I know it's getting wintery but before it falls big time if your looking for something different to help get you into shape particularly for X-country skiing then checkout Skikes.
http://www.skike.com/html3/index_1_en.php#en

you can hire them from Andreas Schaad www.schaad-nordicsports.ch
he does lessons too, speaks excellent english and is really helpful.

the movement and poling is identical to skate skiing but as your standing on a bigger platform it's easier than on the ski's, not as scary as in line skating and you can go off road a little too.