XCuk cross-country ski grading system
IF YOU are taking an independent package then you can ski at your own pace and standard. But if you are joining a group then it is vital to choose your holiday carefully, so please read the following description of our grading system. If you are still not quite sure which level is right for you, just ring us for advice - we are here to help. (Our group holidays are not suitable for children under the age of 14. So if you are planning a family trip then please study our independent packages - at some centres we can arrange instruction if needed.)
Level 1A / Level 1B
Level 2 / Level 3
Intro to off-track / Intermediate off-track
Touring A / Touring B
Level 1A |
FOR BEGINNERS who want a fairly gentle introduction to skiing
in tracks. Choose this level if you don’t have much experience of walking on snow,
and if you are not used to activities that combine movement and balance (eg
cycling, roller skating, aerobics, martial arts, Nordic walking). You should have at
least average fitness.
We start on snowshoes, to get used to moving over snow, then we mix cross country
skiing and snowshoeing. Daily skiing distances will vary, but by the end
of the week we hope to cover 10km or more in a day. Skiing techniques will include forward movement on flat ground (diagonal
stride), double poling, star turns, straight running down gentle slopes, half and
full snowplough, herringboning and side-stepping.
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Level 1B |
FOR BEGINNERS wanting a faster-paced introduction to skiing in
tracks. You need good stamina, and it helps if you have some experience of
walking on snow. Also useful is a background in “robust” sporting activities (eg
hockey, netball, football, rugby) and in activities combining movement and
balance.
We concentrate on cross-country skiing (no snowshoeing), and we cover the
same techniques as at Level 1A, though at a slightly more advanced standard.
Skiing distances will vary, but by the end of the week we hope to cover 20km
or more in a day.
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Level 2 |
FOR PEOPLE with at least a week’s experience of cross-country
skiing. You should already cope well with undulating tracks and have a
reasonably confident snowplough.
You need good fitness and stamina: daily skiing distances will vary with
daylight hours and weather, but in the course of a week we should total 50-75km, taken at a steady pace. Instruction will revise and improve the techniques listed for Level 1A.We also
teach skate turns, step turns and double-pole-and-kick, and we introduce
skating.
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Level 3 |
These holidays are for seasoned XC skiers with
good fitness and stamina, and able to maintain a moderate pace on
undulating tracks.
The emphasis will be on enjoying long day tours out on snow, but
instruction will be offered throughout the holiday across the range of skills
required to help you ski more effectively.
Skiing distances will vary with daylight hours and weather, but by
mid-season we should average 80-100km in a week, taken at a steady pace.
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Introduction to off-track |
These holidays are for fit people who have at least two weeks'
successful
experience on tracks but who are newcomers to off-track skiing. You should
already have a good grasp of the basics of XC skiing and be moving with a
fair amount of confidence. Instruction will cover breaking trail and setting
pace, climbing and descending with traverses and kick-turns, survival skiing
downhill, and coping with variable snow. Climbing skins will be used.
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Intermediate off-track |
These holidays are for fit and experienced off-track skiers who can cope
comfortably with undulating terrain. We don’t mind how you get down the
hills - you can traverse and kick-turn or ski the fall-line - but we want
you to be able to get down fairly quickly, so that the other members of the
party are not kept waiting. The emphasis will be on day-tours rather than
instruction, but coaching will be offered as necessary. Climbing skins will
be used.
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Touring A |
YOU SHOULD already be a seasoned XC skier, and have
some experience of skiing with a rucksack. You need to be able to ski for
up to 20km per day, on rolling terrain. You should have the stamina to
cope with being out all day, even if weather and snow conditions are
difficult. Unless otherwise stated in the tour description, no instruction in
skiing technique is provided.
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Touring B |
PREVIOUS successful ski-touring experience is essential,
and you must be very fit. On some days the distance may be 25km or
longer and you need to be able to cope safely with sustained climbs and
descents in variable snow conditions. Unless otherwise stated in the tour
description, no instruction in skiing technique is provided.
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