Cross or X Country Skiing-Free Skate Technique

[Cloxxki]

I saw a lady winning a world cup by using a wide free skate stance ;-) Perhaps stance width depends partly on intensity?

[k2nicol]

@Cloxxki

I would agree....depending on tempo you might see racers sprinting on their skis with a wide stance and with little glide. However, for most recreational skiers who want to glide further with less effort you will likely want to bring your feet under your body and rise up on to relatively straight leg before skating in a new direction.

[KillaCupcake97]

I'm going cross country skiing or the first time today. Hopefully I can be better than my dad when we go haha(:

[wrx5555]

Can you please watch my video at my profile and tell what mistakes do I make?

[Wolfrunner1sFire]

Thank you so much! I will be practicing all of your tips tomorrow (Too dark now.) Thank you! You have brought hope to a very bruised beginner. ;)

[anyoneiknow]

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[GeneralAmeli0]

Cool. I've been xc skiing for 3 years but I'm really interested in trying skate skiing soon, I like that there's more speed

[alecczandr]

One more point, coming from ice hockey (30 years, including college) I had a hard time figuring out ~not~ placing the forward ski on edge (even so slight), instead of flat, as your instruction shows. After watching your video, I went from intermediate to advanced in one day. Thanks again.

[alecczandr]

k2nicol, Thanks for an absolutely terrific video. So much information in 3 minutes... I've never seen a better instructional video, skiing or not. Cheers.

[debbypai]

Is skiing the same as skate skiing?

[k2nicol]

@debbypai

X-C skiing has two types-classic and skate or free technique. Skating is newer and faster.

See my other video on classic skiing to see the difference.

Keith

[vaikekaktus]

I have classic skis and have tried to practise skate a bit but i can't seem to push with my legs, every time i push, ski just glides giving no resistance. Is it just the problem of classic ski or i just need to push more with the edge of the ski?

[k2nicol]

@vaikekaktus

If your classic skis are clean of grip wax (ideally glider waxed tip to tail) you should be able to skate on them. If you can get a hold of the latest Ski Trax Magazine (Holiday 2010) -- I deal with this exact question in my Tech Tip column. Be sure to edge your ski and you should be fine.

Keith

[k2nicol]

@k2nicol

Actually the article will be in the Ski Trax Winter (Feb-March) 2011 issue.

Keith

[k2nicol]

HI: If they touch it means that either the skis are too long or perhaps you aren't pushing enough to the side. For uphills - key is the keep the skis moving even if it is slowly. Hope this helps.

Keith

[NiallatUTube]

I think the tips provided should solve my problems actually!

[NiallatUTube]

There is a VERY useful tutorial, thanks. I started to ski as an adult, and my biggest challenges are 1. my skis touch off each other at the back when skiiing, it seems I cannot keep them stable when off the snow. 2. Uphills are tough, I slow down a lot, stumble sometimes. If you have some specific tips for avoiding these issues, please let me know. Thanks.

[fgordon2012]

This unique skate video is really good. A web site called instantskatedotcom usually has high-quality skate videos.

[Dononcall]

Nice Video. Any plans to produce one specific to V2?

[Dononcall]

Nice Video. Any plans to produce one specific to V2?

[ju2k2]

Hi very nice video. I still have many defects to improve :) I have a question related to landing on a flat ski: how to achieve this when the snow is icy? Then I cannot get much grip and it's more sliding sideways (uncontrolled) than skating. Thx for the tips.

[k2nicol]

@ju2k2

Skating on icy snow is hard.....I would suggest trying to ski in situations where it is groomed for skating (ie ice broken up abit). If this is impossible try putting down the ski as flat as possible and really emphisize an edge as you push off. Also try easing up on the push so you don't glide as far and this might make it easier to balance on a flat ski. Obviously you won't go as fast but if this is not a concern you can still have fun skating by using the arms abit more.

Keith

[rainonme07]

I'm a first year cross country skier on my high school racing team and this video really helped me get a good idea of what my form should be like! Thank you so much!!

[LebronMVP4LIFE]

hi, i have a siberian husky and im looking for a way i can run with him in the winter. is it possible to get some cross country skis and be able to use them for skiing around the roads in my subdivision?

[k2nicol]

Yes you should be to have the dog pull you. Many people do this and they may have special harnesses for it as well. Good luck.

Keith Nicol

[risenflame]

@LebronMVP4LIFE It's called skijoring, and you can buy a harness for it!

[LebronMVP4LIFE]

@risenflame WOOT! im gonna do it! i have my dog pull me on my skateboard now, but its about to snow so i need an alternative :) thanks!

[risenflame]

@LebronMVP4LIFE I've done it with a sled dog before and it's great for them and you. Hold on though, you can really get cruzing!

[Proffesi]

Thanks for the upload!

[ninaswing]

I am new to Cross Country skiing and I watch this video over and over. It has greatly accelerated my rate of learning! Thanks

[blacura123]

I'm a long time ice skater, road cyclist, snowboarder, and have done a fair bit of classic cross country. I'm looking at purchasing some skis, I have a giant area across the street. I want to skate ski, but it won't be groomed as it's just a some farmers land. It's windy (all the time) so there will be good crust, but there are days with powder. Are there skis that would work for both conditions? Are there hybrid style skis that allow classic as well as skate styles?

[k2nicol]

HI: Some companies do make a combi ski for both techniques...not sure how well they work since the 2 techniques are quite different. I do have experience with combi ski boots and they do work quite well.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,Keith Nicol

[Freecross2010]

Looks like freecross see the movie



[ironoarsman]

Great technique examples

[hurrykills]

THANK YOU TO SHARE YOU EXPERIENCE

[Bigbluesboy]

Thomas Alsgaard is the best tecnical skater ever.. Torgny Morgen was also very good.. Nortug is not tecnical good..

[funtwo1963]

at 2:03 he is saying that skiing with wide legs is a problem..?!

look at the worlds best skier ever: PETTER NORTHUG! he is skiing like is sitting on an elephant or something..

[k2nicol]

It depends on if you land on a flat ski. All too often beginners ski with their feet wide apart and constantly land on their edges, which greatly reduces ability to balance and glide. Northug lands on flat ski and that is why he is fast. Remember many of these drills are for new skiers and that racers may ski abit differently.

[campirecord]

@funtwo1963 Really, that's funny because in 1 skate mode, Northug drops center and forward, never wide on a side. He can hop wide during an offset acceleration but that is not the subject here. Learn to glide before you learn to be Nothug. At school we have many kids who can off set hop wide up a slope, result: They are skiing on their edges and they DON'T GLIDE LIKE NORTHUG. Here, in this video, you have a lesson from one of the most respected technician out there in free skate.

[AmericansSexualPreds]

@funtwo1963 true the only proble i have currently is going to wide, but its true peter is going wide and when u sprint u need to go wide to push harder this guy almost made me fell i was doing it wrong

[hagenar]

@funtwo1963 Northug only does that when on a steep climb. The rest of the time his boots come right under him. So should yours. It's good technique advice.

[dragon0085]

Well, what I mean is, the snow you are on seems fairly packed, my snow is fresh so when I ski I somewhat float on it, but if my ski rolls right or left (meaning my ankle rolls) I sink through the snow.

[k2nicol]

Skating in snow which is not well packed is more difficult and forces you to ride a flat ski as much as possible. Skating is best on firmly packed trails (not icy) where you can ride a flat ski and then push off an edged ski.

[fuzzybear56]

This is a great video because it shows common problems and how to correct them. I have a question about the difference between speedskating and skate skiing. As a speedskater, I thought it would be easy to make the transition but it has not been easy. There must be significant differences.

[k2nicol]

Probably the main difference is that you push more to the side in skating on skis and you rise up to bring you hips forward. This will help when you start to use your poles. Most speed skaters maintain a low profile to be more aerodynamic. .

[dragon0085]

Thanks for the quick reply, a problem I have (though I ski in deep snow which may be the problem) is that I glide for a little, then my skin grabs and edge and rolls in or out and instantly stops me. Any help on this?

[k2nicol]

HI: I am not sure I follow what you are saying. You say the "ski grabs and edge and rolls in or out". You need to push off an inside edge of the ski to gain power in skate skiing. I am not sure how the ski could roll in or out? Can you restate the question?

[TheDomazski]

Great stuff. Thanks Kieth.

[Machado1441]

Thank you so very much for this video, you outlined almost all my problems and i will know now how to tackle them !

Me so respect you, Sir.

[dragon0085]

Hey thanks for the tips, but I have a question, it doesn't look like you ever leave the ski straight really to glide, they are always angled. Is that just the way it is? Can you leave the ski straight for a little to glide before pushing?

[k2nicol]

Yes you can glide for along time especially on a long downhill. Unfortunately I didn't film any free skate on that type of slope. The key to skating is to keep the skis moving so if you try to glide too long on the flats you will stall and your skiing will be jerky.

[AGP12345]

Oh ok this makes more sense. I was cross country skiing today and I saw people doing this technique. I tried to copy it but I rented touring skis so I couldn't do it as well. I'll make sure to rent the skating skis next time.

[Kempshaw]

How much is the difference between having "free" skiing skiis and normal "classic" skiis when free skating?

[k2nicol]

HI: Skate skis are glider waxed from tip to tail and are shorter and stiffer than classic skis. You can skate with waxable classic skis but they need to be glider waxed. However, you will have the most success skating with skate skis.

Keith

[ShrimpSmith]

As a beginner skier I have found the videos presented by this fellow to be very helpfull. Thanks for posting them.

[cuteguy291]

I get really bad shin splints, sometimes right after I shortly start. Is it my skating technique? How can i get my feet closer together (feet wide apart error) without hitting the back of my skiis together when i land?

[k2nicol]

HI: Can' t comment on the shin splints.....I'm not familiar with this problem. If you are hitting the tails of your skis it may be due to bringing your skis too close together or perhaps your skis are too long? Remember that you need to put down a flat ski but that it isn't always necessary bring your skis right together as long as you are balanced over your glide ski.

Keith

[megamyers]

can you do this on xc skis with the fish scales?

i still rent my skis (im a alpine skier at heart), and they only have the ones with the scales on them, will it make it significantly more difficult?

[k2nicol]

HI: It will be very difficult to do this with waxless or fish scale skis. You need skis that glide well. Perhaps you can rent skate skis.

Thanks for your note.

Keith

[777Brady]

Haha ya i remember doing all those. I just finished the crafsbury marathon and some people could defanitly use those.

[hutzelknecht]

you pretty much pinpointed almost all of my problems as a beginner. One excersise i found helpful is to take both boles together as a balancing rod and hold them in front of yourself touching your waste with your ellbows. you then see if your hips turn towards your gliding ski. this helps practise both balance and hip positioning a lot.

[MXTAD]

Very well explained. I Free-Ski-Skate regularly with Alpine Skis without Poles (unless powder or mogul skiing). I do this to teach/understand the mountain & oversee my son when he's skiing. One important Characteristic is to make your Body act as a Pendulum. Free-Skate isn't taught enough or at all in ski schools anymore. Great to see it explained for Skiiers to learn... When I learnt we were taught to ski up the mountain. It's great for the thighs, & faster to get to the lifts.

[CousinJoJo]

Great tips for skate ski. As an avis Alpine skier, I thought the transition would be easy. Wrong. The comment were direct and on point to help new xc skate skiers. Thx fo a great training video.! -Jo

[ronu10]

lol didnt know this video was taken in newfoundland corner brook, im in st.anthony nfld

[tangoseven70]

To a novice of proper technique who has enjoyed skiing on local trails for many years, these tips are really helpful. Thank you!

[tfovids]

I am amazed at how succinct and useful this video is. I have learned how to skate ski (without lessons) thanks to this amazing, concise video. Thank you very much for posting!

[drvertigo]

this video is awsome. it is hilarious and yet so amazingly accurate. But I've heard about all these skate skiing stances/ways of doing it for different terrain that I don't get. I think I need the next level video.

[colinakgeek]

Thanks for the tips. Plenty of drills to work on.

[KatyBlacke]

Thanks! This is so helpful! I'm pretty good at downhill, but I had no idea how to approach XC at all, especially the skating technique. By the way I'm from St. John's :) I'm actually planning on going to Grenfell for the winter semester next year, can't wait to try cross-country in a better area than Pippy Park!

[dpohl56]

This guy's great. Concise. Useful. So glad to see someone share skate-skiing technique w/out acting as if it's an "elite" thing. Comes naturally.

[tubeyou443]

I've just started getting into XC, I love it! I also have a recommendation for those bummed out all winter, try XC mountain biking! That is my other physical activity besides the running.

[lucasstarbuck]

Wow this is just so helpful. Thankyou very much for posting this - there's a few issues I need to work on and I think this will help me a lot. Really love skate skiing, but have basically taught myself, so there's a few bad habits I have to work out of my technique!! Thanks again :) Lucas

[jonnyspa27]

Thank you sir, I'll try these on the trail today. Hope it helps!

[bperrygore]

Great video. Thanks. I like the way you break it down and show drills.

[kiminminn]

This is a really great video with lots of great information! Thank you very much!

[kickassneilum]

i couldnt do this last year.. i saw my problems it was the feet being to far apart and not landing on a flat skii

its so confusing but hopefully ill learn this time

thanks :)

[wrx5555]

but what for to ski without poles? useless

[k2nicol]

Most skiers use poles for balance. By doing the free skate you learn to balance on your skis while propelling yourself forward. Then when you add your poles you can really ski. All racers and elite skiers free skate to practice their balance and learn how to use their legs for maximum propulsion.

[wrx5555]

That makes sense. Thank you for answering.

[Airforce807]

it isnt useless. in the sport biathlon, you usually proceed into the range free skating so you can take off your poles and get at yur rifle. Free skating also gains alot of muscle.

[skaanescrew]

that is true, but thats not what i meant, hehe...i meant, hat is u want to make it as close to normal skiing as possible(with poles), u should move ur arms in the same way as u would have done if u used poles. it does not go faster, u are right, but it gives u the correct technique for when u put ur poles back on;) becasue u do not wave ur arms sideways while skiing normally. but in the beginning u woul dot hat, because it is easier and goves more speed;)

[tietajajoshua]

STATISTICS CALCULATION - from

BR-0 com/olympics htm

[skaanescrew]

and one moore thing...when u have done this for a while, try not to wave ur arms like that. instead do the movement u would have done if u where having poles in ur hands. this will seeme a bit unatural, but is the correct way to practise skating without poles. when u then take ur poles on, u will have a excellent "footwork"

[k2nicol]

To go faster in free skate you need to move your arms...think about speed skaters trying to accelerate and skating on skis is no different. You want to move your arms to assist with weight shift and momentum. Obviously if you are free skating down a hill you might not move your arms as much.

[skaanescrew]

this was very good actually! except from one thing though:P u should not do the boot touch drill, because that is fundamentally wrong( old school skating). theese days u dont do that, but u dont go with ur feet wide either. something in between

[k2nicol]

Thanks for the note. Recall that these are drills and if someone can't balance for very long then the boot drill might help. You are right- you want your feet wider in real free skate.

[Devabomb123]

is this the same as nordic skiing?

[k2nicol]

Technically nordic skiing is any skiing where the heel is not fixed. So skate skiing is nordic skiing as is classic x-country and telemark skiing. Thanks for the note.

[Devabomb123]

thank you!!

[loomii2]

and ski jumping!

[prebli94]

Try to have a more stable upper body : )

[theangelsofmercy]

very helpful

[davd1986]

You are moving your upper body from side to side too much

[hapemetzold]

very helpful!

[Fredontuube]

Great vid, made me understand what I did wrong. Thanks!

[danproulx2000]

Finally!!! An excellent, useful and well presented instruction on how to skate ski! Thank You so much Keith and Heather!!

[uiop1123]

Whats better?

Cross Country Skiing

or

Downhill Skiing

And please dont respond saying that people have different opinions, because that just doesnt help

[listentomusic99]

CROSS COUNTRY!!! I like downhill..but im on the ski team and its awsome... If you want to start skiing try classical first FYI.. And then swich to skate ... Thats my opioan... i tryed to skate ski yesterday at the Jr. Birkie and I love it.

[quavierq]

umm i like both alot. but do xc first and then ge into downhill. also skate first. more complicatedn techinique, easier transition. ive tried all three :)

[jyrkipliis]

XC!!! It's propably the best sport in the world...

[emzdadeaconater]

They are both better cos either helps the other. You are certainly a better downhiller if you can skate on a bit of thin plastic and can handle the speed on skates as it is always slower than true downhill. Finally if you truly skate on a downhill ski then you are closer to heaven. ( Or Hell)

[tubesamish]

Wow that makes cross country skiing look so tight you are a master, thank you for the dissemination of knowledge.

[CE174269]

Thank you!!

[RustyMary06]

Thank you very much. Excellent clear instructions, nicely taught, good tips. Makes you think about technique.

Cheers!

[randomgr]

This is brilliant and much better than the instruction I received! Thank you, I owe you the proverbial beer

[Serard]

Thank you Keith & Heather!

[123animallover123]

Great!!! im going on a skii trip and i didnt know how to do that

[buno8]

Exellent vid. Very helpful.

[Slears]

very good Video!! This one improves my teaching as well!! Thx a lot Keith!!

[CactusXPREZO]

Very helpfull, lets go parctice now!

[jt3600]

Thanks for the great video!!!

[zenmachinefilms]

Awesome Keith. What a great, concise video.

[emzdadeaconater]

Greeeaat video

[sportsfreak2007]

nice my coach told me alot of that stuff today cus i js started skate skiing

[yukiyoga]

Excellent drills! I will definitely use them.  Love the hop drill!! Can you do one for for offset?!

[KibbleDog007]

Nice vid Keith. Reminds me of completing CANSI I and II at BDM. I am heading there this afternoon - cheers!

[veldman37]

Excellent video! Easy to understand and useful!!

[duckjibediba]

this is a great video. Short and sweet with lots of fantastic tips. Thank you!!

[levakonserva]

Thanks, please give us more!!!

[peders1n]

thank you, helped me a lot!

[lexomsb]

great video, thank you

[eatrunread]

Thanks for the reminders! I'm going to try that hop drill next time I go out. Cheers.

[djn1kon]

Nice vid! Followed the link from Trax from Pedal -- and I'm just heading out skiing right now, good timing.

[SpringRoll12]

Thanks for the video. I especially like the problem areas to be aware of and the drills!

[thejoeandjoeshow]

Thanks for the video, it helped me realize what i was doing wrong with my balance (1:34, leaning back)