When shopping for cross-country skis, it’s key to know the terrain

Winter sports enthusiasts gravitate to cross-country skiing for a variety of reasons, but once they get started, it’s easy to become addicted.

Take former Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area general manager Mike Ritterhouse, for example. He started downhill skiing at a very young age, but as a high school wrestler, he was also seeking a way to bolster his conditioning away from the mats. Cross-country skiing turned out to be an ideal means to that end. It also became a lifelong hobby.

“I took a cross-country ski lesson from John Miller, the founder of Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area, got hooked and fell in love with it,” Ritterhouse said. “Several years later, I took my then-girlfriend to Enchanted Forest, and asked her to marry me there.

“And in the view of Wheeler Peak, she fortunately said yes. And we’ve been married ever since. That was 32 years ago now.”

While not everyone will be as deeply embedded as Ritterhouse, cross-country skiing, which is also known as Nordic skiing, has a relatively easy point of entry for those looking to get started.

“What we have been seeing in terms of the increase of the sport’s popularity is that it allows people to have that skiing experience without the lift lines and at a significantly reduced cost,” Ritterhouse said. “It’s so much more accessible.

“It’s kind of challenge by choice. They can get in as deep as they want to, they can get in as shallow as they want to. One of the other things that I think is particularly appealing about it is you go out on a Nordic track, and you’ll see people who are just kind of casually going out and stopping all the time … But then you’ll also see people who are working on training for a race.”

To get started in New Mexico, Ritterhouse recommends visiting Enchanted Forest, which is the only full service Nordic area in the state. The area includes a shop, rentals and a ski patrol on site, as well as other amenities such as a warming hut and food options. There are other areas in the state that offer cross-country such as Angel Fire, Jemez, Valles Caldera, Santa Fe and Sandia, to name a few.

“The easiest way to dip your toes into the sport is to come to a full-service cross-country area, rent the skis and the poles and the boots. I recommend taking a lesson. But you can try to go out there and flop around and have fun,” he said, “and a lot of people do.

“But cross-country skiing is a sport of a thousand tiny techniques. And you’ll get such a huge leap by taking a lesson, but it’s certainly not necessary. A lot of folks have gone on to have very enjoyable experiences without having lessons. But with lessons, your form is going to be better.”

When it comes to clothing, Ritterhouse says it’s best to monitor weather conditions and dress in layers. Ideal apparel includes the likes of water-resistant pants, a moisture-wicking T-shirt, windproof jacket and head covering. Sunglasses can also be helpful when the sun reflects off the snow. It’s also wise to bring snacks, hydration and sunscreen.

Once more experience is acquired, cross-country skiers might look to purchase their own equipment. Ritterhouse says that used skis, poles and boots are relatively easy to find, whether at a ski area or via outlets such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. When shopping for skis, it’s key to know the type of terrain on which they will be used. For newcomers, Ritterhouse points to a ski that’s designed to handle both groomed trails and off track routes.

“The ski manufacturers will publish guides as to whether it’s a race ski or an enthusiast ski or kind of an entry-level ski,” Ritterhouse said. “They give you some guidance about whether or not it’s a ski that is designed for groomed slopes or off-trail skiing.”

Additionally, Ritterhouse recommends something called waxless skis for beginners. These utilize a mechanical grip — which can look like either fish scales or a crown pattern.

“What that does is it’s cut in such a way into the base of the ski that it allows you to get both grip and glide, so you can push forward,” Ritterhouse said. “Some days, it’s the only pair of skis that actually work, just because of snow conditions.”

Poles typically come in three styles: recreational, backcountry and racing. The racing poles are lighter weight and more expensive, while the backcountry poles are more versatile, according to Ritterhouse, because the length adjusts to allow skiers to traverse ungroomed trails.

Ultimately, finding the ideal way to enjoy cross country skiing is up to the individual.

“There’s all sorts of different ways that you can enjoy Nordic skiing, all sorts of different ski gear you can ski in to enjoy Nordic skiing,” Ritterhouse said. “... From cross-training to recreation to family time, a wide array of options.”

When shopping for cross-country skis, it’s key to know the terrain