cross-country skating skis. Here is a table to help you find the right size of your cross-country skating skis as well as the appropriate stiffness:

Shorter skis will provide greater manoeuvrability, ideal for people who do not regularly exercise and for beginner skiers. Indeed, don't hesitate to choose a skating ski size located in the lower range with medium stiffness to start with cross-country skating skiing. Conversely, an advanced skier can combine strong stiffness and a longer cross-country skating ski length than recommended by the size guide to combine physical performance and optimal speed.

For the skier's height, it is generally recommended to have skating skis at least 10 cm taller than the skier without exceeding 20 cm, as this would make the tips impossible to handle. For the same reason, no cross-country skating skis are more than 195 cm long, as it would be impossible to prevent the skis from overlapping. To compensate for this lack of length, tall skiers will opt for stiffer skis.

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And what about the bindings?

As with any skiing discipline, particular attention must be paid to the binding system chosen for your cross-country skating skis. It is through this that you will transfer your impulse to your tips, which is why it must be perfectly suited to your boots. Moreover, compatible equipment also ensures safe skiing. Here are some guidelines to help you see more clearly:

• NNN standard: this is the most common standard. It will therefore allow you to choose your equipment more freely.
• Prolink standard: developed in 2016 by Salomon, it is compatible with the NNN standard and most boots except the Salomon Pilot.
• SNS standard and SNS Pilot: developed by Salomon, it has an underfoot memory that promotes good balance. Beginners will appreciate its two hooks that greatly improve guiding quality.
• Turnamic standard: thanks to its rotating lever, this binding allows easy stepping in and out even when weather conditions are less than optimal. This standard adapts to all boots except those designed with the SNS standard.

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Waxing for cross-country skating skis at their best

While cross-country skating requires skis with smooth soles, they must still be regularly waxed to guarantee optimal gliding performance. Be careful, we are talking about glide wax and not grip wax! Most of the time, a glide wax has already been applied to your cross-country skating skis, allowing you to put them on immediately. In case of intensive use, weekly waxing may be necessary to maintain smooth soles that offer good glide quality. To know when to wax your skis, the best way is to check the wear of the sole daily and listen to your sensations once on the slopes.

More sporty than classic cross-country skiing, cross-country skating promises you great moments on the slopes. Combining performance and technique in a setting conducive to relaxation, this discipline has become one of the most popular Nordic activities in French ski resorts. So, to fully enjoy this modern cross-country skiing, it is essential to choose your skating cross-country skis with care. The criteria to consider are many; in case of doubt, it is always better to consult a professional for optimal gliding pleasure.