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Nordic Skiing: Clubs, Teams, Snow Sports And Winter Olympics
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Published: June 3, 2007
Most athletically savvy individuals could describe alpine skiing, snowboarding, and cross country skiing if asked. But what exactly is Nordic skiing? The Nordic Track Ski Machine, a popular home fitness apparatus that targets the muscles used for cross country skiing, is one clue. There's more, though. Wikipedia defines Nordic skiing as "encompassing all categories of snow sports where the heel of the boot must remain unattached from the ski."
In addition to cross country skiing, Nordic skiing includes telemarking, ski jumping, Nordic combined and biathalon.
Telemarking is also known as free heel skiing, since the boots connect to the skis only at the toes. This version of downhill skiing is named for the Telemark turn—a Nordic skiing technique that calls for the outside ski to lead and hold 50% to 80% of the athlete's body weight.
Biathlons integrate two disciplines into one sporting event. The most common winter biathlon involves cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Nordic combined athletes perform both cross-country skiing and ski jumping in the same event. Nordic skiing combined, unlike biathlon and Telemark skiing, is included in the Winter Olympics event lineup.
The United States Nordic ski team has only won one cross-country medal in the Winter Olympics—Bill Kock's silver in 1976. Norway, Russia, and Italy have been recent Nordic skiing champions. The U.S. Ski Team competes in Nordic skiing events at other venues such as the USSA Super Tour, World Cup, U.S. Cross Country Championships, and Continental Cup.
Many universities have made good use of local snow by developing a Nordic ski team. Yale University, University of Wyoming, St. Olaf College, and Alaska Pacific University are a few names to mention. Some communities are gathering students of an even younger age to compete in this strenuous sport. The Coon Rapids high school's Nordic skiing team, the Cardinals, is one of many contenders.
Nordic skiing is a physically and socially invigorating workout for ambitious athletes and ordinary people alike. Attending a Nordic skiing clinic, like Wolf Creek's free early season cross country clinic, is a great way to launch into the sport. Joining a Nordic ski club enables amateurs to meet ski partners, earn discounts, and find out the best places to ski and lodge. To find a Nordic ski club in any state, check out Cross-countryski.com or Skijumpingusa.com. There are over three hundred and fifty cross-country ski centers in the USA and Canada, making this an optimal vacation for fuel-conscious families and individuals. The economic advantages don't stop there. According to XC Skiing Information Center, a day trip costs just $47 for rental equipment, a lesson, and pass fees.
Not only is Nordic skiing financially affordable, but the total body benefits of cross-country skiing are overwhelming. Imagine burning 800 calories an hour, moving at a moderate pace! Not one muscle group goes un-exercised in this sport; and the movements are natural and non-jarring, making it user friendly to athletes with poor joints or other injuries. Even elderly adults can enjoy a cross-country ski workout.
The Vikings were pretty clever when they developed Nordic skiing as a mode of transport. Lucky for us, the sport picked up popularity in the late 1800s and came into world renown when introduced in the 1924 Winter Olympics. Of all the snow sports, Nordic skiing encompasses the widest variety of disciplines. Whether it's following the popular trails of a cross-country route, learning the technique of Telemark skiing or jumping through the air to land on powder, there is truly something for everyone.
Sources:
About XC Skiing: Getting Started. XC Skiing Information Center. 2003. Cross Country Ski Areas Association. 28 May 2007. http://www.xcski.org/about_xc_skiing/about_getting _started.shtml.
“Biathlon.” Wikipedia. 19 April 2007. 2 June 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biathlon.
Coon Rapids High School Nordic Ski Team: Cardinals. 28 May 2007. http://www.coonrapidsnordicski.org.
Cross-Country Ski Clubs. Cross-Country Skiing Online. 2000-2007. 28 May 2007. http://www.cross-countryski.com/clubs.html.
Cross Country Skiing. Wolf Creek. 28 May 2007. http://www.wolfcreekski.com/xc.asp.
Gettings, John and Christine Frantz. "Winter Olympics: Cross-Country Skiing." Infoplease. 2000-2007. Pearson Education. 28 May 2007. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/winter-olympics-cro ss-country-ski.html.
Major Events. U.S. Ski Team. 2007. U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. 28 May 2007. http://www.usskiteam.com/public/events_main.php.Men's Nordic Skiing. St. Olaf College. 2003-2007. 28 May 2007. http://www.stolaf.edu/athletics/nordski.
Regional Ski Jumping Clubs and Websites. SkiJumpingUSA. 1999-2007. 28 May 2007. http://www.skijumpingusa.com.
“Telemark Skiing.” Wikipedia. 14 May 2007. 28 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telemark_skiing.
University of Wyoming Nordic Skiing. University of Wyoming. 2 April 2007. 28 May 2007. http://www.uwyo.edu/ski.
Yale Nordic Ski Team. Yale University. 28 May 2007. http://www.yale.edu/nordicski.
"Nordic Skiing." Wikipedia. 19 March 2007. 28 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_skiing.
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Telemarking is also known as free heel skiing, since the boots connect to the skis only at the toes. This version of downhill skiing is named for the Telemark turn—a Nordic skiing technique that calls for the outside ski to lead and hold 50% to 80% of the athlete's body weight.
Biathlons integrate two disciplines into one sporting event. The most common winter biathlon involves cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Nordic combined athletes perform both cross-country skiing and ski jumping in the same event. Nordic skiing combined, unlike biathlon and Telemark skiing, is included in the Winter Olympics event lineup.
The United States Nordic ski team has only won one cross-country medal in the Winter Olympics—Bill Kock's silver in 1976. Norway, Russia, and Italy have been recent Nordic skiing champions. The U.S. Ski Team competes in Nordic skiing events at other venues such as the USSA Super Tour, World Cup, U.S. Cross Country Championships, and Continental Cup.
Many universities have made good use of local snow by developing a Nordic ski team. Yale University, University of Wyoming, St. Olaf College, and Alaska Pacific University are a few names to mention. Some communities are gathering students of an even younger age to compete in this strenuous sport. The Coon Rapids high school's Nordic skiing team, the Cardinals, is one of many contenders.
Nordic skiing is a physically and socially invigorating workout for ambitious athletes and ordinary people alike. Attending a Nordic skiing clinic, like Wolf Creek's free early season cross country clinic, is a great way to launch into the sport. Joining a Nordic ski club enables amateurs to meet ski partners, earn discounts, and find out the best places to ski and lodge. To find a Nordic ski club in any state, check out Cross-countryski.com or Skijumpingusa.com. There are over three hundred and fifty cross-country ski centers in the USA and Canada, making this an optimal vacation for fuel-conscious families and individuals. The economic advantages don't stop there. According to XC Skiing Information Center, a day trip costs just $47 for rental equipment, a lesson, and pass fees.
Not only is Nordic skiing financially affordable, but the total body benefits of cross-country skiing are overwhelming. Imagine burning 800 calories an hour, moving at a moderate pace! Not one muscle group goes un-exercised in this sport; and the movements are natural and non-jarring, making it user friendly to athletes with poor joints or other injuries. Even elderly adults can enjoy a cross-country ski workout.
The Vikings were pretty clever when they developed Nordic skiing as a mode of transport. Lucky for us, the sport picked up popularity in the late 1800s and came into world renown when introduced in the 1924 Winter Olympics. Of all the snow sports, Nordic skiing encompasses the widest variety of disciplines. Whether it's following the popular trails of a cross-country route, learning the technique of Telemark skiing or jumping through the air to land on powder, there is truly something for everyone.
Sources:
About XC Skiing: Getting Started. XC Skiing Information Center. 2003. Cross Country Ski Areas Association. 28 May 2007. http://www.xcski.org/about_xc_skiing/about_getting _started.shtml.
“Biathlon.” Wikipedia. 19 April 2007. 2 June 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biathlon.
Coon Rapids High School Nordic Ski Team: Cardinals. 28 May 2007. http://www.coonrapidsnordicski.org.
Cross-Country Ski Clubs. Cross-Country Skiing Online. 2000-2007. 28 May 2007. http://www.cross-countryski.com/clubs.html.
Cross Country Skiing. Wolf Creek. 28 May 2007. http://www.wolfcreekski.com/xc.asp.
Gettings, John and Christine Frantz. "Winter Olympics: Cross-Country Skiing." Infoplease. 2000-2007. Pearson Education. 28 May 2007. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/winter-olympics-cro ss-country-ski.html.
Major Events. U.S. Ski Team. 2007. U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. 28 May 2007. http://www.usskiteam.com/public/events_main.php.Men's Nordic Skiing. St. Olaf College. 2003-2007. 28 May 2007. http://www.stolaf.edu/athletics/nordski.
Regional Ski Jumping Clubs and Websites. SkiJumpingUSA. 1999-2007. 28 May 2007. http://www.skijumpingusa.com.
“Telemark Skiing.” Wikipedia. 14 May 2007. 28 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telemark_skiing.
University of Wyoming Nordic Skiing. University of Wyoming. 2 April 2007. 28 May 2007. http://www.uwyo.edu/ski.
Yale Nordic Ski Team. Yale University. 28 May 2007. http://www.yale.edu/nordicski.
"Nordic Skiing." Wikipedia. 19 March 2007. 28 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_skiing.
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