Cross-country skiing combines fun and sport
The chill of the air nips at my nose, and for a split second I question whether I’ve worn enough layers to keep me warm. Finding my rhythm, I begin to gaze up at the trees, admiring the soft glinting of the snow as the sun graces the tips of each branch. The forest around me is completely silent aside from the swish, swish, swish of my rented cross country skis. With each glide forward I can feel the warmth of my core spreading to my limbs and am grateful when I finally feel it reach the tips of my fingers.
Up ahead I catch a glimpse of my husband and our friend as they speed up a gradual slope, chatting and laughing as they go. A novice to the sport, I focus on my skis, doing my best to keep them straight and in their tracks. Having never cross-country skied before, I struggle to find my rhythm between strides, poles and breath. My off-kilter rhythm aside, I take long deep breaths of the crisp winter air and let any thoughts other than my motion melt away.
This is a sensation known well by Lisa Sunderman, director of Spokane Nordic Ski School and former president of the Spokane Nordic Ski Association board. For over 20 years Sunderman has called the trails of the Mt. Spokane Nordic Ski Park home. Beginning as a way to get outdoors as a family, cross-country skiing quickly developed into a lifelong passion and escape during the long winter months.
Sunderman describes cross country skiing as “an escape from the rest of the world. The only time when I can think about nothing — It can be meditative. It fills your soul.”
Despite breathing heavily as I near the top of the slope, catching up to the others, I can see what she means. While cross-country skiing can be a lively, social engagement as depicted by my companions, it can also serve as a means to connect back to yourself and nature. As we continue moving forward I do my best to channel my best yoga breath. Finding peace in each inhale and exhale, I watch as the steam rises toward the sky in front of me.
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I have yet to earn my snow legs, which makes this inner peace a bit harder to find. But for those as experienced as Sunderman, it’s easy to slip into the comfortable and familiar stride. For her, the most peaceful time comes when most are back at home. She prefers waking early to catch the sunrise or head out at sunset to take in the view of the city lights and night sky.
“It’s incredibly peaceful to be out skiing at night,” she says. “Some may find it a bit eerie, but to be alone out on the mountain — with the city lights below and the stars above lighting up the snow around you — is like magic.”
For those of us new to the sport, the magic doesn’t come instantly. Like most sports, it takes time and practice to feel at ease in your movements. Each time I shift my focus away from my path, looking for birds or deer in the surrounding woods, I catch a slight edge and am jolted back to reality. As an avid hiker and snowshoer, I’m not foreign to earning your views through a bit of hard work, but the long skis require more focus on my footwork than I’m used to.
We break for water and a snack and beyond the chatter and regaling of the trip thus far, I am once again astounded by the quiet around us. The snow insulates us from the typical sounds of branches breaking, the breeze winding through the trees, and echoes off the surrounding hillsides. When we stop, the sounds of our skis no longer break the stillness, and that feeling of peace and connectedness begins to take hold until our movement once again breaks it.
The guys move on, making way down our first downhill slope. Having experience, they make the gradual slope look like a break more than sport, riding out the descent much like children on a slide. As I approach the crest, the mere molehill suddenly seeming more like the first drop of a rollercoaster rather than the gentle slide I had witnessed just seconds before, my stomach sinks a little.
I hear their encouraging words and try to remember the pizza vs. french fry article I Googled the day prior and my husband’s advice on how to control my speed. Suddenly wishing I had taken up skiing in high school rather than snowboarding, I give myself a slight push, assume the universal athletic stance, and hope for the best.
Gaining speed, or what I would qualify as speed, I attempt the pizza maneuver to slow myself. In theory it seemed simple enough, but in practice the tips of my skis crossed and the remainder of my descent was spent on the ground with my eyes closed. I could hear the sound of laughter just up ahead. Dusting off the snow with little injury other than a bruised shin and ego, I give myself a pep talk and carry on.
The remainder of our journey is largely uneventful. I ask question after question about what I can do differently, but each answer circles around to more practice and more patience. A lesson we can probably all apply to many aspects or hobbies in our lives. We laugh off our falls or small failures and fill with pride at a day well spent with good friends, exercise and time in the great outdoors.
It is this camaraderie and communal love of sport Sunderman most enjoys sharing with others. She found early on cross-country skiing has a way of connecting people and forging friendships.
“It’s a great way to catch up with friends or just enjoy being outside together,” she said. “You can’t beat a good ski with friends.”
I may be a novice, but I couldn’t agree more.
GIVE IT A TRY
Get outside this winter, stay active and spend time with friends, family or Mother Nature while trying something new. Sunderman recommends cross-country skiing for people of all ages and abilities. Be prepared before you go with some of her favorite tips for new skiers:
» Rent some good skis: Ski equipment isn’t known for its comfort, so getting quality gear with the right fit will help.
» Take a lesson: Taking a lesson or two will help get you off on the right foot and hone important skills you’ll need on the trail.
» Go with friends: Trying new things as a group helps to keep the mood light and provides plenty of support.
» Dress appropriately: It’s easy to overdress for cross country skiing. Wear light layers (similar to what you’d wear to run outside when it’s chilly) because you will generate a good amount of body heat. Moisture wicking layers, light gloves, a hat or headband, and a light jacket should be enough. N
By Andrea Nagel
Photography By Chris Celentano