Nordic Skating Technique | Retkiluistelun tekniikka

Skater gliding through perfect natural ice with solid and refined technique. Captured during a 103 km tour on Lake Roine, Kangasala, Finland.
Finding good ice for skating is not that easy. The most perfect black ice is usually formed at the time of year when it snows a lot. It is challenging to find strong enough ice that is not yet covered by snow. Skating on such ice as shown in this video is often preceded by a rigorous community effort in making and sharing ice observations. Each winter offers different ice and snow conditions, making it impossible to predict the optimal time window several weeks in advance. Most of the time, skating opportunities come with a day or two's notice and good conditions usually only last a few days or even less than a day until another snowfall hits.
WARNING! Skating on natural ice outside of maintained tracks can be life-threatening if you don't have the proper safety gear or skills to observe ice thickness and assess safety in ever-changing conditions, or if you're skating alone. The most important safety measure is to skate with other people who can help if you sink into the ice.
The safety equipment for Nordic skating includes:
- ice claws, for pulling oneself from the water back onto the ice
- ice pole for testing ice strength, sturdier than a regular ski pole (must withstand strokes through thin ice)
- lifeline (rescue cord), which is attached to the shoulder strap of the backpack at shoulder height
- dry bag (inside the backpack) that contains a full set of spare clothes; air is left inside the dry bag so that the backpack floats the skater in the water, making it easier to get back on the ice
- backpack with crotch strap prevents the backpack from riding up on your back when in the water to take full advantage of the backpack's buoyancy effect
- phone in a waterproof pouch that can be used to call for help
Nordic skating should only be started in an experienced company that knows how to assess the safety of local ice conditions. You may join your local Nordic skating club and participate in their safety training or look for guided tours from commercial operators.
Music: Ooyy - Gelatin Nature
Shot on smartphone.
#nordicskating #retkiluistelu #långfärdsskridskor

[@jan9055]

very beautiful, the skater in perfect balance under perfect conditions, this is like a dream!!

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks for your comment. Indeed the ice conditions were like a dream!

[@royaldragon4377]

This deserves so many more likes. It's amazing, the harmony. Truly amazing

[@nordiciceskater]

You nailed it! Thanks for an accurate summary of the atmosphere on such perfect ice! Harmony was there.

[@hhhunt777]

gosh I love this!! I broke my arm ice skating 2018. I have my iceskates,(in my trunk) -- only 6 months old when I broke my arm.Trying to get my nerve to go back. HOW I MISS THAT FEELING ON THE ICE!! BUT, AT 70, FEAR IS IN MY HEART. Plus, my hubby gets nervous everytime I bring it up! :D

[@user-te6lc5my4l]

Первый раз вижу такое катание,очарован красотой!

[@valid2745]

This is the most beautiful thing. Looking at this beauty is relaxing, especially for us. Greetings from Ukraine.

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks so much! I'm glad this video can provide a brief moment of relaxation. You are in our thoughts every day. 🇺🇦

[@christinemeleg4535]

i love your skates and that beautiful beautiful ice!!!!

[@IonutStoican92]

I didn't want this to end...

[@nordiciceskater]

Should have got more footage from this trip. :) Thanks!

[@TermlessHGW]

As a kid I did quite a bit of speed skating/ short track and got fairly good at it. Watching this is pretty much my idea of heaven. Skating rinks are always so overcrowded with people who have no clue how to ride there's no fun there. But this....entire frozen lake for yourself. It's beautiful.

[@nordiciceskater]

@TermlessGHM Thanks for the comment! Sometimes when skating on the ice of the lake, you think that there would be room for any number of skaters, but only a few are there.

[@donnadalessio3853]

It’s just so beautiful

[@daybyday4950]

Потрясающе👍

[@marcofranco2009]

This is so cool ! I'd like to try it someday !!

[@poppetrurazvan3900]

Det är jätte fint. Jag aldrig glömmer det. Petru.

[@BrownSugarDiaries]

looks so beautiful

[@simonecelante4174]

Beautiful

[@Dave-dm7vt]

That would be my absolute dream! ⛸️🏒

[@adarshyadav5985]

So satisfying 💘

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks a lot! 🙏🙌😊

[@northerndelights5444]

Wow it beautiful 🤩

[@dofamin_3683]

Very nice!

[@neshifuturo]

so relaxing

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks!!

[@sherryannwilton76]

Beautiful to watch.

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks for the comment! The dialled-in technique looks easy in its aesthetics, but in practice it requires a lot of training. But once you learn, you can enjoy the skill for years and years!

[@sherryannwilton76]

@@nordiciceskater Yes, I can imagine it would take time and practice for sure. This is the first I've ever seen it just these last couple days. ( I had a dream I was skating on water a lot like this not too long ago), but my skates and gear wasn't as cool as this.- It Wails a Sense of Freedom the way you make it look So Serene and Glorious! - Cheers and Blessings. : )

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks SherryAnn for your kind words. Merry Christmas! 🎄😊

[@brianwagar4512]

I love strolling around on my blades

[@jason4956]

너무 멋져요...

[@user-zf5lz7gz8k]

C'est si beau!

[@nordiciceskater]

Merci beaucoup! 😊🙏

[@selkiensisuadventure]

Hienoa teräsjäätä!

[@moonyoungki6621]

좋은영상 잘보고있읍니다 ~😁

[@LAMMAdaama]

Kaunista!

[@peteryeung111]

This is very surreal and breathtaking. I’m sure you guys and gals love what you do. Out of curiosity, Has anyone fallen through thin ice ever?

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks, we do! 😊 Sometimes it happens to skaters who are willing to take a risk to go on thin ice that someone sinks into the ice. With all our safety equipment and because we have practiced safety measures, the situation is rarely serious. The skater gets back on the ice using ice claws. If necessary or to speed up the situation, a skater in the water is pulled onto the ice with a rescue cord. The situation is serious if, for example, all the skaters sink into the ice at once, which can happen if you skate too close together. A skater can also be injured after being hit by the edge of the ice.

[@peteryeung111]

@@nordiciceskater Thank you for your reply. You might of seen it, or even know this person. I just saw this national geographic video and like to share it with you. All the best for the coming new year! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGSyaqmEnpKXoaM

[@maukka4420]

Hyvä video pilattu musiikilla. Luonnon omat äänet vaikuttavempia. Kiitos.

[@nordiciceskater]

@Maukka Jotkut videoitteni kommentoijat tuntuvat kuvittelevan kovinkin ihmeellisiä luonnon ääniä taustalle, jotka ovat jääneet musiikin peittoon. Käytännössä alkuperäinen ääniraita sisältää vain tuulen kohinaa, joka ottaa kännykkäni mikrofoniin, ja luistinten ääntä (minun, kuvaajan luistinten). 😆 Luistinten äänet tulevat tässä läpi musiikista huolimatta. En ole niitä poistanut.

[@maukka4420]

@@nordiciceskater No juuri näin. Tuuli luistimen äänet ja kuvaajan hengitys. Eikä mikään basson jytinä. Ihan aitoa eikä keinotekoista. Mutta hyvä video. 😉

[@nordiciceskater]

@Maukka Kiitos kommentista. Luistelun aikana luistinten pitämään ääneen ei kiinnitä kovin paljon huomiota - toisin kuin jäästä tuleviin ääniin. Videolla nuo luistimen äänet särähtävät kuitenkin hieman eri tavalla korvaan, minkä takia artisti on päättänyt lisätä musiikkia luomaan sopivaa tunnelmaa. 😉

[@maukka4420]

@@nordiciceskater No artistihan sen päättää miten videota muokkaa. Ei Maukka. 😁

[@nikolaivorontsihhin9139]

Красатище

[@ilovetofish]

Wow!!!

[@swedishpsychopath8795]

The Norwegian skating techique shown in the video is fantastic and effective.

[@kaurvirunurm]

Hmm, in which way is this "Norwegian"?

[@swedishpsychopath8795]

@@kaurvirunurm The water drifted from the Norwegian side of the border during the last ice age - so basically Norway owns all the land + nature in sweden and since the Norwegians had water and ice before the swedes the Norwegians invented the skates and the technique shown in this video.

[@LOLTV-rt5dw]

Canada has the temperature and waters but too much snow. So jealous you guys have everything perfectly in balance.

[@user-kb1bn8hm7b]

Медитативно))

[@DutchJoki]

Just like the Dutch........ the elfstedentocht........... 200 km. long and the hardest speed skating tour in the world.

[@nordiciceskater]

It is a legendary event!

[@Libertyjack1]

I've never seen clear ice like this in my life! Where is this?

[@nordiciceskater]

Lake Roine is located in Southern Finland. At the beginning of winter there is a short period when just formed thin black ice is not yet covered with snow. It's perfect for skating!

[@Libertyjack1]

It's impressive.

[@sethmoking]

Were snow covered, frozen rivers the preferred method of travel in ancestral times? I have to imagine traveling between two towns located on the river would be easiest by horse and sleigh, as opposed to rocky, windy, and hilly mountain roads.

[@maxbeskorovainii4603]

Bewitches!

[@wraithstrongopark]

where is he going?

[@mrRhinoEkb]

MOARRRR!

[@mevszach]

Holding the ice pikes like this is not recommended as they will impact your ribs in case of a fall. Better to hold them basically like this but have them resting outside of your one arm instead.

[@unclejohnthezef]

So you do kick off with the back foot each time, then glide on the front only? How do you stop?

[@nordiciceskater]

Yes, roughly speaking as you described. Push to the side with body (center of mass) directly over the support leg. There are many ways to stop or slow down. In order to stop quickly, one turns blades sideways (perpendicular to the direction of travel) and applies pressure on the edges of the blades.

[@christinemeleg4535]

@@nordiciceskater Dad taught us to snowplow stop when "wild ice " skating, we were children and we learned to skate on frozen bays of the lake where we lived, in California! I live over two thousands meters in altitude!

[@DARKDAD69]

What are the poles for. I,m thinking, maybe if you fell in they could help you get out.

[@nordiciceskater]

@DARKDAD69 The most important thing is to test thickness of the ice in order to assess whether it is safe to skate (found also in the description). The other uses for the ice poles are: - Use your arms when pushing against the wind to reduce fatigue - Keep your balance more easily on uneven ice when the skate hits a surface obstacle - Keep your balance as you leap over a wide crack in the ice

[@lucfournier8222]

what s in the backpack?

[@Daniel_Eliezerr]

What are does kind of shoes on the skates? Specific shoes that fit on the skates?

[@nordiciceskater]

They are backcountry ski boots that are compatible with Rottefella's NNN BC binding.

[@user3141592635]

The lake is slowly shilled down and freezing, before any snowfall cover it.

[@DimaAdrenalin]

It is great! What is model of ice skates?

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks! The model of the skates in the video is "Zandstra NIS" with Rottefella NNN-BC binding.

[@user-jn6ss7tr8j]

А какая температура воздуха?

[@willceurvels]

why do they hold the poles and not use them?

[@jamesstumpff7774]

Why is the ice flat?

[@ThePrincehrithik]

Is there guided tours ? I want to join you 😇

[@nordiciceskater]

In Finland, a Nordic skating club called Suomen Retkiluistelijat organises guided tours for its members. Some commercial service providers also offer guided tours.

Where is the snow?

[@nordiciceskater]

If there is no snow on the ice, it will soon.

[@ToudaHell]

I'm surprised there isn't much snow on the ground

[@nordiciceskater]

Not all winters look the same. Climate changes. This video was from an early skating season when ice had just formed and no snow had fallen after the first days of frost. The ice thickness was between 6-8 cm.

[@ToudaHell]

@@nordiciceskater we usually don't get that kind of temperatures without tons of snow already here. I guess up north it's different.

[@mezmay12]

OMG ice....

[@nordiciceskater]

Some Nordic skaters call it "black gold". 😄

[@fitztim]

want to hear singing ice,, up to 300k on ice in wisconsin

[@nordiciceskater]

Check out my latest video. There is ice singing.

[@HolHol-uc8sb]

who knows what this music ?

[@nordiciceskater]

It’s in the description! 😃

[@HolHol-uc8sb]

@@nordiciceskater Thank you!

[@Wilson82668]

I loved ice skating when I was younger I'm 280lbs now so I'd cut through the ice

[@kaurvirunurm]

Oh you won't. Thick ice can support trucks and heavy vehicles. You could be 500 lbs and still safe.

[@AdiAsaf]

How fast do you ride?

[@nordiciceskater]

My speed while filming this was 22-26 km/h. Checked from GPX track.

[@AdiAsaf]

@@nordiciceskaterkeep a spot for in the next run 😉

[@deryadinc2054]

Ayna üzerinde kayıyor gibi

[@rlowle1228]

How is that ice so smooth?

[@nordiciceskater]

It has just frozen! 🧊❄️

[@rlowle1228]

@@nordiciceskater Guess that makes sense. Looks like fun. Thanks.

[@Vertignasse82]

That ice is so thin it's scary.

[@PaperCut2UGaming]

Seems like a bad way to be holding those poles though.

[@Hanski666]

aaaatteleppa jos tonne menis ihan normi hokkareilla!! ei tulis mitään. MUTTA kun on kunnon jäälle tarkoitetut metallisiivut jalassa niin kyllä menee niiiiin hienosti!!!

[@nordiciceskater]

Hokkarit on hyvät nopeisiin kiihdytyksiin ja suunnan muutoksiin, mitä tarvitaan kiekkokaukalossa. Mutta ei niillä oikein tällaiset pitkät, rauhalliset liu'ut onnistu.

[@user-rt5ss1xl9e]

WHAT ARE THESE SKATES NAME?

[@nordiciceskater]

These are called Nordic skates. You can mount several types of bindings: Rottefella NNN-BC, Rottefella NNN, Salomon Prolink, etc.

[@supa3ek]

And in my area I have to pay for a small 30 metre radius ice ring

[@user-wi4ck7ge5u]

How gecko bblsk

[@user-uu8vz2jx2m]

天国か？

[@floridamanpresents3952]

Dammit jarkko. We want to hear the sound of the ice. Not this softcore coffee talk music

[@nordiciceskater]

You'd better read the video titles to find what you're looking for. Check out my latest video for some ice singing experience.

[@terebaapokabaap6175]

Are they skating on water.. 🙄🙄?

[@nordiciceskater]

It was freshly made black ice! There was no water on the ice.

[@anasafa7951]

What will happen if some part of lake is broke and you fell out inside what are the precautions to take before doing it and what are your safety measures please share…. And please don’t say simply do it with group of people even they can’t save there could happen a situation like that…and what are the tools you are having for safety…how would you tackle the sudden fall in cold water… please teach the young kid about safety measures because they are inspired to reciprocate but some .. please teachteen kids don’t know or think about safety measures

[@nordiciceskater]

First of all, you shouldn't go on thin ice without safety equipment or alone. Although it is not very common, a Nordic skater sometimes falls through the ice. This has happened on a few trips I've been on. As a precaution, you should always carry safety accessories with you and practice using them beforehand. In Finland, we practice using them in the beginner's course of the local Nordic skating club. These are the most important safety accessories that a Nordic skater needs: - ice claws for pulling oneself to safety, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_claws - ice pole for testing ice strength - rescue rope attached to backpack - backpack with a crotch strap (or leg loops) prevents the backpack from riding up on your back when you are in the water - dry bag with a change of clothes - fellow skaters with rescue skills

[@nordiciceskater]

I'm' considering making a separate instructional video on safety measures at some point, but I can't promise anything in terms of a schedule.

[@amadeuz8161]

Most important thing. Know the waters you skate on or skate when its cold enough so that there's ice even on the worst current spots. Here they have to mark a spot every year because people don't understand that the water treatment plant has its "exit" there so people ski/skate into it, last winter they also had to mark a current spot because people were too lazy to check a damn map. So many last year that just assumed it will hold because I sat ice fishing at one spot, like I sat at 30cm thick ice and 150m me it was 10cm in a spot I only fish during mornings after that the night has made it stronger. Like if you know there's a current in a spot you know to avoid it if its not cold enough for that spot to produce ice thick enough(I have one fishing spot that needs below -20 for 2 days to be fish able, else its stupidity to go there even if I have a dry suit). If you have seen the place covered in ice before and snow and there's a spot that always seems to be "snow free" you know there's something eating the ice at higher temps. If its a lake you can check a water flow map and see what end the water comes in and what end it goes out and if there's spots between that might produce a current that can eat the ice(same logic out at sea but + - water level have to move the water so figure out the dangerous spots). You can visit the place in the summer too to learn a bit more about it, you only need a a line and some weights to check current and you can calculate how strong it is if you wanna go over course. Then never assume that the ice will hold even if you were there a few hours ago, never assume it will hold because you see others out there(you really don't know how they got there, they could have come from another shore). Don't assume the ice fisher at the shore will know if the ice will hold on the other side of the lake and even if the ice is 10cm thick where hes sitting but it is good to ask because usually they might have a tiny clue if they were thinking of fishing that side but ended up on another side due to the wind. Then pension aged ice fisher might know a thing or two about the area and usually they are out many times per week so they know the ice there too and how it behaves. Morning ice is in 95% of times stronger with a few exceptions so if you come in the evening the sun can have done some damage even if you can see that someone been there that day(so after a warm day you can go through 30cm ice slurry, while on a cold day you can walk on less than 5cm steel ice). On steel ice white spots are bad and on thick ice dark spots are bad. Biggest NONO's people usually do is: They assume it holds because if some odd reason, could be tire tracks or another persons footprints or seeing someone else out there. So don't go out there if you are not prepared mentally and physically that you will go through the ice.

[@ilovetofish]

Could you please do the safety video!? I’d love to see more of the equipment you use. Do they make packs with the leg loops or do you fashion them yourself?

[@nordiciceskater]

@Amadeuz81 Thanks for sharing your advice! To put it simply, a person moving on ice must be able to constantly observe the thickness of the ice. We Nordic skaters use an ice pole for this purpose. With one sharp stroke, my ice pole goes through approx. 7-8 cm thick ice (~3 inches). In early winter, it is thick enough for skating, but in spring, when the solar radiation warms up, you can't rely on the thickness of the ice so much. Especially in the late afternoon, spring ice can be dangerous on a warm day, even if it is 30 cm thick. As you said, it's good to identify the current spots (where ice is weak) in advance from a map or from local ice fishers. Often these are clearly identifiable on site, such as straits or narrow gaps between islands, but not all like the exits of the water treatment plants you mention.

[@sh_zik]

try 1.5 speed

[@posmoo9790]

damn I thought he had a double barrel shotgun. a little less cool.

[@nordiciceskater]

At this time of year the deer hunting season was still in progress. But hunting on the ice is probably not allowed. And deer are not hunted with shotguns.

[@timg2727]

This would be so much better without the music.

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@H.A..]

video 👍 sound 👎

[@nordiciceskater]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@H.A..]

@@nordiciceskater Skate on! beautiful stuff up there where you guys are.

[@user-hc4ep7ml2t]

Это рай

[@user-ln7wc8lr8c]

Палка, чтоб не утонуть. Бывало клюшка помогала.)

[@fraer111]

Щоб под лед течением не утянуло, если нырнешь