Cross country skiing has always been a Winter Olympic sport. It originated in Scandinavia during the prehistoric times. Explorers used cross country skiing as a means of transport.

For cross country skiing, the skis used are long and thin in order to distribute the weight of the skier and allow speed. Additional equipment are poles, footwear, and glide waxes.

There are a few styles of cross country skiing:

• The classic style is the original skiing technique. Although it isn't the fastest, it is the easiest to learn.
• The skating style developed as a result of racing but is much harder to learn.
• Telemarking is the technique used to go downhill.
• Free style involves the skier pushing one ski outward with the ski angled so that the inner edge of the ski is driven against the snow, imitating an ice skater.