Cross country and mountain skiing are they much different?

Question

i have done cross country skiing for many years, pretty good at it to be honest

BUT

i am going mountain skiing in austria this spring...

does anyone know if its much different apart from the skiing boots

many thanks

Answer 1

You will find Alpine skiing a breeze, assuming you can do a snowplow on XC skis (and you probably can).  Your balance will be perfect and, on downhill skis, you will be centred.  It is much easier to recover minor errors of balance.  Lessons, as always, are a good idea but make sure the ski school knows that you are a skilled XC skier.  You should not be placed in a beginners' class except to learn how to ride lifts.

Incidentally, when I feel my balance on downhill skis is not quite right I go out on XC gear for a while.  That usually gets everything dialled again.

Answer 2

since you learned to ski on free heeled nordic skis you will find balancing and turning on alpine skis pretty easy.  I do both (but much more cross country), but I'm always amazed at how much control I have with alpine skis.

You will find most of the techniques are transferable (skating, wedge turns, stem-christie turns, etc.)

Have fun!

Answer 3

kl