Wintersports
Skiing
Cross-country skiing vs downhill skiing: Which is best for you?
Each style of skiing is generally defined by its speed and setting, but the nuances don’t end there.
Nothing beats skiing down a mountainside on a sunny winter day or venturing across a shimmering snowy landscape. That’s especially true if you’re a nature lover and a thrill-seeker. Red Bull alpine skier Lindsey Vonn explains the rush that comes from soaring on the slopes at high speeds.
Lindsey Vonn at FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Åre, Sweden in 2019
© Erich Spiess / ASP / Red Bull Content Pool
“I want to go fast, I love pushing myself to the limit and throwing myself down a mountain at 85mph and seeing what happens," Vonn shared with Red Bull.
Skiing is an incredibly dynamic sport, from telemark skiing-style carve turns to the acrobatic freestyles highlighted in Bobby Brown’s Red Bull Cascade. That said, this snow day activity is generally grouped into two styles: cross-country and downhill. Each style of skiing is generally defined by its speed and setting, but the nuances don’t end there. Read ahead for a full guide on cross-country skiing vs. downhill skiing, from comparing gear to the differences in technique.
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What is cross-country skiing?
Petter Northug & Even Northug in the pump tracks at Red Bull Janteloppet
© Daniel Tengs / Red Bull Content Pool
If you prefer a moderate pace, cross-country skiing might be right for you. Also known as Nordic skiing, cross-country consists of journeying across rolling, relatively even ground. You’ll need slimmer skis and flexible cross-country ski boots for this style so that you can propel yourself across the snowy earth.
Cross-country skiing includes two main subcategories. There’s the gentle forward-and-back gliding of classic cross-country skiing, and then there’s skate cross-country skiing — moving your skis to the side to navigate forward. In both cases, because you’re not flying downward on a hillside, cross-country may be considered the easier skiing style. However, it still requires significant physical strength. Spending the day cross-country skiing will give you a great workout as you take in each little detail of your majestic natural surroundings.
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What is downhill skiing?
Lindsey Vonn during the Downhill Race at FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2018-2019
© Erich Spiess / ASP / Red Bull Content Pool
Downhill skiing is the image most of us conjure when we think of skiing. This style, also known as alpine skiing, involves journeying to a mountaintop, often by ski lift, and then jetting down its slope. Keeping your skis secure is a priority, so you’ll need sturdier boots and wider skis. Downhill skiers often travel to a ski resort, where a mountain slope trail is maintained for them to speed down. There are exceptions within downhill skiing’s subcategories though, such as off-piste, also called backcountry, which involves skiing off the beaten path.
Gravity gives you a big push in downhill skiing — it’s how you can achieve such high acceleration. There’s a fairly high skill level required to safely navigate and respond to the twists and turns of a mountain incline. There’s also nothing quite like the excitement of flying downhill as a stunning mountainside whirls by. And sometimes, there are certain views you can only properly experience from the altitude of a downhill ski slope.
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Differences between cross-country skiing and downhill skiing
Terrain and location
Setting is the most obvious difference between each skiing style. Downhill skiing happens on a slant, while cross-country skiing is done on flatter ground. Prepared resort slopes are most common for downhill skiing, while cross-country skiers don’t necessarily need a premade trail. That said, maintained trails — such as the top cross-country ski spots in Colorado, a major skiing hub — abound as well.
Dominik Paris seen in Kitzbuehel, Austria on January 19, 2023
© Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool
Linn Svahn in Stockholm, Sweden on February 2, 2023
© Emrik Jansson / Red Bull Content Pool
Equipment
The three staple pieces of gear for a skier are skis, poles, and ski boots. Wider types of skis are designed to help you with narrow turns as you ski downhill, while skinny cross-country skis decrease resistance. You’ll also find some differences in ski bindings, the clips that keep your boots attached to the ski. For downhill, a firm binding keeps your downhill ski boots secure, while cross-country fasteners allow some flexibility in movement around the heel.
Downhill and cross-country skiers typically require different temperature-control gear as well. You might be surprised to learn that the workout of cross-country skiing can lead to overheating. Downhill skiers need to bundle up significantly more, while cross-country skiers can wear thinner layers. Additionally, downhill skiers need the extra protection of a helmet and goggles to shield them from the high winds whipping at their face.
Technique
Some of the distinctions in technique for each style center around how to use the equipment. For instance, ski poles are heavily involved in cross-country skiing, while downhill skiers mostly use them for turning support.
Participants at the 2018 Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet in Jokkmokk, Sweden
© Magnus Östh / Red Bull Content Pool
Lindsey Vonn downhill training at FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2019
© Erich Spiess / ASP / Red Bull Content Pool
Cross-country skiing usually happens in a kick and glide style motion. Once you’ve got a good stance — feet shoulder-width apart, arms out front — you’ll shift weight from one leg to another to move forward. With each step forward, you’ll push one pole at a time into the snow for extra power and balance. After you get the basics, you can practice gliding by shifting your weight forward.
With downhill skiing, many techniques revolve around adjusting your speed. For example, you can angle your skis in a “V” shape pointed forward to slow yourself down. This technique is sometimes affectionately called the “pizza,” and it lays the foundation for making downhill turns. After your wedge ski shape is in good form, you simply shift in the direction you want to go.
Physical demands
Each skiing style requires physical strength for different reasons. With cross-country skiing, your muscles are what’s moving you, so strong stamina is key. When you’re going downhill, even with gravity guiding you, strong joints and core muscles are necessary to navigate the turns and high speeds.
Risks
The high adventure factor does mean skiing isn’t a risk free activity. Cross-country skiing risk mitigation usually means making sure you’re well fueled and hydrated so you can endure the workout. That said, overeating before a cross-country skiing adventure at high altitude can also result in indigestion.
Being hydrated and well-fueled before downhill skiing is important too, and downhill skiing is generally considered more high-risk overall. The fast pace can cause serious injuries if accidents occur.
It’s also important to be prepared for avalanches since that’s simply a reality of being on a snow covered mountain. Fret not, though — with ample preparation and training, you can minimize many potential risks.
Cross-country skiing vs. downhill: Which is best for you?
The right skiing style for you will depend on your own comfort and skill level. You may want to start with cross-country so you can get used to balancing on flat terrain first. That said, if the exhilaration of downhill skiing appeals to you, beginners can always take classes on the bunny slope.
These two skiing styles aren’t your only choices either. As you get more advanced, you can try styles such as alpine touring. This style combines the muscle of cross-country skiing with the glee of gliding downhill. It’s the best of both worlds.
Experience the joy of skiing
Skiing has been a favorite pastime throughout history, and cross-country and downhill skiing each offer their own set of advantages for your next adventure. It’s just a matter of finding which style suits you best. You might already be a pro who’s completed Bobby Brown’s Red Bull Cascade, or maybe you’re just looking for a fun weekend activity. Either way, all forms of skiing offer a wonderful way to enjoy a thrilling workout in the great outdoors.
