Cross-country fundamentals
The Introductory Lesson at the Nordic Center is the standard entry point for cross-country skiing. The Yosemite Nordic instructors teach the kick-and-glide stride on the groomed track, work on basic balance, get you climbing gentle inclines, and show you the snowplow technique for controlling descents.
What you'll come away with
- The classic stride — kick, glide, weight transfer
- How to use Nordic poles (different from alpine — they push, not plant)
- Going uphill — herringbone and sidestep techniques
- Going downhill — snowplow for control, staying low for stability
- How to fall safely and how to get up (more important in Nordic than alpine — the heel-free binding makes both more awkward)
After the lesson
You'll be set up to do self-guided cross-country skiing for the rest of your trip. Most students who take the Intro lesson in the morning happily ski Summit Meadow or further in the afternoon. Pair the lesson with a half-day rental for the morning and another rental for the afternoon if you don't want to commit to the full day before knowing whether you like it.
Equipment
Lesson does not include equipment — book a rental separately. Classic skis are recommended for the Intro lesson; switch to skate skis later only if you fall in love with Nordic and want a faster discipline.
