What drives a person to Nordic skiing is, I guess personal.  I could tell you that cross-country skiing provides a thorough workout including the abdominal, arm, and leg muscles.  I could point out that an elite skier burns up to 1,200 calories per hour.  I could show you the stunning beauty of the winter outdoors with photographs.  I could describe to you in graphic detail the thrill of flying along trails.  But there is one primary reason why I ski--I love it. 

Years ago, when I was a teenager, I moved into a town located in a snowbelt.  Snow depths in this town (Houghton, Michigan) could reach four to five feet by February.  One winter day, I tried snowshoeing.  While out I was passed by a couple of Nordic skiers.  They flew by me.  When I saw that, I knew I had to try skiing.  That winter I purchased a pair of  Finnish birch skis and started skiing. 

In those days, skate skis and no-wax did not exist.   Therefore, I was forced to learn how to wax.  My first day was a disaster, I had waxed my skis with a red kick wax (a wax for warmer temperatures) on a green (cold wax) day.  As a result, snow caked-up under my skis at least a foot thick.  I never did achieve much of a glide on the first day, instead my skis were like snowshoes.  But I remembered watching those two Nordic skiers gliding through the woods and was determined to learn.  That day I went to a local sporting goods store and bought a book on cross country skiing.  From there I learned how to ski and wax. 

After a few trips and experiences I had the art of waxing pretty well mastered and was beginning to enjoy skiing.  Within two years, I was racing.

I have never been snowshoeing since the time I first tried Nordic skiing.

Over the years I have learned how to skate ski and downhill ski.  Despite the years, I still love the sport as much as I did during my first year of skiing.  If possible I would ski about everyday of the year. 

Unlike my experience, a novice skier today has the option of going to a ski area and taking lessons using rented equipment.   I strongly recommend lessons to any beginning skier.  After an hour or two, you should have the basics down.  Also, rented equipment will either be waxed for you or will be no-wax skis thereby eliminating that problem at the start.

It is simply fun to glide along a trail during the middle of winter through snow covered country.

  Leave the couch and remote control and head for the ski trails.   Enjoy the winter with others.