We have our own cross country skiing terminology. It was inspired in part by a snowy disc golf game a few years back along with some terms the girls learned in ski school at Attitash while learning to downhill ski when they were younger.

Since L. is working on an outdoor education project for 4-H this year about cross country skiing and I have been serving as her camerawoman on the trails taking video and photos of the various techniques of skiing that she knows, I thought I'd share the basics for those teaching their children how to cross country ski.

Note: I'm not a great skier so this is really basic info and based on my own family's experience these past couple of years...

DUCK WALK (aka the Herringbone)
This is one of the ski positions used to climb hills. On less powder, you really have to dig your edge into the snow (which is not as sharp as downhill skis so this takes some practice) to climb a steep hill. Side-step is another way to climb a hill.

FRENCH FRY (aka the Straight Run)
This is the 'fast' position when going down hills. It's also the position for classic skiing.

PIZZA PIE (aka Snowplow, Stop)
This is the slow down and/or stop position. It's important to teach kids this position and make sure they don't cross the tips of their skis while doing it. Another way to slow down is to drag the ski poles on the snow behind you. We've done that a few times this winter when the conditions have been particularly icy and controlling ski edges has been hard.

One of the games we play at our 4-H Ski Club is Simon Says. It's a great way to teach the kids these positions in a fun way. Plus, learning to jump in to the various positions (with or without poles, depending on their ability and/or soft powder conditions for falling down ;) is a great way to learn balance while training legs and feet to get in to the positions without having to look down.

L's ski lesson #1

And sometimes you go down a hill in fairly icy conditions, like we did a Riverside Golf Course in Portland this past Sunday, on a wing and prayer that you won't fall down. The kids made it look easy; Kate and I obviously didn't pray hard enough ...