Nordic skiing is the oldest of winter sports. It has been used as a means of transport for hunting and other travels for more than 4,500 years in the Scandinavian countries, where it gave humans greater mobility on snow by limiting their driving. The further development of its military use made it possible to refine its design and increase its performances. The first Nordic ski clubs appeared in Norway in the mid-19th century, marking the beginning of the practice's evolution towards a recreational activity.