Winter Staycation: Cross country skiing offers an easy path to winter recreation

When it comes to winter recreation, it’s easy to shell out countless cash buying equipment, clothing, passes and more. From snowshoes to snowmachines and a parade of ski set-ups, there seems to be a never ending parade of options. So where do you start?

To Mark Stiger, head coach for the Matsu Ski Club’s junior nordic program and longtime winter sports enthusiast, there’s no better option than cross country skiing for outdoor users of all ages.

“The nice thing about cross country skiing is that you can get into it fairly inexpensively,” he said.

Stiger recently shared a series of tips to help those completely new to the sport break in. Here’s what he said.

Pick a cross country skiing type

There are two types of cross country skiing, Stiger said -- classic and skate. Classic is performed with skis in a parallel line, often on an ungroomed trail or with skis placed in groomed parallel tracks. Skate, on the other hand, is done with a skating motion and is best on groomed trails or on a thin layer of frost, he said. Classic is slower and more methodical, while skate can feel very fast.

Stiger said while skiers may ultimately want to learn how to do both methods, it’s best for beginners to start with classic and learn how to start, stop, go down hill and navigate. From there, they can move to skate skiing. The different methods also use two different types of skis and require different waxing processes, but classic skis are typically cheaper and easier to take care of, making them perfect for beginners.

“Classic skiing helps you get your first balance,” he said. “You need to know both.”

Start with renting

Instead of buying cheap used skis that may not fit you well or provide a good experience, Stiger recommends new skiers start with renting from Backcountry Bike and Ski in Palmer so they can understand what they like and want. From there it will cost about $300 to purchase a good set-up, he said, but users will skip the pain of buying something they don’t like and won’t use.

“What they’re to do is they are going to fit you to the right size ski as opposed to going to Bishop’s Attic and buying a pair that doesn’t fit,” he said.

Dress well

Good layering and skipping cotton clothing are the best way to comfortably hit trails, Stiger said. If you’re skiing quickly or working hard, you’ll get warmer faster. The best thing to do is make sure you have good layering options on hand to drop or add as appropriate.

Take some lessons

While beginners can pop on their new skis and give the sport a try on their own, a few lessons go a long way to making things easier and more enjoyable. The MatSu Ski Club offers affordable adults lessons throughout ski season, starting in January, he said.

Lessons are also a great way to learn ski trail etiquette, such as how to use the groomed classic tracks and avoiding ending up in a snowbank when you can’t figure out how to stop while headed downhill.

“All of us have been here and most all of us start off the beginning of the season back there,” he said. “It just takes time.”

Those interested in taking lessons can learn more at MatSuSki.org.