Equipment (skis, boots, poles)
Cross country ski gear can be bought locally at REI and LLBean in Pittsburgh, Peak Ski and Snowboard in Monroeville and Route 31 Board and Ski in Somerset.
Also check the resale page on the PACCSA website.
Equipment can be rented by the day from the concession at Laurel Ridge State Park, and by the day or by the season from
Whitegrass have a "buy once and get a no charge trade up until adult sizes" deal for children.
Purchasing or season rental is recommended over daily rental for its flexibility - with enough snow you may be able to ski on your local golf course or even in your backyard. Waxless classic skis are recommended for beginners.
Clothing
Clothing for winter running or cycling would also be suitable for xc skiing. Dress in layers. The first layer should be wicking material (eg polyester), not cotton, and the top layer should be windproof and shed snow easily (smooth texture, eg nylon but not fleece which snow tends to stick onto). Wool socks are best, mittens are warmer than gloves, a turtleneck shirt or neck gaiter is recommended and a hat is essential. Snowpants are fine for the youngest beginners but tend to be too warm for the faster-moving kids - downhill ski jackets also get much too warm. Don't forget sunglasses and a spare pair of mittens or gloves. A change of clothes is sometimes needed for the journey home. A warm coat and snowboots are useful to get from the car to the warming hut, but not for skiing.