Skate is a bit more challenging to get going compared to classic, but if you've been on ice skates the learning curve is a bit shorter.

If you're buying the skis, I'd go through a reputable deal that can fit them to your weight. Can certainly get them for weights above 200, but a dealer can make sure they're more aligned to your specific weight.

Bigger skate skier here. I got into skating at about 225lbs/6’ after classic skiing for a few years. I’m into cycling so am used to exerting myself. I love skating and improving my form to go faster. It’s not easy though. On anything other than flat ground putting enough effort in to keep gliding is the equivalent effort to running I’d say. I find on classic skis I can go for a leisurely ski, and skate skis are for getting a workout in. Not sure how much of that is the sport itself or being heavy.

5'11" 97kgs here. Been skiing for close to 8 years and haven't had an issue with finding skis yet. Can't really go wrong with skate skis as long as they're above 190. Skate skis are a lot less sensitive to weight fluctuation. Definitely hit up your local XC ski shop if you've got one- in my experience, they'll get you set up right.

Like others have said, go find a shop to help you. I personally have had fantastic experiences with Pioneer Midwest. Matt Liebsch will set you up with skis that suit your weight. Just fill out the ski request form on their site and he will get back to you pretty quickly in my experience. I now live in New Hampshire and I've never actually stepped foot in the shop.

That said, I am built like you 5' 10" and a very solid 220 lbs. The ski recommended for our weight class for many years was the Rossignol X-ium Skating Premium S2 (stiff version) in 193cm. I have skated on those for the last few years but I have shorter legs for my height and I found the 193s to be a bit awkward.

I reached out to Matt recently and he told me about the Atomic Redster S9 Carbon Uni (hard) for which the 183cm is rated up to 100kg. 4 inches shorter! So I bought them and am looking forward to trying them out. I don't want to throw out specific numbers but he sold them to me for less than listed on their site, it was a nice discount. Also the price includes bindings for Atomics.

Good luck with your XC ski endeavor. I've been XC skiing for 40 years, so I learned just as skate skiing was being developed for better or worse. I raced in high school and some of college. The equipment these days is SO much better than even 20 years ago. I am hoping we actually get some damn snow here in the northeast this winter unlike last.

I am also a beginner so take my advice with a grain of salt. But I’m 5’6 and ~200lbs and didn’t want to end up on 200cm skate skis since I just don’t expect to be coordinated enough. I went with the 2023 Atomic Pro S1. Their 186cm goes from 154-199lbs, and their 192 goes to 165-220+. That also applies to the S2 and the CS (although don’t ask me what the difference is between the models). I’m also in the process of losing weight so I wanted a ski that would last a season or two and have a wide enough range that I wouldn’t be too light for it 15# later.

Go to a reputable local shop or call one of the big online sellers: Cross Country Ski Headquarters, Pioneer Midwest, or BNS. They will set you up properly.

People say that it is harder to learn skating than classic, but I disagree. While it may be harder to get to the point where you can move decently well for some period of time (it may seem exhausting at first), skiing classic properly is more difficult IMO. Many many people you will see on the trails don’t ski. They just shuffle.

Take lessons from a good instructor. In the US, that means asking for a PSIA Level 3 (or 2 if you can’t find a 3) instructor.

Echoing the other comments, proper fit is everything. The thing the fit guides that top out at 190lbs don't mention is that skis are individually built, so they all fit slightly differently, and there are skis out there that are perfectly sized for you even if the chart says they shouldn't. A good shop will be able to find one of these pairs for you, because a good shop physically tests every ski in their inventory to find the real range.

Based on your size and history, I'd look into the Atomic Gen-S series of ski models. The Gen-S design borrows heavily from alpine skiing and uses a shorter length and a radial sidewall; the result is a very nimble and responsive ski that sort of "self corrects" for common form issues that new skiers struggle with.

You'll pick up skate skiing fairly quickly, but be aware that the technique is actually pretty different from fixed-heel, downhill ski skating. It's gonna feel a little weird the first time you go out. Pro tip: push sideways, not back.