During the winter of 2025-26, one of my subscribers asked about my use of the term “backcountry cross-country skiing.” Since that phrase is fairly generic and not used regularly, the person hadn’t heard it before. Therefore, they wanted to know how it differed, for example, from cross-country downhill (XCD) or backcountry touring.
I see this type of conversation often when it comes to skiing off-piste and in the backcountry. Whether it’s the comment section of a video, article, or forum, people are passionate about their beliefs when it comes to backcountry skiing. They share their justification for calling one style this, and another that. And, invariably, those discussions include a lot of back and forth about the gear that they use.
So it wasn’t surprising, at all, when that same person went on to describe in very detailed terms their preferred styles of skiing. This also, of course, included their parameters for choosing specific gear for specific terrain. What I found interesting about this exchange was that their approach to skiing sounded very methodical. Like, you could reduce it down to a basic flow chart.
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Now, I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with that. In fact, we all use “if, then” statements when selecting gear. For example, if the snow is deep, then I’ll use wide skis. But it’s just that it resonated more with an older version of myself. One where I always tried to fit everything neatly into a box.
The problem is that I no longer believe that most things in life actually fit perfectly into a box. And that the labels we place on things don’t always stick. Furthermore, they don’t always matter.
So, in recent years, I’ve taken a much more flexible approach to skiing regardless of terrain and snow conditions.
What’s in a Name?
Cross-Country Skiing, Cross-Country Downhill (XCD), Backcountry Cross-Country Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Backcountry Touring, Nordic Touring, Uphill Touring, Uphill Access, Ski Mountaineering (SkiMo), Nordic Ski Mountaineering, Meadow Skipping, Telemark Skiing, Alpine Touring (AT) … the list goes on and on!
I’m sure that I missed a few descriptors for other styles of backcountry skiing. And, I didn’t even bother listing downhill resort-oriented activities such as traditional Alpine skiing, Freestyle, or Park. However, does it really matter what we call what we do so long as we’re on two planks and gliding across snow?
I jest, of course, since I’ve always been fairly adamant about calling myself a cross-country skier. But as I dive even deeper down this rabbit hole called skiing, having recently earned my first (beginner) Telemark Ski Instructor certification, I find it funny that we have so many different names for this thing that we do.
What I find even funnier is that sometimes those names simply happen to be associated more closely with one brand or another. For example, Voile typically equates to XCD and DynaFit is all about the SkiMo.
In reality, though, most variations in skiing styles are only separated by a few degrees at most. As such, there are many transferrable skills and concepts that we can employ when skiing in adjacent styles. And this is ultimately why I find the name game funny. It too often just feels like splitting hairs.
Additionally, I sometimes think that people try too hard to rep certain styles. So much so that it seems like they’re thumbing their noses at other types of skiing. I know this is a thing because, admittedly, I’ve done it myself. For example, I’ve always been baffled by cross-country skiers who only skate ski. That’s because it’s only one half of the sport. And, believe it or not, you’d become an even better skate skier if you learned how to classic ski.
But I digress…
Long-Term Endeavor
As a ski instructor and online content creator, I find it challenging at times to effectively transmit my message. I want to help people experience as much of the mountain as possible. However, in order to do this, people need to learn a variety of skills that’ll allow them to be safe and have fun regardless of terrain and snow conditions.
What I’ve found is that some people just tend to tune out certain topics that they don’t believe are relevant to their skiing experience. In other words, they don’t do that type of skiing. Or, at least, they don’t want to do that type of skiing.
Whether we like it or not, however, the mountain requires us to learn every ski skill. We don’t necessarily need to master them all. We just need to become proficient enough to be safe.
All of that said, we can only learn so much in a 1-2 hour in-person lesson or 5-10 minute YouTube video. So I understand the need to choose wisely when training so that we make the best use of our time. But becoming a better skier is a long-term endeavor that requires a progression of activities that’ll yield long-term success.
In the end, I believe that it’s all just skiing. And we need to look past the names and labels. Once we do, we’ll have a better chance at tapping into a much more immersive outdoor experience. One that enables us to ski more instinctually rather than having to be conscious of every body movement we make.
Blurred Lines
For me, skis have always been tools for adventure. Gear to enjoy and maintain, but not to covet. So it’s often just a matter of picking the right tool for the job. However, sometimes it’s more interesting to choose the setup based on your desired outcome rather than the ideal ski for the current snow conditions.
Take a spring skiing day, for example. Do you run skinnier skis that are more appropriate for the hard-packed and icy snow in the morning (but not as fun on the downhills)? Or, do you run wider skis for the slushy afternoon snow to have a better time skiing downhill? And does the former situation mean that you’re going on a backcountry tour, while the latter is more closely associated with cross-country downhill?
And then I have to ask, “How many miles of travel equals a tour?”
Or, “How many turns downhill do I have to make in order to call what I’m doing XCD?”
I understand that these questions are a bit absurd. But it’s that type of minutiae that drives me up the wall when trying to define terms. And, again, it’s why trying to apply specific labels usually just feels contrived.
Overlapping Disciplines
In some cases, we may want to push our boundaries or those of our skis’ capabilities. Or, rather, we may want to explore techniques from one style while running a set of skis designed for another. That, or, we only have one set of skis and we need to make them work for everything!
If I choose to make parallel turns in my Telemark skis am I now Alpine skiing? And if I V1 up some blue runs at a downhill resort on my skate skis before the lifts start turning, then rip some parallel turns on the downhill, am I still just skate skiing? Or is this something else? What if I ski the exact same route with my classic xc skis using skins and run up the mountain. Then when I reach the top, I rip off the skins, and carve as best I can downhill? Is that strictly cross-country skiing, or is it possibly a variation of SkiMo?
Most often, we classify our style based on the gear that we’re running. And that’s a fairly obvious reason. For example, you can’t perform Telemark turns in Alpine gear. However, you can make parallel turns in Telemark skis. You can also make Tele turns on cross-country skis. And I can skate ski, to one degree or another, on backcountry xc skis. And most downhill skiers can skate with their Alpine skis. Although it’s obviously different from using actual skate skiing, it’s still a variation of the style.
Other times, people label certain styles of skiing based on the terrain on which they’re skiing. But I’ve met SkiMo guys training on the cross-country ski trails at my xc ski resort. And they often don’t look much different than beginner xc skiers plodding along. I’ve also seen Alpine skiers skinning up our xc ski trails. And, when the snow is right, I’ll skate ski in the backcountry on dedicated skate skis (as will many other folks). I’ve also done plenty of uphill access at downhill ski resorts running a variety of cross-country skis.
And, of course, people base the name of the skiing style on the skills being employed. Diagonal striding is the core technique used in classic cross-country skiing. However, I do a variation of striding on my Voile V6s with skins in the backcountry. It’s a far cry from striding on a set of classic skis in groomed tracks. However, in certain snow conditions I can upgrade my flat and uphill travel beyond basic skinning. Many skiers, including myself, can perform Telemark and parallel turns running different types of cross-country skis.
Versatility and Transferrable Skills Matters More Than Gear and Names
Years ago, a mentor of mine posed the question “would I rather learn to ski better or become a better skier?” That question has stuck with me ever since. In fact, I wrote an article discussing the two concepts in greater detail a few years back.
If you don’t want to read it, however, the TL;DR version is that learning to ski better is concerned more with executing perfect technique in mostly ideal circumstances. I kinda view this approach as a type of performance, bordering on choreography. On the other hand, learning to become a better skier involves more improvisation and adaptation. To me, the latter is about being able to ski anything while running just about any type of gear.
Obviously, learning to perform perfect technique in an ideal environment is desirable. However, to become an all-around better skier you should also learn to adapt to variable terrain and be able to run different types of gear. Otherwise, you’re likely to find yourself struggling in less-than-ideal conditions. And this could prove to be, at best, frustrating and, at worst, dangerous.
Final Thoughts
Not everyone, I know, obsesses over how they label their skiing. But with the availability of so many options and types of gear, as well as the current trend of “finding your tribe,” I sometimes think that we miss the forest for the trees. We become trapped in a belief that there’s only one way to reach the top of the mountain, for example.
Again, though, there’s so much overlap between skiing disciplines and niches. Solely focusing on one path may actually prevent us from achieving more proficiency because that one way can create tunnel vision. Essentially, we don’t know that there are other options because they exist outside of our current framework.
But here’s the thing. No matter where you are in your skiing right now, and regardless of your style of choice, there’s only one real goal for all of us. And that’s simply to become the best skier possible. And this is, of course, so that we can enjoy our time exploring the great outdoors. But to become a better skier, we must be open to all possibilities.
In my own skiing journey, I began with classic cross-country skiing at a groomed resort. Then I introduced skiing in the backcountry with more robust xc skis (wider, metal edges, aggressive grip zones). Next, I learned to skate ski. Currently, I’m training with resort-oriented Telemark skis on groomed downhill runs.
What I’ve found over the years is that every time I incorporate new styles and skills, I become a better overall skier. And, although, I haven’t mastered every skill I’ve ever learned. I’ve become proficient enough to stay safe, and have some fun along the way, no matter where I ski.
So, take lessons in your discipline of choice. However, also embrace cross-training. Every unique style of skiing offers another piece of the puzzle. And just because you do this, doesn’t mean that you can’t also do that.
Oh, and as far as my definition of backcountry cross-country skiing goes, to me it just means any type of xc skiing off of groomed terrain. Like I said, it’s pretty generic. But as I reevaluate my skiing and broaden my skillset, I’ve begun to start referring to my skiing in more open-ended terms.
Eventually, I suspect that I’ll just start referring to myself as a skier.
Another great column. I love the big idea. Thanks!