Matthew Dickerson, Addison Independent, December 24, 1998 (reprinted by permission)
As I start composing this article, there are four inches of snow in my yard and more falling-- enough to prompt my first column on cross-country skiing. When I began the sport twenty-five years ago, ski boots still had flexible three-holed toe flaps, "high-tech" meant using a torch to apply pine tar to the bottom of your wooden skis, and the phrase "classical" (for the traditional diagonal stride) hadn't been coined yet because nobody had come up with the idea of skating on skis.
I raced in high school, but I was only a step above mediocre even by Massachusetts standards. For me, the sport's main attraction had more to do with solitude, quiet, and leisure than with competition. Now--three children, three states, and two pairs of skis later--some things have changed, but cross-country skiing has remained a favorite winter sport.
Consider some of its advantages over its alpine cousins: It's better exercise. (A dis-advantage for some, I suppose.) It's quieter and less crowded. And it's much less expensive. For many Vermonters, good cross- country skiing is out their back door. For others it is only a short drive to the National Forest or other accessible public land. (Try the Widow's Clearing Trail or Wilkinson Trails south of Ripton.) Even a day on groomed trails costs only a fraction of a downhill life ticket.
But what about kids? I was surprised to read in last week's Independent that M.U.H.S. has had a hard time filling a girl's Nordic team. I have three children. Thomas (currently eight) and Mark (five) both started cross-country skiing before they were three on little skis that strapped to their snow boots. When Thomas turned five we added ski poles and moved him to real ski boots bindings. By age seven he was able to ski three kilometers with no trouble, and had a pretty good glide.
In the process, mom and dad have learned a few things too. For one, the sooner kids get on skis the better. However if you are working with any beginner (especially a child) keep challenges small and expectations low. For a three year old, the lump in your front yard is a mountain, and five minutes is a long time on skis. Second, don't worry about proper form in the beginning youngster. The main thing is that they develop some balance, and that they have fun. Play some games on skis. Variations of tag, and little obstacle courses in the yard work well. For skiers six or older, I'd recommend a lesson or two. Having skied for many years, I thought I'd be able to teach my own kids, but the few times my boys have had a trained instructor made a huge difference. Finally, make skiing a family event. Long before our kids could ski a two kilometer loop, we started taking them skiing with us. Thomas spent many hours on my back in a child-carrier. Those extra pounds were a challenge to my balance and I fell more than I care to admit, but he just laughed when I got covered with snow. When he outgrew the pack, I rigged up a little harness to pull him on a sled while younger brother Mark rode on my wife's back. We'd stop from time to time and let them ski or walk, and then give them another ride. Now Peter rides in the sled. The older two hav outgrown that arrangement but their favorite expression still lingers in our house: "You're doing all the work, Dad, and I'm having all the fun."