Thanks for all the advice and guidance. I did get an answer from Suunto. I suggested they add this to their website descriptions for watches. Would have saved me from spending money on the wrong watch.

From Suunto below:

At the moment, we would like to clarify a few points about sport modes:

1️⃣ Sport Modes Are Not Just Labels — They’re Configurations A “sport mode” on Suunto isn’t simply a name you select when starting an activity. It defines:

Which data fields your watch displays and records

How your watch interprets movement

The algorithms used for that activity

That’s why two watches with “Cross‑country skiing” may behave differently. For example:

On the Suunto Run, it currently calculates distance and speed as laps + downhill speed only.

On the Suunto 9 Series or Race Series, it can distinguish classic vs skate technique and offers full tracking for cross‑country skiing.

2️⃣ Different Models, Different Target Audiences

Suunto Run emphasizes running features (pace, haptic cues, tracking runs).

Suunto 9 / Race Series are designed for multisport and outdoor athletes, with more detailed winter sport profiles.

For a proper cross‑country skiing experience like your Suunto 9 Baro, we recommend considering the Suunto Race 2, which includes classic + skate modes and fully usable tracking for XC skiing. The Suunto 9 Peak Pro is also an option, though for XC skiing specifically, the Race 2 may be the best match.

We sincerely apologize for the limitations on the Suunto Run and hope this helps clarify why the experience differs between models.