ABSTRACT
In Northern Europe c.c. skiing has a long tradition as a mode of transportation in winter times. Skis have been found in a peat moss in Scandinavia, dated back thousands of years. Very interesting is that the very old skis closely resembles those made early this century and which most of this century's older generation used when they were taught the basic skills of c.c. skiing. In this perspective the changes which have occurred over the last half a century are dramatic. They are closely linked with c.c. skiing nowadays barely being important for transportation, but instead a competitive sport where survival at the international scene to a large extent depends upon its attraction for the media. Some of these technical developments have had a significant, positive impact on the recreational skiing, both when performed leisurely in the home terrain as well as when exploring mountain areas.
