Cross or X Country Skiing- Basics of Diagonal Stride

Learn to cross country ski with a focus on diagonal stride with this 3 minute video by Keith Nicol, Level 4 CANSI instructor. Brought to you by Rossignol and Infinity Poles and Grenfell Campus of Memorial University. For more ski tips have a look at SkiTrax Magazine.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• x-country
• skiing
• diagonal
• stride;
• rossignol;
• infinity
• poles;
• blow
• me
• down
• ski
• park;
• Grenfell
• Campus
• of
• Memorial
• University;
• CANSI

[k2nicol]

HI: The idea is to keep your foot on the snow as long as possible to get a good "kick". I sometimes think about keeping my toes on the snow as long as possible but keeping your heel on the snow accomplishes about the same thing.What I like about the toe analogy is that it gives you abit more push as you flex your ankle at the end of the "kick" back.

[Endurancedude7]

Keith,

 Question about the diagonal stride? Would you say the trailing leg clearing the snow is a requirement of good technique or merely a byproduct of it? What is the best way to get a feel for this? Without poles it's not too hard but I find with poles when my stride is a bit shorter I don't naturally clear the snow with the trailing leg...

Thanks!!

[k2nicol]

@Endurancedude7

I would say it is a result of a strong push back. It does require good balance though since you are now on one leg. So skiing without poles is good but a great exercise is the scooter drill with both skis on. Simply push hard with one leg and balance with the other and you should get the idea of it.

Hope this helps.

Keith

[k2nicol]

You are welcome...just posted a 1 skate video (Jan 7 2011)and a snowplow video in mid December (2010).

Keith

[Mer451]

Thank you for posting this videos.

I'm a skiier from Norway and I go alot of races. My dad says that it is like looking on a professional athlete from behind.

But I think this is a video that can help me to become even better, so I watch you're video's often to get some ideas for what I can train.

14 year old skiier

[k2nicol]

HI: Thanks for the note.....I appreciate getting notes from people from Norway since I feel that is where x-c skiing started.

Keith

[szwagiier]

THIS IS REALLY useful. I have some problems with coordination of movements, and this video helps me! Great training. TY Keith :)

[isaacwright33]

I have a more advanced question and i was wondering if you could tell me anything about it....my ski coach tells us to push off of my heel and never from my balls or toes... he says never to go on the balls of your feet is this right? Whenever i ski it seems like i push off of my balls of my feet. if anyone could help my please REPLY!!!!

[anyoneiknow]

These are wonderful clips. Clear and easily understood. Thanks for sharing your skill and knowledge.

[sexytimeleif]

Good drills and instruction, I use many of these when teaching lessons.  However might I recommend a more avid skier in the demonstrations. Thanks for putting all the time and effort into making these videos.

Leif

[JPN55]

Great videos--amazing how much you cover in 3 minutes.

[briancornerbrook]

Love the video's Keith ... will help me with my Jack-Rabbit coaching ... keep em coming... Thanks :-)