Alternatives to skiing
A skiing trip is as much a break for Hong Kong people as a beach holiday is for counterparts in colder climes. Training for the slopes begins the minute the New Year's hangover is gone, with ski clothes being hauled out of tiny storage spaces, only to be discarded in favour of the latest fashions in Stanley Market. Swooshing down the slopes at neck-breaking speeds or carving out beautiful turns, either on your snowboard or parabolics, is probably the ultimate attraction, but there are other ways to play outdoors during your ski holiday.
Four thousand years before snowboarding and downhill skiing became the rage, cross-country skiing was snow-bound Scandinavia's main means of transport. Now it is a sport, and many exercise physiologists and researchers say cross-country skiing is the world's best aerobic-fitness activity.
The cross-country ski differs from the downhill equipment in that the skier's heel is free. This freedom allows the skier to climb, descend and traverse terrain on the toe of the boot instead of being limited to a slope as downhill skiers and boarders are. Cross-country skiing is divided into two styles or disciplines, both with their own technique and equipment. Classical or traditional is the simplest to learn and requires the least amount of physical conditioning in order to move. One central motion, the diagonal stride, is all it takes to go from one point to another in easy terrain. If you want to go up or downhill, then you have to practise additional skills. The skis can have either fish scales on part of the base or use a specific type of wax - kick wax - that allows the skier to go forward.
The other type, skate or freestyle skiing uses a V-style glide-and-edge motion, much like ice skating or speed skating. But unless you're an expert in rollerblading or figure skating, most experts agree learning the classical technique is the best place to start.
This sport uses your arms and legs simultaneously, greatly increasing the fitness benefits and the amount of energy it uses up. By comparison, someone weighing 68kg will burn almost twice as many calories cross-country skiing (roughly 551 calories/hour) than downhill skiing (294 calories/hour). Cross-country even burns more than running at 320 metres a minute. But don't get the impression that only Olympic hopefuls can participate. The quick learning curve, low injury rate and natural movement of cross-country skiing means all ages and fitness levels can do it. Even toddlers participate and since the equipment is so lightweight and inexpensive, many ski instructors encourage parents to make cross-country skiing a child's first experience on snow.
Most major ski resorts offer groomed and packed trails for skate skiing, allowing you to glide much further, or two grooved channels for the classic skier to follow.