Cross-country skiing is an ancient and addictive winter sport. It requires physical endurance, technique, athletic ability, concentration, mastery of movement and a strong connection with nature. Extremely popular in northern European countries, this sport has distant roots.
While in past centuries cross-country skiing was used as a means of transport to travel over snowy terrain, over time it has evolved into a complex discipline with various techniques and styles, thrilling all fans since the first Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix 1924.
In Milano Cortina 2026, cross-country skiers will certainly be among the most eagerly awaited athletes. So, do you know what narrow skis are? What about the difference between classic and free technique? Fear not, Fan26 comes to the rescue, to get you ready for the next Olympics.
What is Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing differs from Alpine skiing in terms of technique and equipment, as it involves travelling along long, flat snow slopes, but also uphill and then facing gentle descents.
Athletes move forward by coordinating the use of light skis (with bindings on flexible boots) and poles, which they use to thrust themselves forward with their arms’ strength and glide over the snowy terrain of mountain forests.
Unlike Alpine skiing, where skiers race and slalom downhill with stiff skis and boots with toe and heel bindings, in cross-country skiing athletes move forward on level ground, with their heels freed from the skis.
Classic Technique or Free Technique?
Today, the expression 'cross-country skiing' actually refers to two different techniques: the older classic technique, and the free technique, also known as skating.
The first, also known as alternating step, is how this sport basically began to spread, and is performed simply by using the tracks marked on the snow to advance and glide. Poles are essential, to thrust the athletes forward using their upper limbs, by planting the spikes on the snow.
While the free technique - also known as skating - is more recent, and it consists of proceeding diagonally with respect to the direction of travel and with no tracks on the ground. In essence, this sequence resembles ice skating.
Each competition of the Olympics takes place in classic or free technique in alternating editions.
Competitions
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will include 12 cross-country events. For the first time in history, men and women will compete over the same distances:
- 10 + 10 km Skiathlon (men and women)
- Sprint (men and women)
- Team Sprint in Free Technique (men and women)
- 4x7.5 km Relay (men and women)
- 10 km Free Technique (men and women)
- 50 km Classic Technique (men and women)
Click to read more about each competition. Competitions will be held at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, in Tesero, Val di Fiemme.
Tesero, the pearl of Val di Fiemme, for Milano Cortina 2026
The cross-country competition is scheduled at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, also known as the Fabio Canal Cross-Country and Biathlon Centre.
This facility was built in the 1990s in Lago, in the municipality of Tesero. This cross-country stadium holds 50,000 seats and consists of a three-kilometre-long illuminated ring-shaped track, with almost twenty kilometres of trails, all with programmed snowmaking from December to February. In short, a sort of cathedral of cross-country skiing in Italy, and one of the venues of the Marcialonga - the most important and celebrated Granfondo cross-country skiing competition in our country, held on the last Sunday of January.
The thrust of the home crowd promises to be the secret ingredient to guarantee the Italian Team an extra edge. However, the cheers of the Valley will move and support the athletes of the entire world, in the name of sport and in full respect of the Olympic spirit.
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