Cross-country skiing (commonly abbreviated XC skiing) is a winter sport in which
Priit Narusk in the qualification for the Tour de Ski in Prague.
participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles. It is popular in many places with large snowfields, primarily Northern Europe, Canada, and Alaska. (Source: Wikipedia).
Cross-country skiing is part of the Nordic skiing sport familyCross-country skiing (commonly abbreviated XC skiing), which also includes ski jumping, and a combination sport of cross-country skiing and ski jumping called Nordic combined.
Free-technique cross-country skiing is also the method of locomotion in the combination sport of Biathlon, which adds rifle marksmanship to skiing.
Backcountry skiing
Backcountry skiing is skiing in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes or pistes, including skiing in unmarked or unpatrolled areas either within the ski resort’s boundaries (Sidecounty) or in the backcountry,
Backcountry skiing
frequently amongst trees (“glade skiing”), usually in pursuit of fresh fallen powder snow.
Unlike groomed cross-country and alpine skiing, the land and the snow pack are not monitored, patrolled, or maintained. Fixed mechanical means of ascent such as ski lift, funiculars, or trams are typically not present, but may be used to gain initial altitude when available.
Backcountry skiing, also known as ski touring or ski mountaineering, can involve single or multi-day trips through camping or the use of mountain huts.