Nordic skiing encompasses the various types of
skiing in which the toe of the
ski boot is fixed to the
binding in a manner that allows the heel to rise off the
ski,[1] unlike
alpine skiing, where the boot is attached to the ski from toe to heel. Recreational disciplines include
cross-country skiing and
Telemark skiing.
The biomechanics of competitive cross-country skiing and ski jumping have been the subject of serious study. Cross-country skiing requires strength and endurance and ski jumping requires aerodynamic efficiency, both of which requirements translate into specific skills[5]
to be optimized in training and competition.[6]
Recreational skiing began with organized skiing exercises and races of the Norwegian and Swedish infantries. Military races and exercises included downhill in rough terrain, target practice while skiing downhill, and 3 km cross-country skiing with full military backpack.[7] Slalom (Norwegian: slalåm) is a word of Norwegian origin that has entered the international skiing vocabulary. In the 1800s skiers in
Telemark challenged each other on "wild slopes" (ville låmir), more gentle slopes had the adjective "sla". Some races were on "bumpy courses" (kneikelåm) and sometimes included "steep jumps" (sprøytehopp) for difficulty. These 19th century races in Telemark ran along particularly difficult trails usually from a steep mountain, along timber-slides and ended with a sharp turn ("Telemark turn") on a field or icy lake.[8]
Venues
Noted Nordic skiing resorts around the world include the following:[9]
North America
Maple Leaf Trail, a 128-kilometer trail system between Ste. Agathe and Shawbridge in the Canadian
Laurentian Mountains[10]
Ammassalik Island is an island in East Greenland that offers opportunities for guided back-country ski-touring.[9]
Europe
The Peer Gynt Trail in Norway extends 82 kilometres (51 mi) via the
Jotunheimen,
Rondane and
Dovrefjell national parks, a journey of about seven days with hostels along the way.[13][9]
The Ylläs Ski Resort in Finland provides 330 kilometres (210 mi) of trails, 38 kilometres (38 km) of which are illuminated.[9]
Mattila holiday village in
Finnskogen northwest of
Torsby in
Värmland provides up to 170 kilometres (110 mi) of trails. Some trails extend all the way into
Norway.[14][15]
^"Rules for the Organization of FIS World Championships"(PDF). fis-ski.com. International Ski Federation. 2015. Archived from
the original(PDF) on 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2016-11-08. The FIS World Championships in the Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard events are organised every uneven year.