Press release -
Is SKI-DNA essential for conquering the cross country stride?
Skiing season is upon us, and while many Brits go for the down-hill version, the test of your skiing abilities are only truly shown through managing the cross-country diagonal stride.
In Norway there’s a myth about all Norwegians being born with skis on their feet. That's maybe why Norway is a proud ski nation with active skiers of all ages. Cozy weekends with winter activities at the cabin are also a quintessential element in Norwegian culture and traditions.
Testing the myth
But do you really need to have Norwegian roots to master skiing? Meet Thom Jones from York, he’s tested the myth.
– As a child my father made me watch The Heroes of Telemark a lot. That and a love of trolls was the total sum of my knowledge of Norway, Thom says.
And with that and a DNA-test showing 41,2% Scandinavian DNA, Thom went to Norway as a guest of the Norwegian tourism board, to see if the SKI-DNA would do him any good while testing his cross-country slide.
– This feels entirely unnatural, Thom says after the intital test.
– The moment I started sliding and moving on the skis I tensed up, waved frantically and then fell crashing to the ground.
Watch Thom conquer the trails in Norway:
SKI DNA from Visit Norway on Vimeo.
The real test – can you beat Norwegian kids skiing
After some practice Thom tested his newfound skills against some kids. After being completely crushed in a short distance race by Hanne (5), Elise (4) and Iver (5), 45 year-old Thom had to admit defeat:
– But obviously I’m not born with skis, like most Norwegians say they are.
Despite that, Thom is convinced you don’t need to be born with skis to fully enjoy skiing and winter activities.
– Anyone who appreciates breath-taking scenery, beautiful landscapes and the joys of being ‘cosy’ will love it.
