Nordic

Cross-Country (aka X-C)
Nordic skiing is my favorite outdoor pasttime. It has it all -- great exercise, exploration of trails, relatively safe yet thrilling.

I choose an unusual path to learning skiing. I found cross-country skis in my parents basement and bought some new ski boots. I then took the bus to the only free trail I knew about, the Education Centre Ski Trails in North Bay. These trails were not regularly groomed nor were they easy. In addition, I never bothered with the art of waxing my skis. Still it was enough. I have in recent years expanded the areas where I ski. Ironically, I have found that despite the grooming that Nordic skiing resorts do, I have found their trails tame. The beauty of the Education Centre trails is the shiftily changing topography that make it more interesting than other trails and the knowledge that it has trails harder then I can handle give me something to look forward to. However, because of the lack of grooming, it can be difficult to use sometimes.

Of course, I haven't skied at North Bay Nordic (yet), the most expensive place with the most amenities, and new challenges loom there.

Most people into cross-country skiing are looking for a less challenging and more relaxing experience. They are out for exercise and to observe nature. Safety is important. Many cross-country ski clubs will take bumps off certain challenging hills to improve safety. For some, this will reduce the thrill, but the majority, seem to like these trail alterations. It may help in keeping insurance costs down and it does reduce potential liability.

Classical Skiing
Classical Skiing refers to the technique used while cross-country skiing. The classical technique is also known as kick and glide. Kick and glide is exactly what you want to do while skiing. Some people just shuffle along, more like walking than skiing. By using the classical technique you can speed up that shuffle by introducing a bit of glide for every stroke. Most people do learn the classical technique but there is room for improvement for most people.

Classical skiing could be considered an intermediate speed sport, somewhere between walking and running in speed. Ski skating is more like running on the other hand.

Ski Touring
Ski touring is like bicycle touring but on skis. Ski touring not need be multiple day adventures but usually are. Ski touring can make use of nordic or alpine ski equipment depending on the topography. In flatter terrain, cross-country skis are better. The XC ski tourer needs not worry about the danger of avalanches but still has significant challenges to face. First of all snow conditions have to be right.

In the bush the snow might be not thick enough. Without enough snow your skis could get ruined by bare ground. Too much snow that is light means you would be better off using snowshoes. Then you have to find a route. Unless you follow man made routes the terrain has to be open enough to allow skiing.

So you have ideal conditions. You have to be prepared. You need good equipment -- such as a good pack, stove and other stuff to ensure survival overnight. If the equipment fails you could be trouble. You have to be aware of certain risks. You may fall into a consealed creek, the snow conditions may not be ideal everywhere and you may even run into dangerous animals.

http://www.ifyouski.com/travel/mountaintracks/faqs/
http://www.snowlife.org.uk/touring.asp

Bushwalking on Skis
"Bushwalking on skis" is another way of saying XC skiing, but implies skiing away from the tracks.

Off-Track Skiing
Skiing on tracks have definite advantages. You can ski faster (most of the time) and have access to a variety of ammenities. Skiing in areas without tracks leads you to a new world where you are more at the mercy of nature. Sometimes you can take advantage of tracks made by previous skiers or even snowshoers and (gag) snowmobilers. Sometimes you get nice frozen crust everywhere. But you may have to naviagate various hazards such as downed trees, rivers, rock fields or inconsistant snow quality. The unpredictability of off-track skiing is part of its appeal -- rising to the challenge that nature provides. In the case of frozen crust everywhere you are given the rare opportunity to use your skis in terrain previous open only to snowshoers. Then you have the challenge of naviagating bush that can be quite thick. But you have to careful because you slide easily on the snow and you have trees close by and everywhere. Be sure your techique is rock solid.

XCD
XCD is downhill cross-country skiing.

Ski Racing
Ski Racing

Biathlon
Biathlon is an event that combines racing on cross-country skis with target shooting.

Skijoring
Skijoring is skiing with a dog pulling you. Skijoring is a cheap alternative to dogsledding which requires a sled and many dogs pulling. Skijoring usually uses only one dog. What you miss with skijoring is having the dog(s) pulling your gear. While the dog is pulling you, you would still have to carry your gear on your back using a backpack

Telemarking
Telemarking is a technique used to get down hills on cross-country skis. Unlike down hill skis, cross-country skis do not steel edge and weight that makes turning easy.

http://www.ifyouski.com/Gear/Telemark/ (See other links for more info)