In sports, cross country can refer to a variety of competitive events that are all excellent for a bet, but with the most popular of these currently accepted as cross country running (in which runners working as a team complete a course over rough or open terrain while competing with other teams), cross country cycling, cross country equestrianism and cross country skiing.

Arguably, cross country skiing is the most popular of these and there are several types of cross country competitive events held across the coldest countries, including races of various lengths and types. There is even a cross country skiing biathlon where participants not only ski cross country, but also compete at target shooting!

There are three main events in which cross country skiing is a huge part of and a huge draw for bets. These include the Winter Olympics, the FIS World Cup and the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. These events are often fast and furious, with the world's fastest cross country skiers competing for coveted titles. Of course, cross country skiing isn't always fast - there are even special distance ski races (or ski marathons as they are sometimes known) held in Sweden, Norway and Canada. These events are fantastic for a first-time bet, allowing punters to really spot a favourite.

The addition of the Sprint event to the Olympic and World Cup competitions has lead to greater audiences for cross country skiing - with most who enjoy the sport safely warm at home in front of their televisions. Mass start, relay and pursuit games have added extra excitement to the game and are fantastic for betting upon - odds are often excellent, with surprise winners not uncommon!