It’s never too late to try something new: Learning to cross country ski

The afternoon sun reflected off the snow at Beaver Meadow Golf Course, offering a slight warmth to the crisp winter air as skiers moved in small groups across the groomed pathways edging the property.

Around us, adults and kids alike milled about, some already gliding around on skis, others adjusting their boots and gathering their gear. 

As two people who moved to Concord around the same time, we made an informal pact to try as many new community activities as possible together. It’s taken us up mountains, on adventures to track down the lupine fields up North, catch summertime concerts in Portsmouth and explore New Hampshire’s 18 miles of coastline. 

This was our latest: a foray into the world of Nordic skiing. 

We’d already tried downhill skiing last month at Tenney Mountain. But neither of us craves speed or exhilaration. Rather, we prefer to take our time and savor the moment over trying to catch an adrenaline rush.

So when we saw the Learn to Ski lessons announced through Capitol XC Ski Day, we jumped at the chance to try something that might be a little more our pace. With free gear rentals and lessons included, all we needed to do was show up!

Here’s the thing: Doing something you’ve never done before, especially as an adult, can feel particularly daunting, but also exhilarating. Standing around in a group of other adults who were also taking their first baby steps on skis provided the comfort zone we were looking for. If we fell or slid off the path or slowed the group down accidentally, it would all be okay!

Before beginning lessons on Sunday, neither of us knew for sure that Nordic skiing and cross-country skiing were the same thing. So the learning began right off the bat!

To start off, we got help from volunteers in yellow vests, who fitted us for boots, tested the height of our poles and clicked us into our skis. Then, it was time to shuffle. 

We were placed into a small group of six adults, none of whom had ever tried cross-country before. Our instructors were two Concord High School students, both of whom had been cross-country skiing for years and brought a palpable passion for the sport. With movement of both the arms and the legs, Nordic skiing is known to be a fantastic full-body workout that’s also low-impact, a lot like rowing and swimming.

After two treks back and forth across a (thankfully) flat stretch of snow, practicing the step-and-glide rhythm that would carry us across the golf course, we began our adventure.

Our instructors led us down a tiny hill first — remember to “pizza” your skis, they said — then toward the groomed tracks in the snow.

We stepped in the smooth, narrow ruts and immediately understood why our instructors liked them. The grooves kept our skis straight with an unencumbered path that made it easier to coast along.

We learned to take a series of step-glides, lifting one foot off the ground for longer than you would while walking but not as long as you would while ice skating. Keeping our weight balanced, knees slightly bent, proved key in gaining enough momentum to glide more than step.

Our poles also helped propel us forward, although it wasn’t as easy as we thought to time the arm-leg rhythm. Still, practice helped a lot (it always does!).

The best part was when we got to the hills! Rather than being dragged down a mountain by the unconquerable forces of gravity, we got to use the ski tracks to keep us on course as we glided down the slight decline, just fast enough to catch a little wind in our hair but nowhere near feeling out of control (phew!)

We spent a little over an hour roaming the trails, peppering our instructors with questions about their love for skiing and the best places to go. (White Farm in Concord and the Oak Hill Outdoor Center in Hanover topped their list.)

Even before unlacing our boots, we knew we’d found a winner. The accessibility and choose-your-own-adventure style of Nordic skiing, coupled with the welcoming attitude of everyone we met, made us want to come back.

If you’re interested in learning to cross-country ski, or looking for a free way to practice the sport right here in Concord, keep an eye out. We’re told the equipment rental trailer opens up for free every now and then; stay informed through the Concord Community Nordic Trails @ Beaver Meadow group on Facebook.

The Appalachian Mountain Club has some tips for beginning skiers, too, including some advice for selecting your own gear when it comes to buy.