Fedor Tikhonov, journalist and master of sports in cross-country skiing, talks about all the subtleties and nuances that you should pay attention to when choosing the perfect pair of cross-country skis.

Cross-country skiing is not only the perfect way to spend a weekend, but also a powerful cardio workout that involves absolutely every muscle group. In just one hour of skiing you will burn whole 700 calories(for comparison, you will only burn 540 calories in an hour of running). And in order for skating to be a pleasure, it is important to choose the right equipment - this is what we will tell you about now.

There are two types of skis: for skating and classic skiing. In sections, children are usually taught the classic move first - the skis are pointed straight forward when moving, the main emphasis is on the arms, so the load on the legs is minimal. It is still easier for an amateur to start with skating, which requires the participation of not only the arms, but also the legs. With this move, the skier pushes off the track with his foot at an angle to the direction of movement, which from the outside resembles skating.

Skis also differ from each other depending on their quality and purpose - there are top models, there are a little simpler ones, and there are models that, in principle, are intended exclusively for tourism. The difference is primarily in materials, weight, performance and external characteristics. Meanwhile, the quality of gliding and the number of calories burned largely depend on these indicators. But here, of course, it is important to realize that if the last time you skied was at school, then when choosing a top model, you are unlikely to go faster than if you preferred a simpler option.

Ski size

So, you came to the store, and the first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing cross-country skis is the size. The correct length of skate skis is calculated according to the principle: your height plus 10-15 centimeters, classic skis - your height plus 20-30 centimeters. However, keep in mind that the longer the skis (even within the specified ranges), the more technical skills you will need when skiing. People with a height of 190 centimeters and above can safely take the maximum sizes: for skate skis it is approximately 190 centimeters, and for classic skis - 207-210 centimeters.

Ski stiffness

The second most important indicator is rigidity. To determine it, there is special equipment - a flextester. But since it is not available in all stores, you can get by in these two ways:

1. Carefully place the skis with the sliding surface against each other and squeeze them with one hand in the center (under the block). If you have enough wrist strength to squeeze them almost until the sliding surfaces touch (almost - this is with a gap of 1.5 millimeters for classic skis and 2 millimeters for skate skis), then these skis are ideal for you (it is believed that the strength of the wrist is proportional to foot pushing force). In this case, the skis should compress smoothly throughout the entire compression stroke and all the way at the end. It is worth noting that this method is only suitable for classic skis, and to determine the stiffness of a pair of skates, you need to squeeze them with both hands so that the gap between the skis does not exceed 2-4 millimeters. Happened? So they are suitable.
2. Place the skis symmetrically on the floor (for example, on a thin, hard carpet, so as not to damage their surface) and stand on them (you can wear regular shoes), evenly distributing your body weight on both feet. In this position, the last should not come into contact with the floor from three centimeters below the heel of the boot and up to 20 centimeters above the toe of the boot. If you pass a sheet of paper under the block, then it is within these limits that the sheet will move freely under you, and above and below the indicated boundaries, on the contrary, it will get stuck. If you transfer your body weight to one leg (this is called “crushing the ski”), then the block should almost completely touch the floor (there will be a gap of about 0.5 millimeters).

Ski poles

With how to choose ski poles, everything is much simpler - they are also divided into top, medium and low models and have different gradations of quality. The more expensive and professional the stick, the lighter and stronger it is. But despite its strength and lack of vibration when repelled, it can easily be broken by a blow from a sharp object. This often happens in races when a sideways and often accidental ski strike actually cuts off a piece of the pole. However, cheap amateur poles can be broken by any professional simply by pushing hard at the start. The size of skating poles is selected as follows: your height minus 20 centimeters for skating skis and your height minus 30 centimeters for classic skis. At the same time, the size of the poles may vary slightly depending on your readiness - for example, professionals such as Petter Northug often choose the highest possible images (within reasonable limits, of course).

I don’t know about you, but here in Siberia, skiing is a fairly popular sport. After all, you can ride from early November to mid-April. On a warm winter day, there are many skiers in the forest at the bases, whole families meet here, even the soul rejoices.

Just before the season, there will be a traditional increase in prices for winter equipment in sports stores, so you can take care of buying cross-country skis now.
If you're new to skiing, these tips will help you choose the best cross-country skis and avoid disappointment.

Skis for the amateur

If you are not going to become a master of sports, then ordinary skis in a budget version will suit you for a comfortable ride. Skis up to 3-5 thousand rubles are of good quality and design. Heavy skiers can take a closer look at products from the mid-price category. Models over $50 are usually more durable and will not let you down even on steep descents.

When purchasing cross-country walking skis, pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Ski length.

• Strength.

• Rigidity.

• Riding style.

The optimal combination of these parameters is a guarantee of a good purchase. The length of the skis is easiest. It is enough to add 25 cm to your height. For classic riding, this is an ideal option. The skating stroke allows the length of the skis to be slightly greater than one’s own height.
Ski stiffness should be selected depending on the weight of the skier. If you have a strong physique, then soft skis will definitely sag, and the ointment will stick to the ski track, making it difficult to move. If a lightweight athlete chooses skis that are too hard, kickback and slippage will occur.

Poles should be chosen according to your riding style. The classic move will be comfortable with poles up to the armpits; for a skater, it’s better to take poles up to the shoulder. Modern poles have comfortable straps for optimal load distribution when riding.

Choosing ski material

Most mass-produced ski models today are presented in plastic with a wooden core. All-plastic skis are also common, but their cost is higher. Rare wooden skis are becoming increasingly rare in equipment stores. They are bought mainly by those skiers who are not comfortable riding on slippery plastic models.

Plastic skis come with and without notches. Many children's and teenage models are equipped with notches in the pad area. This prevents the ski from slipping, but affects the speed of the ride. Models with notches are only suitable for traditional movement; they do not need to be lubricated to “hold” under the block.

When choosing skis, keep in mind that plastic products also need to be lubricated. They have a more slippery surface than wood. But when applied correctly, the ointments allow the leg to not slip back, while driving speed remains at a high level.

"Horse" or "classic"?

Today on store shelves you can find models for classic skating, skating and universal. But as practice shows, in combined models it is difficult to achieve good results in both styles of skating. It is still worth choosing skis for the type of riding that you use most often. As a rule, beginners have poor skating skills and gravitate towards the classics.

Skating involves a certain technology for applying ointment, most often over the entire working surface of the ski. But still, the main differences between skating skis are as follows:

• Increased strength.

• Low and blunt toe.

• The length of the skis is shorter than traditional skis.

• Longitudinal stiffness.

Theoretically, you can skate on classic skis and vice versa. But riding comfort may vary.

Choosing accessories

Once you have decided on the type of ski, choose bindings and boots. If you cannot cope on your own, ask a store consultant for help. The once used 75 mm fastenings and boots for them are gradually being replaced by modern solutions - NNN, SNS, NIS.

Don’t forget to stock up on suitable ointments for the whole season, learn the basics of applying paraffin, then skiing will bring you a lot of pleasure and positivity in any weather.

Have a good skiing, without slipping and kickback!

Before you start choosing the quality characteristics of the skis themselves, you need to decide what style you will ski. There are two types of skis: skate and classic. Skating is more complex in terms of coordination and requires more time to master than the classic one.

Ski length

Once you have determined your style of movement, you should consider that ski boots also come in several types: skate, classic and duathlon (for movement with skate and classic). The same goes for the size of ski poles.

Length of poles for skating = height - 20cm, for classic skating = height - 30cm.

Ski length for skating = height + 10-15cm, for classic skiing = height + 25-30cm.

Ski stiffness

Skis have an important factor that determines 60% of their sliding properties: stiffness. Classic skis are softer than skate skis due to the fact that full contact of the entire ski with the snow is required for pushing off. Stiffness works like a spring that returns your effort and turns it into inertial skiing. If we consider the pressure of the skier on the ski during repulsion, then on classic skis the main pressure falls on the central part of the ski under the block, but on skate skis the picture is different, the pressure under the block is minimal and the main load falls on the toe and heel of the ski. The remaining 40% comes from the quality of the sliding surface plastic, matte polish and paraffins. In stores there are special machines for determining the stiffness of skis and selecting them directly for your weight.

How to choose skis for your weight?

There are several other ways to determine the stiffness of skis for your weight. It is necessary to place the skis on a flat floor and stand on them with both feet so that the toe of the boot coincides with the center of gravity of the ski. Then shift your body weight to one leg. To check, take a piece of paper and place it under the block. For classic skis, when you are fully on your push foot, the sheet should be pressed firmly to the floor. For skaters, move a little in the toe area of ​​the boot. If the sheet of paper moves freely, then the skis are too hard for you.

When going to buy skis, many count on the help of the seller, but he may pursue selfish goals. Often stores advise you to purchase expensive models, describing the advantages and referring to the quality of the brand, and sometimes they offer goods that have been left in the warehouse.

Before purchasing, you should familiarize yourself with the types of equipment in order to have a rough idea of ​​how to choose equipment.

The selection method depends on the purpose of the purchase - conquering mountain slopes, walking in the park or hunting.

For an adult

Those who want to spend winter leisure time with health benefits should choose running products: they are suitable for walking on flat terrain. The length should be 15-25 centimeters greater than the skier’s height. If you are going to go skiing, buy classic models - 20-30 cm longer than your height.

Choosing skis according to your height is not the only condition. Products vary in firmness, so consider your weight. The larger it is, the stiffer and longer the products are required. You can check the stiffness using a sheet of newspaper folded in half twice.

1. Place newspaper under the central part of the ski - the block, and stand on one leg.
2. The newspaper should press against the floor. Otherwise, you need softer products.
3. If you are standing on two feet, the gap between the center of the ski and the floor should be 0.6-1 mm. The larger it is, the stiffer the skis.

To kid

Children's models are made not of wood, but also of plastic. The plastic is slippery, so notches are a must so that you can only move forward. It will not be possible to choose products for growth.

Child's height and ski length:

• up to 125 cm – 5 cm longer.
• 125-140 cm – 10-15 cm longer.
• from 140 cm – 15-30 cm longer.

Choosing sticks

For comfortable skiing, you need poles 25-30 cm shorter than the skier’s height. For young athletes whose height is no more than 110 cm, a difference of 20 cm is sufficient.

How to choose alpine skis

If you have to choose products based on height, add 10-20 cm to it - this will be the ideal length.

To kid

Dependence of ski weight and length:

• up to 20 kg – up to 70 cm;
• up to 30 kg – up to 90 cm;
• up to 40 kg – up to 100 cm.
• from 40 kg - choose products as for an adult - based on height indicators.

Models for children are divided into 3 categories according to their rigidity. It is best to choose products of the middle category - children master the elementary category very quickly, but the expert category requires experience.

No need to buy skis for growth. For safe skiing, the equipment must fit. There are other ways to save:

• use rental services;
• buy used products.

If a child decides to take up skiing seriously, then buy high-quality products that correspond to the level of training, weight and height.

How to choose skate skis

The skating move is more difficult to perform than the classic one. The athlete has to push off the snow with his feet harder, so such products are made harder. You can choose skate skis made of wood, but plastic ones will be comfortable and durable. If products for classic skating are sanded, then skate ones are rubbed with paraffin to make them glide better.

You can choose models with skating according to the principle of plus 10 cm in height. The poles should be elongated - 10 cm shorter than the height. Consider the weight of the products - the heavier they are, the more difficult it is to ride.

To choose the model with optimal stiffness, stand on both feet and measure the gap from the center of the ski to the floor - it should be 3-4 mm. If you cannot try on the product at the time of purchase, place them with the bottom sides facing each other and squeeze. If there is no gap left, then you should choose a stiffer model.

To understand how to choose cross-country skis for a beginner skier, you must first decide which skiing style you prefer. For the skating style, when they move like a skater along a wide prepared track, or the classic style, when they move along a ski track, different skis are made. It is not recommended to buy skating skis, implying the possibility of skiing on the track or vice versa. It will be difficult and you will hardly get pleasure from such a ride.

When you set out to choose cross-country skis for a classic ride, remember that there are models with and without notches. If you are a beginner and you don’t have the slightest desire to figure out how to properly apply ski wax depending on the snow temperature, then choose classic skis with notches for skiing. If you bought smooth skis without notches, then know that they are used only in conjunction with grip ointment, otherwise they will slip.

When driving on a ski track, the middle part of the ski bends when pushing off and comes into contact with the surface of the track. The notches are made in such a way that they do not allow the ski to slip back while holding it, but allow it to slide forward almost unhindered. Please note that the riding speed will always be slightly lower than on smooth skis. In difficult conditions, such as above-zero temperatures or icy snow, the notches cannot cope with the recoil and the skis begin to slip back. For these reasons, notched models are not used in skiing, but are very convenient for beginners and inexperienced skiers, as well as for children.

Holding and sliding lubricants

Ski wax for plastic skis comes in two varieties: glide and hold.

Ski glide lubricants are designed to improve sliding properties. They are applied only to the front and back of classic skis, no matter if they are notched or not. And with skates, the entire sliding surface is lubricated.

Holding ointment is applied only to smooth skis intended for classic skiing, and only to their central part (block). This ski lubricant comes in solid or liquid form and is selected according to the temperature of the snow. Serves the same purpose as the notches - it prevents slipping back when pushing off.

There is no need to apply grip lubricant to knurled skis, but glide lubricant can be applied to any ski.

Selection of skis by hardness

If you want to know how to choose the right skis, remember: the most important thing is to choose the right stiffness. Each ski has a deflection, which determines the driving performance by more than half. The stiffness of a ski is determined by how much force needs to be applied from above to push it down.

One simple way to determine the stiffness for a classic is to push the ski with both hands until the sliding surface under the block completely touches the floor. If you can’t push through, then choose one with less rigidity. For skate style skis, there should be a gap of 1-2mm when squeezing with one hand. By the way, some models indicate the weight range of the skier for which they are designed.

For beginners and non-professionals, low and medium hardness skis are best suited. If classic skis do not push through completely when pushing off, then the stiffness is not selected correctly.

As for how to choose skis for skating, they are almost twice as stiff as classic skis and should not be completely pressed down when pushing off. However, they are usually 15-20 cm shorter than the classic ones.

If you are planning walks in the virgin lands, without ski tracks, then choose special pleasure or tourist (touring) skis. They are wider than regular classic ones and you can use them to lay your own ski track anywhere.

Selection of ski length

The ski length is selected as follows:

• for a classic style, add 25-30 cm to your height;
• for skate - add 10-15 cm to height.

The question of how to choose the right skis based on your height is less important than choosing them based on stiffness. Typically, the longer the skis, the stiffer they are. Therefore, if the skis chosen by length turn out to be a little soft, take longer ones.

Choosing ski boots

Before choosing ski boots, the right decision would be to buy thermal socks for cross-country skiing and wear them when trying on boots.

Skating boots have a rigid ankle support cuff and a rigid sole. For classics, they should not be used, since the sole will not bend enough when pushing off. For a classic style, lower boots with soft soles are intended. In turn, it is not recommended to use them for skating style, because they will not provide the necessary ankle support.

A good choice for amateurs can be combined boots that allow you to skate both classic style and skate style. They have a medium-hard sole and, on some models, a removable cuff.

When choosing, be sure to consider the comfort of the boot. If possible, choose boots that, in addition to lace-ups, have a zipper to provide protection from snow.

Choosing fastenings

Today, three main types of fasteners are produced:

• NNN (and its new version NIS),
• Nordic 75 (so-called “75 mm”, old standard from USSR times).

The first two are practically indistinguishable, but the last one can be completely ignored. The main thing is to choose comfortable boots, and then select the appropriate bindings and install them on the skis.

Choosing sticks

Now let's figure out how to choose ski poles. They are manufactured in the following types:

• Carbon fiber. The most expensive. Lightweight and very tough.
• Fiberglass. The cheapest. Less rigid and less durable. Heavier and easier to bend. Suitable for children and beginners.
• Aluminum. Affordable. A good choice for beginners, amateurs, and those with a lot of weight.
• Composite made of fiberglass and carbon fiber. Price and strength will greatly depend on the carbon content.

It is recommended to choose poles that have hand loops that are securely fastened with Velcro. It is not recommended to buy poles with small support rings (feet). They will fall through the snow because they are designed for specially prepared trails.

Ski poles are selected taking into account the height of the skier. Their length can be calculated with a simple formula:

• for the classic style, subtract 25-30 cm from your height;
• for the skate - subtract 15-20 cm from the height.

Or you can use standard selection tables.