title: Scientific basis of competitive cross-country skiing.
abstract: The sport of cross-country skiing had its origins as a utilitarian mode of travel more than 4000 yr ago. From hunters carrying weapons and moving about on carved wooden skis, the sport has evolved to spandex-clad competitors carrying reinforced fiberglass poles while gliding on high-tech composite skis. The widespread use of ski-skating techniques coupled with the technological innovations of the last decade have profoundly changed the nature of competitive cross-country skiing. This symposium is intended to summarize the current state of scientific knowledge about the sport.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Clifford
mesh_terms: D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D012865:Skiing / Q000266:history*