The oldest type of skiing, cross country was developed as way to travel long distances in snowy terrain at the end of the 19th century. The sport has traditionally been dominated by the Nordic countries. Norway’s Bjørn Dæhlie is the most successful cross-country skier in history with 12 Olympic medals. Athletes use two techniques: classical (also called kick-and-glide) and freestyle (aka skating style).
The oldest type of skiing, cross country was developed as way to travel long distances in snowy terrain at the end of the 19th century. The sport has traditionally been dominated by the Nordic countries. Norway’s Bjørn Dæhlie is the most successful cross-country skier in history with 12 Olympic medals. Athletes use two techniques: classical (also called kick-and-glide) and freestyle (aka skating style).
The oldest type of skiing, cross country was developed as way to travel long distances in snowy terrain at the end of the 19th century. The sport has traditionally been dominated by the Nordic countries. Norway’s Bjørn Dæhlie is the most successful cross-country skier in history with 12 Olympic medals. Athletes use two techniques: classical (also called kick-and-glide) and freestyle (aka skating style).
Individual
Skiers leave the starting gate one at a time, every 30 seconds. Though skiers may pass one another during the race, medalists are determined by clocked individual times. Men race 15 km while women race 10 km.
The oldest type of skiing, cross country was developed as way to travel long distances in snowy terrain at the end of the 19th century. The sport has traditionally been dominated by the Nordic countries. Norway’s Bjørn Dæhlie is the most successful cross-country skier in history with 12 Olympic medals. Athletes use two techniques: classical (also called kick-and-glide) and freestyle (aka skating style).
Skiathlon
One of the most physically exhausting events, the skiathlon features athletes completing back-to-back races — two 15-km runs for men, two 7.5-km runs for women — using a different technique on each race.
The oldest type of skiing, cross country was developed as way to travel long distances in snowy terrain at the end of the 19th century. The sport has traditionally been dominated by the Nordic countries. Norway’s Bjørn Dæhlie is the most successful cross-country skier in history with 12 Olympic medals. Athletes use two techniques: classical (also called kick-and-glide) and freestyle (aka skating style).
Sprint
Added to the Olympic Games in 2002, the sprint even breaks down into a qualification race, quarterfinals, semifinals and final heat. Mens race 1.8 km while women race 1.3 km, both using the classical technique.
The oldest type of skiing, cross country was developed as way to travel long distances in snowy terrain at the end of the 19th century. The sport has traditionally been dominated by the Nordic countries. Norway’s Bjørn Dæhlie is the most successful cross-country skier in history with 12 Olympic medals. Athletes use two techniques: classical (also called kick-and-glide) and freestyle (aka skating style).
Team Sprint
Teams of two alternate laps for a total of six laps. The start-and-stop nature event is physically gruelling, as athletes need to stay loose and ready to race while their teammate completes his or her respective lap.
The oldest type of skiing, cross country was developed as way to travel long distances in snowy terrain at the end of the 19th century. The sport has traditionally been dominated by the Nordic countries. Norway’s Bjørn Dæhlie is the most successful cross-country skier in history with 12 Olympic medals. Athletes use two techniques: classical (also called kick-and-glide) and freestyle (aka skating style).
Relay
Athletes compose a four-skier team, with each member racing a quarter of the course, 10km for each man and 5 km for each woman. The first two legs of the race require classical technique while the final two are raced using freestyle, requiring teams to carefully set their team lineup.