The Way Cross Country Skiing Should Be Cross country skiing, also known as nordic skiing, is an excellent winter recreation for you, your family, and your friends. You can ski at your own pace if you like to be alone with nature and your own thoughts, or get the adrenaline rush of competing in a nordic ski race, or ski with the camaraderie of friends and family on a tour, and take along a picnic lunch. Nordic skiing is easy to learn. With a little practice, anyone can enjoy the flowing motions of the arms and the gliding pushes of the legs. It's a great workout. Another benefit to nordic skiing is its low cost. You can either rent equipment or buy your own affordably. Unless you are skiing at a nordic touring center, there's no cost for using cross country ski trails, and even the touring centers' ticket prices are relatively low. Maine's nordic tradition dates back 125 years to when Scandinavian immigrants skied both for fun and for transportation. Maine has been home to a dozen U.S. Olympic Nordic Ski Team members. Maine offers an extensive variety of cross country ski terrain, from the carriage roads of Acadia National Park to the unlimited miles of wilderness around Moosehead Lake. Many nordic ski touring centers are located near Portland, and at popular winter resorts. These centers provide safe, well-maintained and groomed trails. You won't have to share the trails with snow machines, or get lost on woods roads or snowmobile trails. The centers provide food, rental equipment, and lessons. At some, you can enjoy snowshoeing, ice skating, and even swimming at an outdoor pool, or relaxing in a sauna or hot tub. Another way to enjoy cross country skiing in Maine is with the help of a Registered Maine Guide who specializes in nordic skiing. He or she can help you plan and execute a skiing adventure you will never forget. The Maine Nordic Ski Council provides a ski condition report and special event information at 800-754-9263 (SKI-XCME), or check its web site at http://www.mnsc.com. To find a Registered Maine Guide who specializes in nordic skiing, contact the offices of the MPGA at PO Box 847, Augusta, ME 04332-0847, or call (207) 785-2061.