Editing Cross-country skiing (section)

==Competition==
{{Main article|Cross-country skiing (sport)}}
Cross-country ski competition encompasses a variety of formats for races over courses of varying lengths according to rules sanctioned by the [[International Ski and Snowboard Federation]] (FIS) and by national organizations, such as the [[U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association]]<ref>{{cite web | last = Directors | title = Cross Country Sport Committee | work = USSA Programs | publisher = U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) | date = 2012 | url = http://ussa.org/ussa/cross-country-sport-committee | access-date = 2014-11-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141105103943/http://ussa.org/ussa/cross-country-sport-committee | archive-date = 5 November 2014 | url-status = dead}}</ref> and Cross Country Ski Canada.<ref>{{cite web | last = Directors | title = Rules and Regulations | publisher = Cross Country Ski Canada | date = 2012 | url = http://www.cccski.com/Events/Rules-and-Regulations.aspx | access-date = 2014-11-04 | archive-date = 23 October 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141023142758/http://www.cccski.com/Events/Rules-and-Regulations.aspx | url-status = dead }}</ref> It also encompasses cross-country [[ski marathon]] events, sanctioned by the [[Worldloppet Ski Federation]], cross-country [[ski orienteering]] events, sanctioned by the [[International Orienteering Federation]], and Paralympic cross-country skiing, sanctioned by the [[International Paralympic Committee]].

===FIS-sanctioned competition===
[[File:Anna Haag 2011-02-28.jpg|Swede [[Anna Haag]] with classic technique in the women's 10&nbsp;km classic race at the [[:en:FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011|2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships]] in Oslo, Norway.|thumb|right]]
The [[FIS Nordic World Ski Championships]] have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. From 1924 to 1939, the World Championships were held every year, including the [[Winter Olympic Games]]. After World War II, the World Championships were held every four years from 1950 to 1982. Since 1985, the World Championships have been held in odd-numbered years.<ref name=FIS>{{cite web| title = FIS History | work = About FIS | publisher = International Ski Federation | url = http://www.fis-ski.com/inside-fis/about/fis-history/snowsports/ | access-date = 2014-10-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140807205119/http://www.fis-ski.com/inside-fis/about/fis-history/snowsports/ | archive-date = 7 August 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Notable cross-country ski competitions include the Winter Olympics, the [[FIS Nordic World Ski Championships]], and the FIS World Cup events (including the [[Holmenkollen ski jump|Holmenkollen]]).

===Other sanctioned competition===
[[Ski marathon|Cross-country ski marathons]]—races with distances greater than 40 kilometers—have two cup series, the [[Cross-country skiing (sport)#Ski Classics series|Ski Classics]], which started in 2011,<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://www.vismaskiclassics.com
 | title = Visma Ski Classics
 | last = Nilsson
 | first = David
 | date = 2015
 | access-date = 2015-12-15
 | archive-date = 13 May 2020
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200513191140/https://vismaskiclassics.com/
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref> and the [[Cross-country skiing (sport)#Worldloppet series|Worldloppet]].<ref name=Worldloppet/> Skiers race in classic or free-style (skating) events, depending on the rules of the race. Notable [[Worldloppet Ski Federation|ski marathons]], include the ''[[Vasaloppet]]'' in [[Sweden]], ''[[Birkebeinerrennet|Birkebeineren]]'' in Norway, the [[Tartu Maraton]] in [[Estonia]], the [[Engadin Skimarathon]] in [[Switzerland]], the [[American Birkebeiner]], the [[Tour of Anchorage]] in [[Anchorage]], [[Alaska]], and the [[Boreal Loppet]], held in [[Forestville, Quebec]], Canada.<ref name=Worldloppet>{{cite web| title = What is Worldloppet? | publisher = Worldloppet Ski Federation | date = 2012 | url = http://www.worldloppet.com/what_is_worldloppet.php | access-date = 2014-10-23 | archive-date = 25 October 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141025111411/http://www.worldloppet.com/what_is_worldloppet.php | url-status = live }}</ref>

[[Biathlon]] combines cross-country skiing and [[shooting sport|rifle shooting]]. Depending on the shooting performance, extra distance or time is added to the contestant's total running distance/time. For each shooting round, the biathlete must hit five targets; the skier receives a penalty for each missed target, which varies according to the competition rules.<ref>{{cite web | last = IBU Congress | title = IBU Event and Competition Rules | work = Rules adopted by the 2012 10th Regular IBU Congress | publisher = International Biathlon Union | date = 2012 | url = http://www.biathlonworld.com/media/download/Handbook_event_and_competition_rules.pdf | access-date = 2015-06-29 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184852/http://www.biathlonworld.com/media/download/Handbook_event_and_competition_rules.pdf | archive-date = 23 September 2015}}</ref>

[[Ski orienteering]] is a form of cross-country skiing competition that requires navigation in a landscape, making optimal route choices at racing speeds. Standard [[orienteering map]]s are used, but with special green overprinting of trails and tracks to indicate their [[Navigate|navigability]] in [[snow]]; other symbols indicate whether any roads are snow-covered or clear. Standard skate-skiing equipment is used, along with a map holder attached to the chest. It is one of the four [[orienteering]] disciplines [[Sport governing body|recognized]] by the [[International Orienteering Federation]]. Upper body strength is especially important because of frequent double poling along narrow snow trails.<ref>{{cite web| title = Ski Orienteering
 | publisher = International Orienteering Federation
 | date = 2011
 | url = http://orienteering.org/ski-orienteering/
 | access-date = 2015-06-29
 | archive-date = 17 July 2015
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150717082430/http://orienteering.org/ski-orienteering/
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref>

[[Paralympic cross-country skiing|Paralympic cross-country ski competition]] is an adaptation of cross-country skiing for athletes with disabilities. Paralympic cross-country skiing includes standing events, sitting events (for wheelchair users), and events for visually impaired athletes under the rules of the [[International Paralympic Committee]]. These are divided into several categories for people who are missing limbs, have amputations, are blind, or have any other physical disability, to continue their sport.<ref name = "Nordic Skiing Classification">{{cite web | last = IPC | title = Nordic Skiing Classification | work = IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon | publisher = International Paralympic Committee | date = 2013 | url = http://www.paralympic.org/nordic-skiing/rules-and-regulations/classification | access-date = 2014-10-04 | archive-date = 4 December 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141204023805/http://www.paralympic.org/nordic-skiing/rules-and-regulations/classification | url-status = live }}</ref>