I want to start xc skiing this winter and have very little experience. I am familiar with the difference between classic skiing and skate skiing but I wonder which one is more practical for living in the Northeast, and for getting the best endurance workout? Will most places that are groomed for diagonal stride skiing also offer skate skiing?
Both are good, but I find skate skiing to be more specific to the muscles I use in cycling. It’s a little tougher to get the hang of, but if you have a background in ice skating it won’t be that bad for you. The only downside is that you need groomed trails. With classic, you can go break your own trail out in a field or golf course, so it allows for more variation and access. Ideally you have both in your garage, but in my opinion if you can only do one, get the skate skis.
Get skate skis for the more specific work out, then pick up used classics they are a dime a dozen. I wouldn’t pay more than $30-$40 dollars for a set. We have a company called “playit again sports” buys and sells used gear. they have tons check around for similiar things.
ok, let me add my 2 cents. I ski race for the Alpina/Madshus team so I have pretty good working knowledge of nordic skiing. Please, learn to classic ski first. If you can understand the basic body position of classic skiing…it is exactly the same for skate skiing. Most people who learn to skate first, never learn the forward body lean and never learn complete weight transfer. That being said, in the NE, it might be easier to have skate skis as the thin snow can make classic skiing tough (to set tracks). Whatever you do, make sure to get the skis hand picked for you, there is NOTHING worse than ill flexed skis (for classic or skate). If you are near Boston, check our www.fastsplits.com they flex every ski and they have a huge selection. Good luck, and be patient, it is an incredible sport once you learn the basics.
Kurt
Eam, I support what Kurt has posted. One big benefit of classic skiing is that you can do it anywhere at any time. All you need is a football field or two in a nearby park, hack through the snow and make yourself a short 1-2K loop. After the third time around, its like a trackset trail. If you have a golf course nearby, you can cut yourself a nice 3-5K loop and do it 5-10 times for a moderate to long ski (I know this sound boring, but it is better than being on a trainer or swimmming laps in a pool). When you have more time, drive to a location where it is properly groomed and you can go skate skiing.
I always find that my first session of skate skiing after doing a pile of classic skiing is always the best. As Kurt alluded to, I have good body position, good weight transfer and great balance on flat ski during my glide phase.
Good luck. It is minus 22 C here this morning, but I hope to go for a short ski at lunch time…bailed out this morning 
Dev
I want snowwwwwwwwwwww
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I agree with Dev and others - in perfect world, and to get the most benefit, you will do both. They are both great and they both have their advantages. However, I also know that MANY new people have come into the sport of xc-skiing in the last 10 - 15 years because of skating and skating is all that they know.
The learning curve for skating is short and very steep. It seems almost impossible when you first try it, but once you get it, it seems abolutly brilliant - almost effortless. Classic technique on the other hand, has a very long gradual learning curve. To get the basics down, it’s very straight forward, but to ski classic technique REALLY well takes years!
I tend to let conditions, terrain, weather and how I feel dictate what technique I will use on a given day. However, If someone were to ask me to describe Nordic Skiing perfection, it would with out a doubt be as follows: -5C, sunny with Swix extra-blue grip wax on my classic skis and some perfectly groomed classic tracks. I would want that day to go on forever!
Fleck
Thank you to everyone for the helpful responses - you’re kind to share so much good information! Here’s to hoping for a winter full of snow.
I agree with Ian and Jim. Before investing in equipment, I would recommend that you do a little more research into ski trails in your area. It shouldn’t be difficult to contact someone (internet, local ski shop, club) so you can get all the answers about skating trail vs classic trail availability. If you need to drive too far for access, you’ll need to be committed to it.
The vast majority of competitive and performance oriented people coming into the sport take up skating first. I love both skate and classic for different reasons, but it’s the skating that has an outstanding correlation to cycling specificity. I haven’t been on an indoor bike trainer in 10 years and have no problem with 40 mile rides right out of the box in the spring.
Initially, skating will require much more patience and determination to achieve competent technique to allow endurance workouts. If you can afford it, take some lessons. Otherwise, watch the best skiers and don’t hesitate to ask for tips and feedback on your technique.
Good luck!
Skate skiing is more specific to cycling, but it requires a specially groomed trail system. You can ski anywhere on classic skis. Out here in Michigan many parks groom their trails for classic only, so you have more options with classic skiing.
I also feel that classic puts less stress on my joints. My skate skiing technique puts a lot of lateral stresses on my knees and I have to be careful how much I do. Personally, I ski 75% classic and 25% skating. I have heard that many XC ski racers train in this ratio, even of most of their races are skating races— Kurt may want to comment on this.
XC skiing is pretty inexpensive. For $700 you can buy a complete sets of classic and skating skis, boots, and poles. I’d start with classic then if you get the bug buy a skating setup later in the season.
-Marc
I would agree with Kurt, Dev, et al. I started skating about 12 years ago, having never learned to classic, and it was a mistake. XC skiing is similar to swimming in that technique is very important, and you learn proper technique (body position, balance etc.) by classical skiing.
I have spent the last three years concentrating on classical and have noticed a big improvement in my skating. If I had to do it over, I would learn to stride first.
Ironically, I started skiing to keep in shape for triathlons, now I do triathlons to get ready for ski season!
Dan
as far as classic to skate, I probably average 70/30 ratio. Early season (aka December in New England) I ski a lot without poles (both classic and skate) and do a ton of drills. Stuff like “forced technique”, where you have to stride even the downhills, or V2 all terrain. It helps reinforce technique and build specific strength. Someone mentioned the perfect ski day (extra blue, sunny, hard tracks), I agree those are my all time favorite (but rare in NE).
Kurt
I agree that classic is where you should start, especially considering the flexibility a pair of waxless skis will give you. You can throw them in your car and go whenever a few inches covers a smooth surface. This year I skied ten days of classic (starting back in October)before the skate tracks were packed and classic was still better for a while. Another bonus is that LSD workouts are very easy to pull off with classic gear. Skating always drives up the heartrate without fail. Hey, don’t get me wrong, skating is sexy and fast and you will buy the gear but you’ll be a far better skier(and get more days) if you start with the old school stuff.
Classic is best for running capabilities, skate skiing for cycling.