For over 35 years, Fiona Romang-Müllener has been teaching students the art of cross-country skiing. What does it take?   Fiona shared her insights with GstaadLife.

What do you most enjoy about cross-country skiing?
It’s one of the healthiest sports you can do outdoors because you use all your muscles – your arms, tummy, back, legs, feet – your whole body, in fact. It’s very energetic and good for you. If you go out for an hour or even just 30 minutes, you’ll know you’ve done something!

At the same time it’s an incredibly peaceful sport. This region has so many areas for cross-country skiing – from easy and flat loops to the more challenging up-and-down terrain in Schönried. There’s always somewhere to suit your mood and ability. And if you’re seeking tranquillity, you won’t have to look far – some areas are so peaceful you won’t encounter another person all day. And of course, a major advantage of this sport over alpine skiing is that there’s no queuing for ski lifts!

Is cross-country skiing difficult?
If you’re not used to being in the mountains, the elevation can be a challenge, but people who are used to doing some kind of exercise will not find it difficult to get started. If you are less sporty don’t worry – it’s still possible to slowly build up your strength and improve your technique at your own pace.

The great thing about cross-country skiing is that as long as you can walk and have some fitness, you can do it – even in your older years.

What’s the main technique?
The classical approach to cross-country skiing is when you stay in the tracks – this is the easier approach. Alternatively, you can try the “skating” style, where you ski out of the tracks. This is much more difficult and harder on the knees and legs, but in all cases, it’s important you keep your weight centred and don’t lean forward or backwards because that’s when you’ll fall over! Good balance is essential in both techniques, something that people who practice yoga or Pilates are typically skilled at.

People don’t always find crosscountry skiing easy because you’re wearing these long, thin skis and need to learn gliding movements, which are a bit like walking and a bit like sliding. Not everyone is a fan of this sensation at first, but most people get used to it.

What qualities make a good instructor?
I think you have to like and understand people and be able to speak different languages. It’s also important to be attentive to your clients and assess what kind of support they require – for instance if someone’s not so sporty and the gliding motion is a little harder for them.

Some ski schools employ staff from anywhere across Europe, but I think it’s also important that instructors have local knowledge. Not only is this beneficial in practical ways, but my students often want to learn about the region and hear about our way of life in the mountains. It’s part of the experience.

Have you had any memorable lessons?
It can be tricky to help people up when they fall over in cross-country skis. Unlike heavy ski boots, cross-country shoes are only fixed at the front. This makes things very slippery and there have been comical moments when I’ve pulled someone up only to land on the ground myself.

So you can imagine my thoughts when I was teaching a rugby player who was very muscular and very tall. As I’m slimmish and not so tall, I did wonder how I would get him back on his feet should he fall over. Happily, that didn’t happen. Phew!

Where’s your favourite spot to ski?
That’s difficult to say! I enjoy places where you can be on your own. Two of my favourites are the track in Gsteig because it’s one of the loneliest places for cross-country and also in Lauenen. When you put on your skis at the Hotel Alpenland you have the forest, the Wildhorn – the highest mountain in the Saanenland – and the nature reserve in front, which is quite unique.

ANNA CHARLES

For more information, contact:

mfromang@bluewin.ch