It might not the most accessible snow sport, but cross-country skiing is a lot easier to get into than some people think.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Michael Russell, restaurant critic for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who is also a Nordic skiing enthusiast. Russell recounts his journey from spectactor of the 2018 Winter Olympics to an avid cross-country skier.

As Russell tells it, anybody can get into cross-country skiing, whether you’ve ever touched a ski or not. While Nordic skiers can work their way up to the level of elite athletes (or do their best to), the sport can be easy to pick up, especially if you’re just trying to have a nice day in the snow.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• How the Winter Olympics inspired Michael Russell to try out Nordic skiing.
• There are levels to cross-country skiing.
• The best places in Oregon to ski.
• How Michael Russell almost ate snow in front of his idol, Jessie Diggins.

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