Developing a solid push off when skating on cross country skis

Developing a solid push off is an important part of skating on cross country skis. Skiers may wish to view this blog post to get more information on this topic - keithnicol.blog.... Also the following video deals more fully with the circle skate discussed briefly in this video- • Try this drill for imp... Thanks to Auclair Gloves and Infinity Ski Poles for sponsoring this video.

[@Wendathena]

Thanks for this video - I love to see the examples of how it looks when you are doing it wrong! Your videos have helped me improving my skating skills tremedously!

[@k2nicol]

Its a common problem . I see it quite abit

[@k2nicol]

@Larry Terry Let me know how it works

[@mayb.wright509]

Thanks so much for this. A great refresher after 20+ years of not xc skiing that helped me identify that my sideways slip is due to my technique and not the wrong wax(!) Greatly admire your ability to demonstrate the "wrong" technique - the sign of a true master. Blessings.

[@k2nicol]

Thanks for nice note

[@wstks-fmworldwide5390]

These videos on skating are very helpful to my wife, who is a seasoned downhill, classic XC, and speed skater, but new to skate skiing. Thank you!

[@brucesimms4862]

Thank you Keith. Your videos are great for both my skiing and my instructor toolbox

[@k2nicol]

Great. Thanks for the note.

[@HS-ob3fz]

Keith you are an amazing teacher and your videos are immensely efficient and to the point. Thank you for taking the time to help others who are getting into this amazing sport!

[@k2nicol]

Thanks for the comment. Glad it helped.

[@tarbooshx]

Thank you so much Keith for your videos. They made a huge change on how I ski as they helped me fix essential problems I had. I found myself repeatedly coming back to many of your videos and this repetition helped significantly.

[@k2nicol]

Thanks for the note

[@TheSandkastenverbot]

That's exactly my nr. 1 weakness. Thank you for this great explanation and all the tips to improve the push-off!

[@k2nicol]

Glad it helps

[@lyndabrown2748]

execellent drill this has helped me coach advanced skiers who have not been using a strong push

[@k2nicol]

Great to hear ..thanks for the note.

[@TheSdlevenson]

I was once a CANSI instructor and Coached many years. Your videos are short and sweet. I’ve been sharing with my friends who I’m helping to get started skating. They are a great way to introduce a drill I’m going to use or to reinforce something I’ve shown them on the trails. No poles skiing is not sexy or exciting but it is always the best bang for the learning buck. Thanks! We owe you a lunch or a beer or at least a coffee if we ever bump into you at Mt. Washington.

[@k2nicol]

Looking forward to it. Cheers.

[@lenk0belk0]

Thanks for explanations and examples, they make my mistakes much more clear to fix them!

[@jeffw7998]

Excellent training tips on getting proper push off. The drills to work on this area of the technique are very good. Thank you for sharing.

[@k2nicol]

Thanks for the note

[@MichaelJobLoquellano]

Thanks for always making a very good video for beginners like us: short, direct to the point with a very good explanation. My family really benefits from your work! How I wish you can be our instructor one day! Keep it up @k2nicol! All the best to you sir!

[@k2nicol]

If .you ever get to Mount Washington Ski Resort on Vanc Island let me know.

[@MichaelJobLoquellano]

@@k2nicol for sure. if you have a special lesson here in Alberta announce it too we live in Calgary. Cheers!

[@ColinBFClarke]

This helped a bunch. I needed to know this because I didn’t know how to get a nice kick off

[@k2nicol]

Glad it helped

[@amando96]

I saw this suggestion of yours in another video and it made my last drill session one of the best! I could actually feel the power of my legs, and proper weight transfer made me feel in control :) I think circle skate (of varying diameters) + side jumps will be part of my warm ups from now on.

[@k2nicol]

Great to hear

[@FrackFreeNL]

Keith ... I just reviewed your videos (again) on skating and classic and they are extremely well done. There are many skiers at Whaleback Nordic who still go into your videos to get pointers on technique. You are certainly missed here in NL where you visited many of the 30 plus clubs to give CANSI Level 1 & 2 courses and technique improvement clinics. I think back to the days when you would come out to Whaleback to give clinics and there would always be a waiting list to get in a group. The move from the east coast to the west coast seems to have worked out very well for you and Heather. Keep posting the videos as you still have lots of dedicated followers back here in NL. (Graham Oliver, Stephenville NL, CANSI 2 Instructor)

[@k2nicol]

Thanks for the note Graham...sure miss those trips to Whaleback Nordic for ski clinics and races. If any of your skiers want to improve their skiing via my on line instructional programme where by they send in xc ski videos for me to review have them contact me at : [e-mail]

[@ihatecorn9887]

Your videos are the best. They’ve helped me tremendously. Keep up the great work 👍

[@k2nicol]

Glad to hear

[@erikafortin1737]

Great videos, will truly help with teaching my boyfriend how to xc ski!

[@k2nicol]

Hope these ideas work

[@thibod07]

Thank you for your video Keith! I surely hope that you meet your subscriptions objectives for this year!

[@k2nicol]

Was aiming for 5000 subscibers and now it is close to 6000 so pleased with that. Thanks for the note.

[@colinw1692]

thank you!!!!

[@mejaii]

Thank you! I've definitely been making this mistake

[@k2nicol]

Hopefully with this video you can change it to a solid push off

[@mejaii]

@@k2nicol I can't wait to try the drills and exercises. Thank you for your videos, they are very insightful for a beginner like me!

[@judithmorency4805]

WoW! Thank you for sharing your expertise! 😀

[@k2nicol]

Thanks for the note

[@carolynstock287]

Thank you for this. It just resolved an ongoing argument between my husband and I. Confirmed that I was right. lol

[@Mr.Sanderz]

Thank you

[@ЕвгенийСтародубцев-н7у]

Thank you!!!

[@k2nicol]

Thanks for the note. Most appreciated.

[@barbarasargunaraj6286]

@@k2nicol I have always put power into the forward ski when classic skiing but have heard you say 'push back' a few times. Should I be putting power into both skis - the one going forward into the glide and the back ski? Thank you . I am enjoying your videos. Barbara

[@k2nicol]

@@barbarasargunaraj6286 This video is about push off in free skate. You need to push off an edged ski to skate. In classic you need to push down and back to generate power. To gain even more power you can swing your hip forward as well.

[@fpvkagge]

Nose, kne and ski in a line above each other is one rule to improve skating. Also look to right hand side when pushing skis to the right.. Left when pushing left.

[@k2nicol]

That is right . Toe, knee , nose alinged is also key for classic skiing. It gets your weight over the glide ski.

[@fpvkagge]

@@k2nicol my father always reminded me of this every winther.

[@edoardoidolo1846]

Mr Nicol..really thank u for that video...i always make the mistake u show at first (i don t hedge the ski when pushing off and it slides every time)...my teacher didn t show me this and told me even all the classic exercises we did...next time i ll try to get in mind that hedging when pushing off (NO SLIDINGGG)

[@k2nicol]

I see lots of people try to skate with little edging of the ski and they end up wasting all their energy pushing the ski sideways. I'm surprised your instructor didn't pick up on this.

[@edoardoidolo1846]

@@k2nicol when hedging the ski should "stop" and u push to get to the other side, right?

[@k2nicol]

@@edoardoidolo1846 Yes you don't want the ski to slip at all.

[@edoardoidolo1846]

@@k2nicol really, thank u for your videos and your tips!!!!

[@HS-ob3fz]

I would love to attend your in person classes if you offer any in the Lower Mainland area (Whistler, Callaghan Valley, Squamish, Fraser Valley).

[@k2nicol]

At this point with the pandemic happening I won't be offering sessions at Callaghan. Was there last year teaching a Level 2 instructor course though so do get over there.

[@schtisoo]

Regarding a strong push. When do you recommend stiff skate skies over medium ones? I'm 154lbs and looking for new rossis. For the premium in 183 I'm too heavy for medium ones ( stiff would be a perfect match weight wise) with respect to their sizing chart. I have quite strong legs, but never tried stiff skis so far. I'm 166cm tall, thus longer skis will be difficult to handle. What's your opinion on stiffs skis regarding push and rebound?

[@k2nicol]

Sorry I don't have much experience with testing varying stiffness of skis

[@studentmgulomonosova]

Hi, can i by(order) used rossignol x-ium premium S1 90kg, made by french sport. ff3, -10-30

[@k2nicol]

I would think on nordic swap lines or Facebook marketplace...but I have not tried using either for skis

[@lindsayder]

Is there any wax that would help for skate skiing in conditions where the snow is harder and bordering icy like in the video? Thanks!

[@k2nicol]

I am not sure of your question...there is no wax that will combat ice. Usually icy conditions mean that wax won't make that much difference in glide. One thing to note is that icy conditions will wear the glide wax off your skis more quickly so they will need to be rewaxed more often.

[@lindsayder]

@@k2nicol yes, I suspected the ice was wearing down the wax, good to know I wasn't imagining things!

[@KetogenicGuitars]

My problem is to find proper skating skis. I know it because when those stripes on the lane are new I can easily ski. But the stripes are gone are gone very soon and then I would need the proper skis. Also my weight is problematic now because it is 95 kg and it is hard to find skis for that weight class. So result is that cartoon slide and overload for hands and upper body. Luckily in three weeks body adapts to hold the composition. But that is 95 absolute last weight class to be able to skate ski at my 56 age. Once some xc guru let me try the real skis and it was pure heaven. What happens is the need to buy too many bad skis. 600€ is too much and still there is no guarantee that those skis would be stable. There should be scientific standard method to profile a ski with a machine. There was one such enterprise but that company was bankrupted.