Cross Country
By Rodney

Hundreds of years ago people used cross country skies to travel and hunt. Today people cross country ski because it is lots of fun and great exercise. In Salt Lake City cross country skiers will compete for gold medals. Cross country skiing is like walking or running on long skies. The skies are long and narrow with front tips that curve up. The ski boots lace up and look like running shoes. Cross country skiers use long ski poles to help them push off. The wax that the skiers use is very important. It goes on the bottom of the skies to help them either slide better on the snow or not slip depending on the condition of the snow. There are many races. The shortest is 5 km long(about 3 miles) and the longest is 50 km long(31 miles). The courses have parts that are flat, parts that go uphill and other parts that go downhill. Men and women race in individual events and as part of a team. Cross country skiing is a sport for any age.

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  This page was last edited December 02, 2005.

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