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Learn cross-country skiing in Chamonix, move on to skating, improve your technique or prepare for a race in a training course: Richard Etellin, French state-qualified instructor, helps you progress at your own pace, in private lessons, in English or French.
5.0
84 Google reviews · state-qualified
€140
1.5-hour introductory lesson, 1 to 2 people · half day €270
“I arrived completely new to cross country skiing, and after 2 hours of Richard’s instruction I feel ready to tackle the trails on my own.”
Karl S., Google review · Read the reviews
State-qualified
Trained at ENSA in Chamonix
5.0 on Google
84 reviews
27 years
teaching skiing, since 1999
English, French
lessons in both languages
Starting out
Never tried it? Cross-country skiing for beginners starts with the equipment. Richard advises you on the right equipment and explains what each item is for. You rent it opposite the trails, at Intersport Chamonix Nord: the ski hire price in Chamonix is shown in the shop. The meeting point is agreed with Richard when you book: in Chamonix, the shop, then the start of the trails at the Bois du Bouchet, at the Maison nordique. The valley trails lie between 1,000 and 1,300 m altitude: bring warm clothes, gloves and water. Learn cross-country skiing in a private lesson, or, to walk rather than glide, try a snowshoe outing with Richard.
On the learning area where you learn cross-country skiing, you first put on one ski, then the other. The first things to learn: putting on your skis and getting up on your own. Then come the basics for beginners:
When you feel at ease, you go out on a green, easy trail to link the movements together. Is cross-country skiing easy to learn? With a correct technique, you can already cover several kilometres, and enjoy it.
Recommended length
A half day, or a 1.5-hour lesson
Where
Bois du Bouchet, on foot or by car from the centre of Chamonix
Price, 1 to 2 people
€140 for a 1.5-hour lesson, €270 for a half day
Two techniques
Classic cross-country skiing vs skate? Richard’s advice is classic cross-country skiing for beginners: take your first lesson in the classic style, to work on balance, on coordinating your arms and legs, and on propulsion.
It is the original style, the one Richard recommends to learn cross-country skiing. You ski in two parallel tracks, with the diagonal stride.
All the basics of skiing are there. With waxless fish-scale skis, everyone can start and work the whole body.
It appeared on the World Cup circuit in the 1980s and is done on a smooth trail, without tracks.
You push on your skis like a skater, with the help of your arms. A cardio and balance sport, for speed and long distances.
Skating
Trail running, cycling, mountain biking, triathlon: skating appeals to endurance athletes and to young people. To help you learn to skate ski, Richard breaks the skater’s step down movement by movement, on the groomed trails of the valley.
Your skis open in a V and you push on the side of the ski, with one leg and then the other. Everything depends on balance, on one ski at a time.
Skating poles are longer than classic poles. The push of the arms adds to the push of the legs and sets the rhythm.
On a slope, the step gets shorter and the arms work more. You learn to change step without losing your momentum.
On request, I learned a new skill, the cross country skating technique from Richard Etellin. Richard offered many exercises which helped my understanding of the different movements in this cross country variant. Thus, I was able to improve considerably in just one afternoon.
Barbara A.
Google review · visited in January 2024
Technique
To learn cross-country skiing, these are the movements Richard explains and breaks down in his lessons, from the first step to improving your technique.
The key movement of the classic cross-country skiing technique. One leg pushes while the other glides, and the opposite arm goes with it. You work on it in the tracks, looking for coordination.
Both poles push at the same time, skis parallel. It is used on the flat and on gentle descents, and it works the upper body.
On thin, light skis, going downhill needs balance. You learn the right position, then how to change direction with small steps.
Skis in a V, tips close together: this is the cross-country skier’s first brake. It is one of the basics you work on from the introductory lesson.
Improving
Ski several kilometres without stopping, prepare for a popular race such as the Transjurassienne, the Foulée Blanche, the Bessans International Marathon or the Run and Skate: you improve through practice, with an outside eye on your movements.
A movement that causes you problems, discomfort in certain movements: Richard looks for the correction with teaching exercises.
Cross-country skiing requires the habit of long efforts. Richard Etellin coaches students at the Roger Frison-Roche high school in Chamonix and has raced the Transjurassienne and the Foulée Blanche.
“I’ve only trained for once with Richard before going to the Engadin XC ski marathon and finished the skating half marathon without much suffering.”
Xiao L., Google review
Training course
A course is one session or several, to prepare for a sporting event you have set yourself: a long-distance cross-country ski race, such as the Engadin Skimarathon (Switzerland) or the Vasaloppet (Sweden), or a triathlon, to work on your cardio on cross-country skis. Coming for a cross-country skiing weekend in Chamonix? Book one session or several. Below, the three courses to choose from.
1
For a long-distance cross-country ski race, such as the Engadin Skimarathon (Switzerland) or the Vasaloppet (Sweden).
2
Work on the skating technique, to prepare for your race or your goal.
3
A triathlon ahead (swimming, cycling, running) or a marathon: work on your cardio on cross-country skis.
Cross-country race and marathon training
Skating training
Cardio training for a triathlon or a marathon
Course price
€150 for a 1.5-hour session, for 1 to 2 people, from age 12. For several dates or more than 2 people, contact Richard.
One session or several, depending on your goal. All the 2026-2027 winter prices of cross-country ski lessons are on the Prices page.
Richard excelled in teaching us the skills required to really get the most out of our holiday and made sure we all fully enjoyed our three days of skiing.
Julie C.
Google review · visited in March 2025
Compare
Already a downhill skier? Several of Richard’s students came from downhill skiing. Cross-country skiing keeps the glide, but changes almost everything else.
| What changes | Cross-country skiing | Downhill skiing |
|---|---|---|
| The heel | Free: it lifts at every step | Fixed to the ski |
| The skis | Thin and light. Long and flexible in classic, shorter and more responsive in skating | Wide and heavy |
| The boots | Low and soft in classic, higher in skating | Rigid shells |
| The terrain | Groomed and tracked trails, on the flat, uphill and downhill | Downhill slopes |
| Access | Nordic trail pass, sold at the Maison nordique in Chamonix (trail pass prices) | Ski lift pass |
| The effort | Glide, balance and stamina | Mostly the legs, going downhill |
Even if you are a major downhill skier, definitely try cross country skiing at least once. It’s an opportunity to find more peace and serenity among the slopes.
Andrew Z.
Google review · visited in March 2024
An injury, or rehabilitation? Ask your doctor first, then talk to Richard so that he can adapt the session.
Who for
Children from age 6 and adults, at all levels, from beginners to experts, learn cross-country skiing with Richard. His oldest cross-country ski student was 86.
With the family or with a parent, the introductory lesson takes place on an easy trail, at the child’s pace. Déborah booked an introductory lesson for her whole family. In her review, written in French, she says that an 8-year-old child in the group enjoyed it so much that he wants to take biathlon lessons with Richard the following year:
« Un enfant de 8 ans faisait parti du groupe. Ça lui a tellement plu qu’il veut prendre des cours de Biathlon avec Richard l’an prochain. »
Déborah G., Google review in French · February 2024
Complete beginner, downhill skier or endurance athlete: the lesson starts from your level, without pushing you faster than you want. The cross-country ski lessons for adults go from beginner to expert.
“He’s really patient with first timers like me with subpar downhill skiing skills!”
Samantha T., Google review · February 2026
You can also learn cross-country skiing later in life. The pace and the trails adapt to your fitness.
“In 3 hours, Richard took me from someone who’d never skied (at all) to someone who could cross country ski. Not bad for my 70th birthday!”
David K., Google review
Google reviews
5.0
84 reviews on the Google listing
checked on 16 October 2026
Questions
Lessons for beginners are for children and adults alike. They are possible from age 6; Richard’s oldest student was 86. In the Google reviews, an 8-year-old child took the introductory lesson with his family, and one student says he learned for his 70th birthday: you can learn cross-country skiing as a child or when you retire. With the family or with a parent, a child discovers gliding on an easy trail, at his or her own pace: this is how the cross-country ski lessons for children work. After his session, this young skier wanted to take biathlon lessons in Chamonix the following winter.
It depends on each person. In their reviews, some students say they were ready to ski on their own after 2 hours, others after three lessons. One beginner says she learned the basics of skate skiing in a single lesson. For cross-country ski lessons for beginners, Richard recommends a half day or a 1.5-hour lesson. Richard does not push you faster than you want: the pace is yours. Planning cross-country skiing holidays for beginners? Richard sells lessons, not holiday packages: you book your travel and accommodation yourself. The options for cross-country ski lessons in Chamonix go from a 1.5-hour lesson to a full day.
You need to be in good health, not to be an athlete. The introductory lesson takes place on easy trails, at your own pace. To learn the classic style, waxless fish-scale skis allow everyone to start, and the whole body works. A skating lesson asks for more effort: it is a cardio and balance sport, popular with trail runners and cyclists. You will feel your arms, your legs and your breathing, but the pace stays yours. An injury, or rehabilitation? Ask your doctor first, then contact the cross-country ski instructor in Chamonix before you book.
The green trails are open to everyone with the Nordic trail pass. But when you learn cross-country skiing, balance, weight transfer, the snowplough or getting up after a fall come more quickly with an instructor. In cross-country skiing, technique improves with an outside eye on your movements. A first ski lesson for beginners in Chamonix, of 1.5 hours or a half day, lays these foundations. Several students who came to learn to cross-country ski on holiday say they then went off skiing on their own for the rest of their stay. The map of the Chamonix Nordic ski area then helps you choose the easy trails.
As you wish: a course is one 1.5-hour session or several, to prepare for a sporting event you have set yourself. It can be a long-distance cross-country ski race, such as the Engadin Skimarathon (Switzerland) or the Vasaloppet (Sweden), or a triathlon, to work on your cardio on cross-country skis. Richard offers three courses: cross-country race and marathon training, skating training, and cardio training for a triathlon or a marathon.
A session costs €150 for 1 to 2 people, from age 12; for more than 2 people, contact Richard. Coming for a cross-country skiing weekend in Chamonix? Tell Richard your dates and your goal. The three courses are described in the cross-country ski course in Chamonix section above, and the other options with the prices of cross-country ski lessons.
When you learn cross-country skiing, both techniques are possible from the first lesson, and Richard teaches both. Classic, or the diagonal stride, is skied in the tracks: the skis stay parallel, and it is the most natural movement to start with, which is why Richard advises classic cross-country skiing for beginners. Skating, also called the skater’s step, is done on the smooth groomed trail: it is faster, and it needs more balance and stamina. Skate skiing as a beginner is therefore possible, especially if you already do trail running or cycling. Not sure between skating and classic? Tell Richard when you book. To learn skate skiing, see also the two techniques of cross-country skiing and skate ski hire in Chamonix.
Yes. Skating training is one of Richard’s three courses: one 1.5-hour session or several, to prepare for a race or a goal, at €150 for 1 to 2 people, from age 12. It works on the skater’s step, the arm push and linking steps uphill. It appeals to endurance athletes: trail runners, cyclists or triathletes. Never done any cross-country skiing? Richard recommends starting with classic, which works on balance, coordination and propulsion. To learn skating, the equipment also changes: shorter skis, higher boots, longer poles. Staying in the valley and searching for “skate skiing lessons near me”? Lessons take place in Chamonix, Les Houches or Argentière. Both techniques are part of Richard’s private cross-country ski lessons.
Yes, in cross-country skiing, also called Nordic skiing, in classic as well as skating: Richard teaches many beginners. He does not teach downhill skiing, which is a different sport. His ski lessons for beginners in Chamonix are therefore cross-country lessons, in private lessons, in English or French. For a first cross-country ski lesson, the recommended technique is classic, on a learning area and then on a green trail. Richard is a ski instructor in Chamonix, specialised in cross-country skiing, French state-qualified, and he has taught skiing since 1999. Wondering whether Chamonix is good for beginners? See the last question below.
They are two different sports. Downhill skiing is done going down slopes, with the ski lifts and their pass. Cross-country skiing, also called Nordic skiing, is done with a free heel on groomed trails, on the flat, uphill and downhill: it combines glide, balance and stamina. Between cross-country and downhill skiing, it all depends on what you are looking for. Several of Richard’s students came from downhill skiing to learn cross-country skiing. Richard teaches cross-country skiing, not downhill skiing. To get an idea of the terrain, see the cross-country ski trails in the Chamonix valley.
It depends on each person, and on what you compare it with: downhill skiing is a different sport. Your introductory cross-country ski lesson in Chamonix starts on a learning area, then on a green trail: balance, weight transfer, snowplough. On thin, light skis, the descents then require balance. One student says he could cross-country ski after 3 hours of lessons, without ever having skied before. To learn cross-country skiing, whether you ski downhill or not, the private cross-country ski lesson starts from your level.
For cross-country skiing holidays for beginners, the valley has easy terrain to start on. In Chamonix, the Bois du Bouchet area, which you can reach on foot or by car from the town centre, has a learning area and green trails. One student writes that Chamonix has a large area perfect for beginners, with ski hire right next to the trails, and that the Nordic hut is a good place for a picnic.
The partner shop, Intersport Chamonix Nord, is opposite the trails, and the trail pass is sold at the Maison nordique. If you want to learn to cross-country ski on holiday, a 1.5-hour lesson or a half day fits into your stay. The trails are described on the practical information page.
Book
To learn cross-country skiing with Richard, choose the length and the date, then pay the 50% deposit. For a training course, write to him directly.
Online booking
Choose the formula, then the line for your group size: the price is shown. The “Book” button opens Richard’s calendar in a new tab, to choose the day and time; you then enter your details on the secure booking page (in French).
Up to 4 people
€580
6 hours, from 9:00 to 16:30. More than 4 people: contact Richard.
Race and marathon · 1 to 2 people
€150
Skating · 1 to 2 people
€150
Cardio, triathlon or marathon · 1 to 2 people
€150
1.5-hour session, from age 12. Several dates or more than 2 people: contact Richard.
