Hi skiit,

I'm something of a newb to winter sports (I've been downhill skiing once and did ok and loved it), but I love to get outdoors. I'm currently living in Toronto and planning a weekend trip to a cottage in northern Ontario, and I can rent xc skis for really cheap, but I don't really want to spend the time or money on real lessons on this trip.

So here's my probably stupid question: is there any reason not to just jump into this with nothing but some youtube videos of xc technique under my belt? Will I risk injury to my pride or person? Will I end up stuck at the trailhead unable to move anywhere? Will I ruin the tracks that are so carefully protected from post-holing hikers? Will it be a complete waste of money?

If I should go for it, do you have any advice? I'll be on a lake, so I figure if nothing else I can just head straight out onto the ice to practice on flat land at least. Then I was thinking of finding some xc trails in one of the nearby provincial parks.