Rhythm. Endurance. Determination. Discover the power of moving forward.
Picture a trail winding through a snowy landscape. Skiers glide over climbs, descents and flat sections, finding a steady rhythm with every push of their poles. Some races demand patience over distance; others are decided in a burst of speed.
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which athletes travel across prepared snow courses using skis and poles. It combines endurance, efficient technique and smart pacing. Athletes use different skiing styles, and each course offers its own challenges.
From the excitement of a sprint to the shared effort of a relay, cross-country skiing shows how far practice, perseverance and teamwork can take you.
Six events, different ways to race
Discover the distances, techniques and teamwork behind the competition.
In the 10km Free event, skiers cover a longer distance using the free technique, often called skating. They need to balance effort and efficiency across climbs, descents and flatter sections.
What to watch for: How skiers manage their pace, gain speed on descents and maintain rhythm on the climbs.
The 7.5km Classic event uses the traditional classic skiing technique. Skiers move along prepared tracks, relying on timing, strong pole pushes and an efficient stride to maintain speed across the course.
What to watch for: The coordinated arm and leg movements, the climbing technique and how athletes conserve energy.
Free Sprint brings short, intense racing to cross-country skiing. Athletes use the free technique to accelerate, handle quick changes of pace and push hard towards the finish.
What to watch for: The fast starts, decisive bursts of speed and close finishes.
In the 4×5km Relay, four teammates take turns completing a 5km leg. Each skier contributes to the combined result, so teamwork, pacing and smooth handovers become part of the challenge.
What to watch for: The handovers, changing race positions and teammates encouraging one another.
The 7.5km Free event rewards efficient skating technique, endurance and the ability to adapt to the course. Athletes must decide when to push for speed and when to settle into a sustainable rhythm.
What to watch for: How racers tackle the climbs, recover on descents and maintain their technique under pressure.
The 5km Classic event is a shorter-distance race using the classic technique. Athletes combine strong, well-timed movements with tactical pacing, knowing that even small changes in rhythm can matter.
What to watch for: The precision of the stride, the skiers' use of the tracks and their final push to the finish.
