i didnt know cross country was more popular, but if it is i guess its because you dont need lifts, and also you dont need mountains, also many snowy countries like Iceland, are flatter, and the population use cross country skiing as a form of transport.
It depends what type of skiing you want to do. There is cross county, helicopter skiing and downhill.
No, nordic skiing is same as cross-country skiing.
Some popular skiing methods include downhill skiing, cross country skiing, moguls and slalom. If you are feeling adventurous, you may consider snowboarding - a version of skiing that utilizes one "board" instead of two separate blades.
Cross-country skiing is a sport of skiing over the countryside rather than on downhill runs.
Cross-country: Norway Downhill: Austria
skiing downhill is much faster. An pro skiier will achieve speeds of up to 80mph on a typical downhill course. The current downhill ski record stands at just over 151mph
Some, but not as much as cross-country skiing
Water skiing, Downhill skiing, cross country skiing, freestyle skiing, ski jumping, so on.
Yllas is a fell in Finland that is popular for cross country and downhill skiing. Yllas is located in the municipality of Kolari in Lapland Province.
Quite a bit is different. The gear is different, the skis are straight, as opposed to downhill skis being curved (the curve makes it easier to turn on a downhill slope), the boots in cross country are not stationary in the bindings, as downhill boots are, instead you can move the heels, and the poles used in cross country are longer. Also, the slopes are not nearly as steep as in downhill skiing.
Downhill skiing is not judged. Downhill is based purely on time, like NASCAR or track.
The country that won the silver medal in Men's Downhill Alpine Skiing in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics is Italy.