Classic Cross-Country Skiing for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started || REI 

1. Take a Deep breath and relax. 2. I will be okay. --- Got it, thanks. I hope so.

I've started cross-country skiing last winter with just watching this video and I survived! So here I am reviewing it for the start of the season here! Thanks again!!

This video is great to give yourself a quick refresher before you get back on the ski trail. Comprehensive, concise, informative and entertaining video- thank you!

This was a great intro to the sport . I watched it as a refresher as I’m starting to ski again this winter after years away from the sport.

OMG, this looks like the perfect winter exercise. And super fun.

What a fantastic video to get people started in classic skiing! Sharing everywhere I can.

Very well explained! Nice and compact quick start guide. And it looks like great fun in such a beautiful snowy landscape.

Complete novice here. Never done any snowsports but wanting to try cross country skiing after years of thinking I’ll just smash into a tree. This video put that ease - looks pretty safe and fun!

Very informative video. After over 30 years I'm getting back into Nordic skiing to stay in shape through the Winter months. Thank you so much!

Thanks, I have been xc skiing for many years and picked up a couple of useful tips watching this.

This should be practiced at the beginning of any ski season. Building up...

Nice vid! Thanks! ...The most unique thing about XC skiing is GLIDING UPHILL!

The joy on you face as you ski is amazing. Really makes me go for it.

Great video! Covered all the basics. Just what I needed

I took a lesson a couple of years ago, and this video was a great refresher. Greg Rhodes does a wonderful job of taking you through all the basics I remembered learning in an hour long lesson.

Thank you so much. I am an occasional X country skier. Great trails near my house but at 65... I have some fears of going down the hills. This helps immensely and I'll try this technique tomorrow!

Excellent instructions. Thank you!

Thanks for the refresher! Been away from skiing for 10 years in a hot climate. I had forgotten the basics.

Thanks, this was a really good overview. Clearly communicated and at a good pace. Great job!

I used to race in HS but was away from the sport for a long time, this video helped give me a refresher Thanks!

This is sooooo helpful. I went out and made up the rules as I went and it was brutal. I am going to try again with that help on how to get down the hill without doing the splits. :} Thank you Greg. great instruction

Thumbs up for the dead bug alone 👍

Great video! Thanks for making this. I've always wanted to try XC skiing; hopefully I'll be able to by next winter. Thanks!

For the very first time I will do skii in 5 days! Im so excited and nervous!! Wish me luckkk

Thank you. This is a wonderful tutorial.

I loved it! Thanks for the video!

For me this is so much more fun than snowboarding :)

Great explanation on all parts! I've been a teacher of elementary kids for 32 years and so im pretty tough on how instruction is given-Great Job!

Thank you for the detailed directions!, Karrie

Thanks! Very clear and helpful!!:)

I live in the best snow on earth, Urah. Never tried skinng till this past weekend. I mistakenly for into an intermediate trail. I fell so much, not even funny. I played competitive soccer my entire life, but not prepared for this one. I will keep at it till.I can get to enjoy it. Great vid!

This is a great video. Thank you for taking the time and doing such a good job.

I am really enjoying this video.I have just been to Barzio in Italy and trying out my cross country skills following your guidelines.However I will take a lesson just to polish off my skills.Thanks again for your clarity.Much appreciated.

Excellent video! You answered all the questions I had.

Great instruction! Tried and loved it.

Not a beginner (I’ve been xc skiing since childhood) but I never really had a formal lesson that I could remember and due to my anxiety with lack of control in certain situations (like going down hill) because of my proprioception issues I’ve always struggled when it comes to certain trails at the place I always ski at and sometimes I have taken my skis off and walked as a result but this was a tremendous help in making me feel more confident and comfortable out on the trails so thank you 1,000 times over for this! Off to go xc skiing as we speak and can’t wait to see what happens🙂.

Great instructions, thank you to Greg Rhodes. Fantastic preparation for those of us just starting out. Hope I don't have don't have to do the Dead Bug tomorrow, but if the need comes up, I now know how! Thanks!

thanks so much for sharing! best regards from Switzerland :) Barbara

Great review of the basics!

Good job on this video for a beginner like myself...easy to understand. Well done

Thank you so much. That's a very good for Beginners. Thanks again.

Thanks! Very helpful!

This would have been awesome when I was learning last year!!!

Very helpful tutorial, REI you are great

Great instructions thank you 👍🏻 🙏🏻

So concise, helpful, and friendly! Excellent, thank you.

Really helpful. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.

Thanks for this intro, it's really helpful!

Thanks so much for this informative video. I just bought my first pair of xcountry skis and boots! No excuse now, given that groomed trails are less than 500M from my house! I don't know why I waited this long! wish me luck!

Excellent vidéo.

So glad I found this video! Tried cross country skiing for the first time today… wish I watched this before hand lol.

This was awesome! Thank you so much!! ♥

Thanks!! I just had my lesson and fell a lot lol!

Helpful Tips for beginners

Extremely helpful, thank you!

That's pretty neat.

thanks bud very helpful

Great info in a short time 👍

Thank you for this video. I'm just getting into XC and I needed some basics on technique to get me started.

Just went for a 5.5km trek a few days ago and found it enjoyable but am quite sore. Looks like my technique was fine but I think I need more practice to really appreciate this Nordic sport.

Great video, appreciate it! First timer, so trying to figure it all out.

Im just learning to ski, and am not in shape, so it is great to see visually how to do in between lessons, to not forget the right balance

Might give it a try. Can’t now. Snows melted. But next time there’s snow I’ll give it a shot. Hiya from Alberta, Canada. 🇨🇦

Great video!!

Great video. Thanks so much.

Really helpful! Thanks!

Thank you! I'm just switching to x-country skis from downhill for the first time, and this really helped me grasp some of the differences between the two.

Looks fun

Tnank you for your informative video

Excellent!

That was pretty Neat!

Thank you!!

This should be required viewing for all the people on public trails.

Very informative video. Lots of tips I didn't even get in my lessons! Thank You!

Hey, I learned the rabbit way too!

this is cute - I remember that 'rabbit coming up through the hole' from early downhill ski lessons as a little kid

What a great video! Thank you!

Thank you very much.

I’m watching this while it’s 90° F outside. Come back, winter😁.

Very good!

Just went out my first time and it was a disaster 😂 I feel twice and hit my hip pretty bad, after this introduction video I understand why. Thanks 🙏

I am preparing for this ahead of time. Lots of core work and weight training. I want my first time trying this not be to much of a disaster. lol.

Love me some Greg Rhoades

I use the term "train going down hill with no break and out of control" I just sent this to my daughter who just started today

That is one cool hat there mister!

Interesting, I’ve done the striding parallel (left arm with left foot, right hand with right foot).

Super fun

Nice

Went today for the first time ever... felt like Bambi on ice. Many falls. But I feel so incredible after. Nothing like moving through the winter woods. Where’s the best place to look for gear?

Cool

After downhill skiing black diamond trails, it seems fairly easy

Planning on doing this next week! Just haven’t decided if I should do a lesson or just go by the video. I feel like after watching it a few times, I’ve gotten the gist of it 😆

i notice your skis are quite short compared to my old wooden army skis. Will this apply to those?

I just got a set of skis as a birthday present from my husband and tried it for the first time today. It wasn’t a terrible first go particularly since we didn’t really have a prepared track (until we looped around a few times). Question: my arches really hurt quickly. I feel like the boots are very flat inside. Is that typical or a cheaper boot? Will putting inserts in make the boots not fit right?

Carré

I love cross country skiing, I'm 13 and have been skiing since i was little but this video was nice refresher. i have a friend who is skiing for the first time do you guys know anyother videos like this?

Did anybody hear that jingle from the NordicTrack infomercial in the early 90s?

When you learn skiing technic you will remember it whole of your life.

How you think cross country skiing is going to go on a public trail: Great! There are ski tracks to follow. Actual: Looks like I'm breaking trail... At least I've got a clean track on the way back. Snow shoers -Look A semicompacted trail for me to follow. People with shoes - I am gonna follow this even if a break through 3 feet deep. Moose- *makes moose noises and follows the ski tracks*

Re the turning, does this video assume you have metal edges on your skis? And do you recommend metal edges?