Skate Skiing Techniques Explained

This is a survey of the five skate skiing techniques, and includes demos of each technique, along with tips for skiers just getting started in skate skiing.
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[@Bournefort]

Awesome explanation. Best I've ever seen. Every competitive skier should watch this. I've been skate skiing for 15 years and I always think about the timing and power while transitioning from V1 to V2.

[@ScottLundy-sn7xp]

This is the best instructional videos I've seen on skate skiing, and I've been doing it for more than 30 years. It was an excellent refresher!

[@thormusique]

This is the best explanation of these techniques I've ever seen. Thanks so much!

[@Lex1uth3r]

As a roller skater and blader for 30 years and downhill skiier for nearly the same I've always been interested in trying this but never had the opportunity given a lack of snowfall and/or time constrains. After watching this I'm surprised how many of the techniques are shared that I've been unknowingly using since they just feel natural depending on the terrain. I'll finally have a chance to give this a try when I'm in Colorado next month and have a free day with a nordic center and groomed trails right nearby. Your video has sold me on the idea, that you for posting!

[@iansteelmatheson]

hey! that's Olivia BN! keeep being awesome yall

[@nickburak7518]

So fortunate to find this video on my first search for it. Thank you. One skate V2 is what I'm working on, and it's true that balance is key. It does look beautiful. Being an expert downhill skier (ski pro for 20+ yrs) and a strong skater, I still find that balance is still more of a challenge than I thought for one skate v2. I wonder if fitness helps, as it really raises my heartbeat quickly compared to the four other techniques.

[@dmitrylesnevsky4037]

hands down the best channel on youtube

[@csg2165]

Well done 👍, broken down perfect 👍

[@marjohn3449]

Very well explained, with obviously lots of experience as the basis. (I also found the example of how not to do it very helpful.) 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@michaelboud9642]

Thank you! Very helpful not to mention beautiful footage :)

[@ninichi1778]

It’s really helpful by watching this video, thanks

[@user-fz1ys5zs8q]

Very good explanation, best wishes to Narrator.

[@alessandrobottazzo6143]

thanks for the explanation! Ciao 🇮🇹

[@chornii_boumer7324]

Thank you so much for the video. 😊

[@baeche]

very good explanation for me as a beginner. thank you

[@charliechristian1097]

Skated about 3mi today... kicked my butt. Very aerobic.

[@user-wl8mf6vs3d]

Marvelous views!

[@stephj1002]

so beautiful and useful. I loved skate skiing when I had access to a trail close to my home. Unfortunately, I just got one ski lesson in my whole skate life LOL: seems ski lessons here are reserved for children only here at my new location. Adults being forever doomed to hacking.... But your video tools are of such quality, they give me hope that I can break the bad habits, or at least enjoy working on it if just that.

[@thomaswillows4795]

Great views of the Canmore Nordic Center.

[@hugofolpp1753]

Super clear, concise explanation. Thank you

[@RobertMJohnson]

watching the olympics and came here to learn about the sport's lexicon. great video! amazing sport. nations without lots of snow have no chance competing in these events

[@DanArnets1492]

Technically you can learn A LOT by using rollerskis during the Summer plus it's more physical than technical

[@jukoboy4688]

yep @@DanArnets1492

[@user-wn5cp7lz4m]

Идеальный рельеф!

[@damianolivecchi2437]

Ciao ottimo video chiaro e semplice. Bravo

[@user-sv2py1is9w]

Thanks!

[@NordicSkiLab]

Thank you!

[@krisorsmso5094]

Just wondering about that One skate V2 - When im on a single ski it tends to slip to the right (when im on the right leg) and vice versa. It really makes this style hard to follow. Eventho i have the power in the upperbody to easily follow through. Has it got something to do with the way my ski-s are waxed?

[@NordicSkiLab]

I don't think that problem has anything to do with your wax.

[@michaelboud9642]

Curious. Where was it filmed? I'm guessing somewhere in the Canadian Rockies.

[@NordicSkiLab]

Yes. Canmore Nordic Centre

[@erik5820]

Norwegian names for these techniques (directly translated): 1. Gliding fishbone (fishbone being the similar classic technique, but without the gliding). 2. Padling 3. Single dance 4. Double dance 5. Free skating

[@curtlyons9310]

I always think about the Norwegian term "Padling" for V1/1 skate in that my hands are synchronized as if they are both holding one paddle, with one hand on the top.

[@whocares_bear]

Cute.

[@mannyme2986]

When those movements are done properly are a thing of beauty!!! One question, how long are the poles supposed to be? I am 178 and using 165 but they feel kind of short, should I go for longer poles? Cheers

[@philipkvamme4721]

On skate, you should use poles who reach your nose tip. On classic however, the poles should reach the top of your shoulders.

[@philipkvamme4721]

So i think you should use 172,5

[@timwolf5742]

I find the 2 skate (V-2 alternate0 to be like a waltz.

[@Surferbuerli]

Danke!

[@Surferbuerli]

Better than any course I have taken!

[@NordicSkiLab]

@@Surferbuerli wow! That's really nice. Thanks!

[@wiscflank248]

Would it be useful for a beginner to start without the poles to get a feel of the balance?

[@NordicSkiLab]

Yes! Definitely!

[@Ubersnuber]

Professionals did it for hours every week when they were kids. So, yes. You’re thinking right.

[@MohammadRauf1]

that looks like canmore! :)

[@viktorb.]

Cool but i think 'One skate' technique have a two submode: basic and uphill. Range of motion -> high frequency and more difficult work with your own weight.

[@z0uLess]

I think its hard to oneskate and always use twoskate. I dont know if its because I have a strong and heavy body or what, but oneskate feels like ineffective flailing. Maybe I just need to improve my racing skills, just like running where a large cadence is preferred to be efficient and less stressful for the knees. Also, I dont think its because I feel rushed, as explained in the video -- I often push off and glide for a long time on each foot on the flat.

[@RCmies]

Same thing for me - it just feels inefficient. I can go way faster and fatigue less with two skate. In fact, if I time my push with the spokes right after my left ski hits starts the glide, I can gain very fast speeds on even ground. But yeah, with one skate no matter how long glides I take I feel like I'm just not getting anywhere and yet I feel like I'm doing too much work for it. Maybe something to improve and I'll definitely try do more of it in the future and see if there's improvement. If not, I'll stick to other styles.

[@getrightoutoftown]

Very informative, thank you! Also, I was watching this on my phone and my wife had a startled look on her face and asked me what I was watching because the instructor woman’s voice sounded “sensual”. 😂

[@alekseyivanov8988]

I found the voice to be sensual as well :)

[@RaZZ1a]

😂

[@igorkoshewnikow6152]

👍 Неплохо

[@mares3841]

💛

[@annajedrowiak3969]

What is the technical difference between diagonal skate and V2? I can see that V2 is faster, but isn't it only "faster way" of diagonal?

[@kaurvirunurm]

In Diagonal, you push with one pole at a time. V2 has a double pole push with every second leg strike. The feel and balance are totally different for the two. You would not want to use diagonal on anywhere else than steep uphills.

[@otto_jk]

Diagonal is useful for if you have to stop in a steep hill for example change album on Spotify, take a sip of water or just take a breath and them you need to continue. With couple diagonal pushs you can accelerate into offset using way less effort than if you just continue with offset

[@boogiemayes]

lmao "the diagonal skate is rarely used by experienced skiers" birkie shuffle

[@RCmies]

I have tried one skate and I can do it for some time (idk, 1km or something) but it's really fatiguing for me and I go way slower. Not because I dont glide enough but I feel like it just doesn't fit my body. Bodies are different and you should ski however feels good to you. I can go so much faster with 2 skate.

[@rianmintek192]

Sorry, I still don't see the difference between "V-1 (offset)" and "Two-Skate (V-2 Alternate)" ...

[@matthewchronicle]

In V1 your poles touch the ground at the same time as the led ski. In V-2 alternate they touch the ground slightly beforehand.

[@davidmcguire6335]

V1 is a "lower gear", used in slower conditions and uphills. The poles are also asymmetrical. The hang pole is more vertical and the offside pole more angled. Another way to look at it is the hang side hand is higher than the offside hand at the pole plant. V-2 is a "higher gear", used in faster conditions. Hand positions are the same height on the pole plant and the direction of the pole push is in the direction of travel.

[@Gyrant]

They look similar because with both you pole on alternate kicks, however in the legs (where the real power is) they are quite different. Take a freeze-frame of One Skate (try around 4:11) at exactly the moment a ski touches down on snow and you'll notice both feet are very close together and under the hips. Compare that with the same moment in Offset (eg. 2:09 -ish) and you'll see the feet are placed far apart and furthermore the skier is sort of lunging diagonally up the hill with their weight already moving into the forward foot. THIS is the reason it's called Offset, because the skier's stance is off set, with one foot (and pole) further forward the other. NOT because they pole every other kick (like two-skate). To a trained eye, even if the skier is training without poles (as one often does for strength and technique) you can tell the difference between offset and one-skate by where they plant their feet.

[@AlexanderIsayev]

You should try to feel the difference.

[@rastaroumain]

the transfer of weight from one leg to another (and back) is done fully in V2, wherease in V1 your center of mass stays in the middle ... or at least that is my feeling.

[@snorrejnnevaldhalvorsen6548]

This technic was pioneered by Bill Koch , USA. As a norwegian , I do not like this way of skiing , cause I do not like new things. In a perfect world, we’ll use Classic style with wooden skis. At one time , In the early 60’s I think , we had close to a 100 ski produseres In Norway. The last world champion on wooden Skis was Magne Myrmo, using Norwegian Landsem ski. Jokes aside, cross country skiing is our national sport , being a champion makes you a national hero ! These days we Are talking of ski wax with/without fluor , and covid 19 problems In the Norwegian Team. What will happen In Beijing ?

[@phineaspotter5714]

I completely disagree with your preference for the symmetrical techniques. I find that offset and twoset are a lot better than any of the symmetrical techniques. I think the best way to learn initially is with no poles, and then add the poles with the offset technique, only using diagonal skate for steep uphills for beginners. One skate is in my opinion, a lot harder to use efficiently. In order for it to ever be more efficient than offset/twoset you need to either be on extremely modest terrain or have an extremely strong aerobic ability. Less experienced skiers who use one skate are usually slow and messy skiers.

[@rothotborski]

This is exactly the way which is taugt in skating courses: first without poles and then offset (in my country just called "2-1-stride" contrary to the "1--1-stride"). One skate is faster of course, but way more demanding in either endurance and technical skill. I also think the difference between offset and two skate is very theoretical, it's more different timing depending on the slope than a different technique. All in all this video is not very useful and confusing for a beginner.

[@anttitapio4145]

@@rothotborski Totally different techniques. Not just the timing.

[@poospnik]

I think, their point is, once you're familiar with V1 you never switch to V2, but switching from V2 to V1 is quite easy. you can handle every terrain with gear 1/3/5 so learn that first. I personally wish, I'd have learned it that way always returning to V1.

[@stephj1002]

I learned all these techniques and can do them all but I agree with the "need to have a very strong cardio". It's great when I can do the one skate, and it feels reparative on the push leg, but can't keep that up for long unfortunately, due to terrain.

[@shawndecastro8457]

Yea, Make sure your skis are waxed properly or else your not going to one skate. One thing beginners need to learn about Nordic skiing is wax on snow science. Your not gonna one skate if you don't have the right temperature wax.

[@Bournefort]

Yeah, glide is essential. I wish I would have known more about waxing during my high school years. Humidity and temperature determine which wax you use and it does make a huge difference.

[@chenenko]

This is pretty terrible advice. You can absolutely one skate unless you've glued sandpaper to the bottom of your skis. It just won't be fast

[@godtux]

Interesting explanation, but there is a confusion between power and force. Power is constant for a given effort, and is the product of force and speed.

[@whocares_bear]

May the Force be with you.

[@gerarddorle7141]

Tu montes sur tes skis et tu regardes ton smartphone, et tu fais ce qu'on te dit...

[@swiftzer0286]

One skate is the fastest and used for sprinting. Saying two skate and free skate is faster is a lie. However that Ofc depends on your own skill. Also offset is the best overall in hills and upwards. No one uses the diagonal skate competitively.

[@swiftzer0286]

Also two skate produces less strain on the body, whereas one skate if done properly generates more speed but more strain on the body.

[@swiftzer0286]

I would highly recommend watching Johannes hoosflot klaebo’s guides

[@timwolf5742]

Sprinting yes, but when the speed gets up there on flats or slight downhills, I see a lot of V-2 Alternate.

[@swiftzer0286]

@@timwolf5742 so the athleats save energy yea. But the one skate is still faster and more powerfull.

[@whocares_bear]

7:17 How is that not dangerous to skiers behind you? 😬"you'll take an eye out, kid."

[@user-ex2oc8hp4g]

Четвёртое фото не является примером движения коньком под каждый шаг, так как ноги и руки спортсменки одновременно направлены вперёд. В общем: третье и четвёртое изображение перепутаны. Также не очень понятно почему ход под раскат быстрее и менее энергозатратен, чем под каждый шаг?

[@74pakhan]

Полагаю, что имеется в виду не только сила-скорость, но и применение типа хода по условиям уклона. При ходе на спуске тягуна нереально под каждую ногу и идешь через раз, а если еще чуть сильнее уклон, то ход без отталкивания палками.

[@user-ex2oc8hp4g]

@@74pakhan погоди, я не совсем понял: "при ходе на спуске тягуна..." То есть тягун спускается или спуск после тягуна? В общем даже после простенкого подъёмчика можно идти выкатываясь без палок, это да, согласен. И в этом случае для поддержания скорости это применяется. Но в подъём это не рационально, то есть всё относительно: на подъёме будет быстрее всего с запрыгиванием (а экономичнее просто горным), на равнине под каждый шаг, сразу после спуска без палок с выкатом. Я к тому, что не очень разумно сравнивать варианты конька между собой, так как на разных участках трассы они будут показывать разные скорости

[@user-nd6bn5wq3r]

Да нет, все верно. Слева направо 4-й кадр - это замах руками в двухшажном равнинном ходе, который применяется на более высокой скорости, чем одношажный одновременный (3-й кадр), но на меньшей скорости, чем коньковый ход (5-й, без палок).

[@markdavis8888]

You forgot about Boomer Skate! Speed doesn't matter and I'm just having fun.

[@johnschneider4160]

....HUH???!!!...🤔

[@mauicelta4019]

haha dont make science out of it. its still just skiing 🙈

[@Bournefort]

Skate skiing is one of the most demanding and rewarding athletic events out there. Insane VO2 max with an upper body and leg workout all in one. Go watch a Freestyle Olympic race and tell me it's "just skiing" lol.

[@thibod07]

it is amazing skiing! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 That type of statement is similar to people that do not learn how to ski because they are not planning to go to the Olympic. It is like saying I will not go to school because a Nobel prize does not interest me! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 That video is great! Skiing properly bring the fun of skiing to another level of pleasure this is why that video was produced. ❤️❤️❤️ Enjoy your only skiing while I attempt to glide in heaven!