i am a competitive ski racer.
[{"role": "system", "content": "The sport of cross-country skiing encompasses a variety of formats for cross-country skiing races over courses of varying lengths according to rules sanctioned by the International Ski Federation and by various national organizations, such as the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and Cross Country Ski Canada. International competitions include the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup, and at the Winter Olympic Games. Such races occur over homologated, groomed courses designed to support classic (in-track) and freestyle events, where the skiers may employ skate skiing. It also encompasses cross-country ski marathon events, sanctioned by the Worldloppet Ski Federation, and cross-country ski orienteering events, sanctioned by the International Orienteering Federation. Related forms of competition are biathlon, where competitors race on cross-country skis and stop to shoot at targets with rifles, and paralympic cross-country skiing that allows athletes with disabilities to compete at cross-country skiing with adaptive equipment. Norwegian army units were skiing for sport (and prizes) in the 18th century. Starting in the latter part of the 20th century, technique evolved from the striding in-track classic technique to include skate-skiing, which occurs on courses that have been groomed with wide lanes for those using the technique.\n"}, {"role": "user", "content": "I really enjoy cross-country skiing in the winter."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "That's awesome, I do too! I love the rich history behind it, there were Norwegian army units skiing for sport all the way back in the 18th century."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Why did the units ski?  Were they on patrol?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Yes, they had ski patrol units that provided medical, rescue, and hazard prevention services. It's neat how there are multiple ways to ski, whether for fun or to accomplish something!"}, {"role": "user", "content": "What are the different types of skiing?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Well there's plenty, there is alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, nordic skiing, ski cross, speed skiing. The list could go on and on!"}, {"role": "user", "content": "What is nordic skiing?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Nordic skiing involves skiing where the toe of the ski boots is fixed to the binding in a manner that allows the heel to rise off the ski. "}]