Frequently Asked Questions about
Ski Skating in cross country skiing
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What are the main skating techniques and names?
My story: I found learning these names confusing. Some of them
seemed
obscure or misleading, and Canada and the U.S. use completely different
terms which seem to contradict each other. And the European
cultures have different naming schemes of their own.
Here's my best attempt to make sense of it all:
Just tuck your poles under your shoulders, and push through your
legs. [ more
on this ] see also
detailed understanding of Leg motions +
double-push
one double-pole-push for each full stroke-cycle of both
leg-pushes -- with a
distinct "glide" phase before the pole-push starts. Often used in high
speed, low resistance situations. [ more
on this ] You do the
double-pole-push on one ski, and do (most of) the "pole-recovery" move (bringing arms
forward and shoulders upward) on the other ski. The full stroke rhythm is:
(1) set down poling-side ski + glide on it while finishing
pole-recovery; (2) double-pole-push + skate-push; (3) set down recovery-side ski + glide
on it; (4)
skate-push while starting pole-recovery. Most
people find this to be a natural and enjoyable rhythm for skating on
firm snow on flat terrain, conditions often found on an open
field. It's like V1 (Canadian
offset),
but with time for a distinct "glide" phase on the poling-side ski before
starting the pole-push.
Maybe we should call it "non-rushed V1" or "V1 even"
("even" versus "offset" pole-configuration).
Main difference between Open Field Skate (OFS) and V1
skate is that in OFS the pole-push starts after some gliding on the
poling-side ski (distinctly after that ski was set down). In V1 the pole-push
starts roughly as the recovery-side ski is finishing its skate-push (before any
significant gliding on the poling-side ski). [
not sure which
you're doing: V1 or Open Field skate ? ]
The explanation
for the confusing name "V2 Alternate" is that the timing-sequence
of the pole-push is like for V2
(delayed a bit after landing the new ski, with a
distinct glide-with-no-push phase before starting the pole-push) -- but you only do the pole-push with every
second (or "alternate") skate-push.
The Canadian term "2-skate" says that there are two single-leg skate-pushes for
each pole-push in the stroke cycle. Another term occasionally used
is "single-dance". [ more
on this ]
one double-pole-push for each full stroke-cycle of both
leg-pushes -- with no distinct "glide" phase on the poling-side ski before the
pole-push starts. Often used in high-resistance lower-speed situations.
[ more
on this ] The full stroke
rhythm is: (1) start double-pole-push roughly as recovery-side skate-push is
finishing, simultaneous with or a little before the set-down of the poling-side
ski; (2) finish the pole-push while the poling-side ski is still on the ground;
(3) start the "pole-recovery" move (bringing arms forward and shoulders upward)
as the poling-side skate-push is finishing; (4) continue pole-recovery through
set-down and into skate-push of recovery-side ski. An
explanation for the American name is that the "V" is the shape of the tracks
made by a full cycle of both-sides leg strokes, and there is "1"
double-pole-push for each full
"V" cycle.
Main difference between Open Field Skate (OFS) and V1
skate is that in OFS the pole-push starts after some gliding on the
poling-side ski (distinctly after that ski was set down). In V1 the pole-push
starts roughly as the recovery-side ski is finishing its skate-push (before any
significant gliding on the poling-side ski). [
not sure which
you're doing: V1 or Open Field skate ? ]
The Canadian term "offset" refers to
the different positions of the two poling hands typically required for
V1: one hand up high, but the
other much lower so its pole tip can be planted out to the side where it
will not hit the previous ski. Another term occasionally used is
"paddle-dance", because the poling motion looks like paddling
a canoe. [ more
on this ]
two double-pole-pushes for each full stroke-cycle of
both leg-pushes. So each
single skate-push is accompanied by a double-pole-push. Used in a range
of situations, except high-resistance and very high speed situations.
[
more
on this ] An explanation for the
American name is that the "V"
is the shape of the tracks made by a full cycle of both-sides leg
strokes, and there are "2" double-pole-pushes for each full
"V" cycle.
The Canadian term "1-skate" says that
there is one single-leg skate-push for each pole-push. Another
term occasionally used is "double-dance". [
more
on this ]
two single pole-pushes for each full
stroke-cycle of both leg-pushes. So each single skate-push is accompanied by a
single pole-push. Often used for very high resistance, low speed situations.
[
more
on this ] A bit like "herringbone"
stride in Classic skiing, except you glide some on each ski. Use single pole-pushes
on alternating sides to help the
leg-pushes (sometimes called "diagonal" poling, and so this technique is
sometimes called "diagonal skate").
The advantage for very high resistance situations of using
single-pole pushes (versus the double-pole pushes of V2) is that the
pole-recovery move (bring arm forward) for one side can be made simultaneous
with the pole-push move on the other side, so the "glide" phase on each side is
much shorter than V2, so less chance that the ski will come to a stop before the
next pole-push starts. [
more
on this ]
one ski aims straight ahead in the direction of overall
forward motion, while all the skate pushes are made with the other ski. Normally
done where there is a track of parallel grooves for classic striding, set
by a grooming machine. Not seen much any more, now that most cross country ski centers
have lots of trails groomed wide for skating. Originally made popular
when most trails were narrower and had a narrow track set of parallel grooves
for classic striding. The idea is to set one ski
gliding in one of the Classic striding "groove" tracks
(without making any skate-pushes), and do all the skate-pushes with the
other ski outside those two parallel striding grooves or tracks. You also do
one
double-pole-push for each skate-push. Perhaps
"marathon skate" also has some use still today for skating around a curve, or
across a steep side-hill -- or passing other skiers with limited trail width
available.
There are several strategies and techniques for dealing with
downhill slopes -- some of which do not include any
"skiing". [
more
on this ]
The surprise "secret" is balance -- see discussion. My
story: I was happily doing open field skate, but I was getting
strong with double-poling -- so I thought it would make me faster if I
could learn V2. First I tried to think out how it should work, but
my attempts felt pretty awkward. Next I watched the NEI video on
skate technique. Actually seeing somebody doing it made the
difference for enabling me to do something that felt recognizably like
V2. But I was operating under the model that the key to
success was to learn to double-pole at a fast enough cadence so that it
could "fit in" each pole-push in between my leg-pushes.
Then I saw Nathan Schultz's post about balance. And I practiced
just like he said. I already had basically strong balance from
other kinds of skiing and no-poles practice, so that approach was able
to quickly focus and sharpen it for V2. Then I added the poling
back in, and right away I could feel the difference. It felt
great, and now V2 is my favorite skating technique. In the most
effective V2 cycle, the skater's balance is so solid that there is
sufficient time on each side for a distinct "raise the upper body
up high for strong pole-push". For more on this, see Hints
on the V2 Skate page.
see
discussion of Learning V2
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