The Daily Skier
All things Nordic
Glossary
Binding: The binding is where your ski boot clips into your ski. There are two main types of bindings; automatic and manual. Automatic is where you can just step in and it clicks without you using your hands. For manual, you lift up the lever, place your boot in and close the binding by placing down the lever.
Fish Scaled Skis: If you're a beginner in cross country skiing, chances are you'll start out on fish scaled skis. These type of skis don't need kick wax, the scales are your kick wax. Fish scaled skis do still need glide wax though. Fish scales are not as costly compared to skis without fish scales.
Automatic
Manual
Groomed Trails: Trails in cross country skiing are groomed by a machine called a groomer. It drags a piece of machinery that makes the track for classic as well as another wide piece that makes the skate track. Another method used to groom the trails is a snowmobile with a piece of machinery that is the track dragged behind it. It does the same thing as a groomer, but it costs a lot less money.
Kick zone: The kick zone is the area of the ski where the kick wax is applied, to give you grip in your stride while skiing. It is measured by the skier's weight. Having a correctly measured kick zone is very important because if it's too long; your skis will be dragging. Or if it's too short, you won't get enough grip and you'll start to slip.
