The Northug brothers side by side at Red Bull Janteloppet

Skiing

Nordic vs. Cross-Country skiing

Whether you’re traipsing up a mountainside on an alpine tour or enjoying a classic cross-country jaunt, you’ll get great exercise amid breathtaking scenery.

By Natalie Hamingson

6 min readPublished on 02/02/2024 · 5:35 PM UTC

Red Bull freeskier Michelle Parker has one aim when it comes to her athletic career. It’s all about feeling fearless when blazing down that hill of powder.

“It’s a goal of mine to feel confident and comfortable in big mountain terrain,” she says.

Michelle Parker airs into the side-country at Jackson Hole, Wyoming
© Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content Pool

If you’re eager to try skiing but aren’t quite ready to tackle the big mountain slopes Parker is used to, you’ve still got options. Nordic and cross-country skiing offer choices for all different levels of skiers. But wait a minute — aren’t Nordic and cross-country the same thing? If you’ve heard these two terms used interchangeably before, you’re not imagining things. Read ahead for a guide to Nordic vs. cross-country skiing that clears things up.

Exploring Nordic skiing

History of Nordic skiing

Nordic skiing was the very first form of skiing — it was initially an ancient form of transportation. Early forms of Nordic skiing date back at least several thousand years, when wooden boards were used to traverse snowy Scandinavian landscapes. Skiing equipment evolved over the centuries to make the trek easier, such as ski poles being introduced in Finland in the early 1500s.

Jakob Lange in Seefeld in Tyrol, Austria on January 23, 2015
© Hans Herbig / Red Bull Content Pool

Skiing started to transform into the winter recreational activity we know today in the 1700s. The first public ski competition was held in Norway in the 1840s. By the 1920s, Nordic skiing had earned a place on the international athletic stage.

Modern Nordic skiing

Today, Nordic skiing encompasses multiple skiing disciplines that involve roaming over mostly even, rolling terrain. This umbrella term is often used in contrast to alpine or downhill skiing, where skiers speed down an incline. You’ve probably also heard the term Nordic skiing used synonymously with cross-country skiing. This isn’t incorrect, but it’s also not the whole story.

Cross-country skiing is one of three main styles of Nordic skiing, which also includes alpine touring and telemark skiing. While cross-country skiing environments are mostly flat, telemark and alpine touring paths are interspersed with up and downhill slopes. Getting it straight can be confusing with these terms, but one thing is true for all Nordic skiing — gorgeous natural scenery is a guarantee.

Exploring cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing lets you set the pace as you hike across a blanket of snow. It’s often thought of as a more leisurely form of skiing, but there’s quite a lot of athleticism involved. Strong stamina is essential, especially in the world of competitive cross-country racing. The title of longest cross-country competition distance on record belongs to the Nordenskioldsloppet race in Sweden at a colossal 220 kilometers.

Petter Northug & Even Northug in the pump tracks at Red Bull Janteloppet
© Daniel Tengs / Red Bull Content Pool

Here are the different styles of cross-country skiing that you can explore, depending on your level of skill and adventure-seeking.

Classic cross-country skiing. If you love to hike, the classic style of cross-country skiing may be for you. It involves exploring groomed trails on classic skiing equipment, using a kick and glide motion to propel forward.
Skate skiing. This form of cross-country skiing is similar to ice skating, where you move ahead in a side-to-side style motion. Skate skiing usually happens off-piste or on backcountry terrain outside groomed tracks.
Light touring. When you want to venture off the beaten path, light touring takes you through natural terrain. Since the environment can be unpredictable, light touring ski equipment is made to be extra sturdy with metal edges.
Backcountry touring. This style is essentially a more daring version of light touring. You’ll head off-trail to survey rugged, often more challenging environments.

Understanding the difference between Nordic and cross-country skiing

Although all cross-country skiing is Nordic skiing, not all Nordic skiing is cross-country. Both Nordic and cross-country skiing, though, are overarching terms that encompass multiple disciplines that require using your own muscles to move forward. Each discipline within both categories requires its own unique technique and equipment for traveling through the frozen countryside, whether on or off-trail.

Red Bull Janteloppet at Mosetertoppen, Norway on April 13, 2019
© Olav Stubberud / Red Bull Content Pool

Benefits of Nordic skiing

Advantages of telemark skiing

Named after the Telemark region in Norway, this style of skiing is a cross-country and alpine skiing hybrid. You can traipse across flat ground and climb up or down steep inclines all with the same specially designed equipment. You’ll wear something similar to alpine skis but with more heel flexibility. Telemark boots also have a reputation for being super comfortable even when you don’t have your skis on.

The big trademark of this style is the telemark turn. It’s a method for getting downhill with your heels lifted, where you get into a curtsy-like or semi-squatting position. In competitive telemark racing, you get to watch the experts show off the telemark turn as they navigate a series of jumps and gates.

Even if you don’t go pro, telemark skiing can open you up to a whole new community, as telemark skiers are known to be social. After all, no one else truly knows that free feeling once you’ve mastered the telemark turn. You also couldn’t ask for a better leg workout.

Advantages of alpine touring

Alpine touring and telemark skiing are close relatives, especially in terms of the terrain. In alpine touring, though, there’s no telemark turn, and your ski bindings have two settings. Alpine tour bindings ensure your heel is free on the uphill climb but secure when it’s time to fly downhill.

If you’re not ready to try the telemark turn, alpine touring can be a great introduction to Nordic skiing with inclines. You’ll still get to enjoy all the great health benefits, both physical and mental. Alpine touring is great for muscle strengthening and improving cardiovascular health. Plus, the combination of those endorphins with all that time in the great outdoors is a great way to relieve stress.

Advantages of cross-country skiing

You don’t need an uphill climb if you want a solid Nordic skiing workout — cross-country skiing still gives you a great cardio boost. Some experts even call it the best form of cardio known to exist. Professional cross-country skiers often have incredibly high VO2 levels (maximum oxygen consumption levels).

Petter and Even Northug at Red Bull Janteloppet 2021 at Norway
© Daniel Tengs / Red Bull Content Pool

You don’t need to be a pro to enjoy the benefits of cross-country skiing, though. It’s a first-class full-body workout that burns tons of calories while being low-impact on your joints, and it's great for beginners. If you’ve never been skiing but want to improve your performance on another high-cardio activity, this ski style makes for great cross-training. You’ll build strength, improve your balance, and enjoy a refreshing day surrounded by the best winter scenery.