Cross-country skiing and ski touring: can you tell the difference?

If you're already planning your next trip to Les Menuires to hit the slopes, this year you can also take the time to try a different activity. A new opportunity to get off the beaten track and make the most of the snow-covered mountain scenery.

But between cross-country skiing and ski touring, it's not always easy to understand the specifics of each discipline when making your choice. Here we explain all the differences between these two sports, so you can enjoy a holiday that lives up to your expectations!

An essential winter sport, cross-country skiing is practised on fairly flat terrain with little difference in altitude. In this discipline, your equipment leaves your heel free to make a pushing movement, which you can accompany with your arms using larger poles than in downhill skiing to make headway on the groomed tracks.

There are two distinct types of cross-country skiing: classic and skating. In the former, you keep your skis parallel and use the gliding step technique. This is easier for beginners to grasp, but can be a real challenge if you want to gain a few precious seconds in a competition, for example.

In the second case, you execute the skating step. This is a particularly technical movement, requiring a good sense of balance to avoid falling.

The sport of choice for mountain lovers, ski touring invites you to discover the great outdoors and enjoy the feeling of freedom in the middle of the mountains. During your session, you'll ski on ungroomed snow and on different types of slope.

On the way up, your heel remains free to glide along and your skis are fitted with synthetic skins for better grip. These are removed for the descent, and the heel remains fixed for optimum sensation.

While cross-country skiing is accessible to skiers of all abilities, ski touring requires a certain level of expertise in alpine skiing if you want to get off to a good start and enjoy your first session.

Whether you opt for ski touring or cross-country skiing, we advise you to book a lesson with an experienced instructor for a successful first experience.

At ease in their discipline, but also perfectly aware of their environment, these professionals will be able to guide you along the most beautiful itineraries in the Les Menuires resort, to discover breathtaking scenery.

The instructors promise you a relaxing outing, so you can concentrate solely on your pleasure and your skiing sensations throughout your activity. So, are you ready for a new challenge this winter?