THOUSANDS of us jet off to the snow every winter, but mention skiing and everyone assumes you are talking about downhill skiing.

But there is another exciting option - cross-country skiing or langlauf as it is also known.

Elite cross-country skiers have one of the highest oxygen intake values of any sport - great for improving muscle performance - but it is not just for elite athletes; anyone can have a go and reap the benefits of this fantastic all over body workout.

And you don't have to battle for space on crowded slopes or queue for expensive lifts.

There are two disciplines of cross-country skiing - classic and skating.

In the classic technique, you ski in cut tracks rather like a train following a railway line and the motion is similar to striding along pushing on the left pole while the right leg is in front and vice versa - so-called diagonal stride.

In Scandinavia, you can see whole families out for a day's fresh air, including the dog on a lead and the baby in a sled called a pulk.

Skating is an elegant technique requiring a bit more energy for those new to it.

If you have watched biathlon on television you will see it resembles the movement for roller-skating but with a push on both poles as you glide onto one leg.

Of course, both techniques get a bit more complicated than this with many variations depending on whether you are going downhill, cruising along the flat or uphill.

Yes, you did read this correctly - uphill skiing is not as hard as it sounds! A grip wax is applied to the central zone of classic cross-country skis to enable you to ski uphill.

There are lots of different waxes available for different snow and air temperatures.

If you choose too warm a wax you will accumulate huge lumps of snow under your skis and will be stationary and if you choose too cold a wax you will be taking one step forward and two back.

But this is another aspect of the sport that will appeal to those of a technical mind who relish time spent discussing the options while ironing skis in a waxing room.

And for those that love a challenge, there is cross-country ski racing.

If you are fed-up with the same local road running races year in year out, give it a try.

The Worldloppet series of races are held in snowy countries all over Europe, USA, Canada, and even Australia and attract recreational skiers as well as the finest elite skiers.

Short races start from just 21km and the long races start at 42km with the longest being the Swedish Vasaloppet at 90km.

In fact, the Vasaloppet is the oldest and longest cross-country ski race in the world with a fascinating history.

Around 14,000 nervous skiers line up each year to follow in the footsteps of Gustav Eriksson Vasa who in 1520 tried to overthrow the Danish throne in Sweden.

He ended up fleeing the country to Norway.

The area's two best skiers followed and persuaded him to return to lead the fight against the Danes, which he did and he eventually became king of Sweden.

The race was organised for the first time in 1922 and every year there is a whole week of different ski races including the main 90km race in a wonderful atmosphere of entertainment and music.

And once the ski season is over, those who are hooked on this sport can carry on skiing in Britain - on roller skis!

You may get some funny looks but it is the best training to build you up for the next winter's races.