 |
Cross-Country Skiing
|
 |
|
Cross-Country Skiing (aka “XC skiing”)
...an Olympic event where athletes propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles. Its definitely one of the more difficult endurance sports, as it causes skiers to use every major muscle group. XC skiing events at the Olympics have long been a showcase for the world’s fastest skiers, with several different challenges for athletes to test their skills in these events:
- Individual Start
- Mass Start
- Pursuit
- Individual Sprint (classical)
- Team Sprint (freestyle)
- Relay
Loading
|
|
|
|
| Overall Equipment characteristics:
Obviously skis and poles, though the characteristics vary according to technique. Typically, the skis are two meters in length, and for cross-country, they’re very light and narrow, and usually have a slight sidecut. Poles are typically longer than the ones used for, say, alpine skiing, with the length and even the basket styles at the bottom varying depending on the challenge and technique.
|
 |
|
Skier's challenges
XC skiing at the Olympics consists of 12 total challenges, 6 by men and 6 by women, which require athletes to use the two styles, classical and freestyle.
The challenges are as follows:
- Individual Start - Simply put, skiers race one at a time, and whoever has the best time wins.
- Mass Start - Skiers are put into groups with 1.5 meters between them. It starts using the classical style for the first 100-200 meters, then switch to the freestyle for the remainder of the race.
- Pursuit - The winner from the first race starts, followed by the other skiers in the order they finished.
- Individual Sprint (classical) - Single racers try to make the fastest time using the classical technique, which involves more traditional movements and even double-poling.
- Team Sprint (freestyle) - A team of racers tries to make the fastest time, this time using the freestyle technique, where racers use movements similar to ice skating, with the skis placed at an angle so they don’t hit each other.
- Relay - Just like at a regular relay race, teams of four race along a course with racers taking over for one another along the way. Two members use the classical technique, the other two use the freestyle technique.
|
|
What the judges look for: (overall)
Judges look to see if athletes are using the proper technique for the particular event, for example:
- In the relay, athletes must change hands at the proper time and moment, and not interfere with the opposing team
- There are rules for when and how to pass another skier
- When to use which skating technique (classic or freestyle)
- Rules for replacing equipment during the race, etc.
More... Cross-Country Skiing is one of the disciplines that make up the Biathlon event (with Rifle Shooting) and the Nordic Combined (with Ski Jumping).
CHART BELOW: We're in the process of adding these "newbie how-to briefs" to our Sports Know-How category. If the titles are shining brightly in white text, they're ready for you to click on! Keep checking back to see what's been added. ^.^
|
|
|
If you are going to try cross-country skiing ,
start with a small country. ^.~
|
|
Copyright 2011
|
|
