Cross-Country Skiing for Families

Of all the kid-friendly winter activities that help to promote an active lifestyle, few are better than family cross-country skiing. With or without cross-country skiing lessons, this is one of the best winter outdoor activities for family fun while away on family vacations in the wintertime. This is because cross-country skiing for families is one of the easiest and most accessible winter activities to get started with. The only cross-country ski equipment that you will need are the skis themselves, plus some snow-covered cross-country skiing trails, and layers of clothing to keep you and your kids warm. If you’re looking for fun family outings, but cannot afford or are afraid of downhill skiing, try family cross-country skiing!

Before you head out to a nearby trail, there are a few things to know when going cross-country skiing with kids. It’s an excellent way to spend time outside in nature, observe winter birds and snow-covered trees, and bond with your children of all ages, but it does take some preparation and a bit of work to get started.

Getting Dressed for Family Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing is an extremely aerobic winter activity, so before you even get to the best cross-country ski equipment for you and your kids and the cross-country skiing techniques to employ out on the trail, we have to get you dressed appropriately! You will start cold and once your body is moving, you will probably get a good sweat going which makes knowing how to get dressed for outdoor activities like cross-country skiing for families very important. You don’t want to be soaking wet with sweat, nor do you want to be too chilly so it’s smart to dress in layers. This means wearing a merino wool or synthetic base layer, a mid-layer, and of course, a wind and waterproof outerwear layer that can be taken off quickly and easily the moment you begin to get too warm as you power your skis forward through the snow.

Staying Powered Up on The Cross-Country Skiing Trails

This is one of the winter activities that will have you and your family working hard! Therefore, it’s important to stay fueled up and hydrated before and during the skiing. A few hours before you head out, make sure your family members drink water — a lot of water (16 oz for kids, 32 oz for adults). This will get you hydrated and hopefully, all that water will be expelled BEFORE you start pushing your way through the snow! On the cross-country trails, have protein bars, nuts, and water to keep you and your family going strong.

Getting Back Up

One of the essential XC techniques to learn is getting back up. It’s a metaphor for life in general—sometimes you will fall but what matters is how you get back up off the ground (or snow, in this case). Taking some basic cross-country skiing lessons can help teach everyone in your family the best cross-country skiing techniques for getting upright again after an inevitable spill. This is the first skill to teach kids because it will prevent them from getting frustrated with themselves (and you) and make your day go smoother.

Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Trails are The Best

Expert skiers can venture into less visited trails, or make their own, but for family cross-country skiing you will want to stick to well-groomed trails because cross-country skiing safety is paramount with kids in tow. Groomed trails (trails that have been well-traveled by others ahead of you) are safer and easier to explore and will allow beginners to gain confidence in their newfound skills.

Cross-Country Skiing Equipment

Let’s be honest, ski poles are the definition of family fun and they look so cool to use, but it is advised to teach your kids to ski without them. This is because when kids learn to cross-country ski with poles, they will often focus more on playing with their poles and won’t develop the proper mechanics of controlling their movement on the snow. Once they are established as cross-country skiers—meaning they can turn, stop, and climb up small hills—then you can add ski poles to their fit.

Now that you know how much family fun awaits with outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, your winter family vacations can become more active and nature-focused! Check out even more winter hobbies to try this year, at home or while on family outings, and with these winter family travel ideas!