Cross-country skiing (also known as XC skiing) is an adventure and fitness activity as well as a competitive winter sport popular in many countries with large snowfields; primarily in Europe and Canada.
XC skiing as a sport is part of the Nordic skiing family, which also includes ski jumping, and a combination sport of XC skiing and skijumping called Nordic combined. Free technique XC skiing is also the method of locomotion in the combination sport of Biathlon, which adds rifle shooting to the skiing.
As an adventure or leisure activity, XC skiing may be viewed as a kind of "bushwalking on skis", where skiers tackle trails of various lengths and difficulties. Some skiers stay out for extended periods using tents and equipment similar to bushwalkers, others take relatively short trips from ski resorts. There is also the possibility of using huts provided along some tourist trails, or to go by skis from private wood cabins in the mountains to visit other recreational cabin dwellers in the area.
