
Winter in Vancouver is built around the pursuit of powder. But have you tried all the options? Sure, alpine skiing is exhilarating and snowboarders get to use words like “shred.” In this post, however, I’d like to revisit the glory of classic cross-country skiing.
In the words of Jackrabbit Johannsen (Canadian XC ski hero who cut tracks through age 111): “Running is an act of will; skiing an act of spirit.” He’s referring to the bliss of the perfect cross country diagonal stride: you drive forward with each with each skinny ski, swinging the opposite arm and gliding swiftly.
With 19 km of cross-country trails at nearby Cypress Mountain and 56 km of world-class terrain at Whistler Olympic Park—just two hours away in the breathtaking Callaghan Valley—there’s no shortage of opportunity. If you haven’t yet tried classic cross-country skiing, I hope this motivates you: Continue reading:
Cross-country skiing: The great-great-grandparent of ski sports