Common Skate Skiing Errors and How to Correct Them   If there are questions you have on skating technique write to me at knicol@swgc.mun.ca

These tips are sponsored by these national and international sponsors: Infinity Ski Poles, Backcountry Access, Toko Ski Waxes,Rossignol.  I thank them for their assistance.                   

My qualifications include: Level 4 CANSI Trail Instructor, Level 3 CANSI Telemark Instructor, Level 3 CSIA Alpine Instructor and Level 2 CAA ( Canadian Avalanche Assoc. Certification). At the present time I hold the highest overall CANSI certification in Canada. I have taught in the largest Masters Camp in Canada at Silver Star, B.C. and have helped thousands of skiers from beginner to expert improve their nordic skiing. As well I have been on 4 Canadian INTERSKI Nordic Skiing Demo Teams and run the Winter Outdoor Pursuits Programme at SWGC.  Check out the Links above to find CANSI's, INTERSKI's  and related WEB sites.

NOTE: The MPEG videos are fairly large, and are best viewed on computers on campus.  The MPEG video may appear to be choppy if watching from home. If you would like to watch the video on your home machine, try watching the WMV version.

In the left hand photo you can see me getting ready to pole down my left ski. My body is twisted so that if faces the left ski YET I have not yet started to push off or started to double pole. Most beginners start 1 skating or 2 skating in this fashion (V2 or V2 alternate for US readers).  Instead try to stand onto the new (left ski) only as your hands approach your waist. Note in the larger, right hand photo that I have pushed off my right ski and am half way through my poling action by the time I start to stand on my left ski. So you should pole first down the right ski and then as your hands reach your hips finish poling down your left ski.

To improve your free skate (ie skating without poles) remember to fully commit your body weight to the new gliding ski-my right ski in this case.  This means getting your torso and head aligned over that ski. This produces a toe-knee-nose alignment that can be easily seen in this photo. Many skiers have trouble with this so I often get skiers to swing their hands to help with this projection. It also helps to make sure that your gliding ski goes down as flat as possible. A flat ski will glide better and it will be easier to balance on.

Video Clip:
MPEG  - 1 min. 3 sec. [10.5 MB]
WMV   - 1 min. 3 sec. [2.67 MB] home view

Getting Power from your legs

One of the reasons people like to skate on skis is the feeling of speed. There is no stop - start action as in diagonal stride. To really get the most from skating remember to flex your ankles and knees as shown in the photo prior to pushing off or extending. This leg flex shouldn't be excessive - but about the amount shown here. Then when you quickly straighten your leg you have some power to work with. All too often I see beginners who barely flex their legs and they wonder why they can't skate up the hills or fly across the flats. Of course all this force needs to be channeled on to a flat ski and you also need the ability to glide. So practice the free skate drills noted above to improve your balance and gliding ability.

In the smaller left hand image you can see me poling from a 'hips back' position. This is a common beginner problem and often it is combined with a fairly quick tempo. Instead try dropping your poles and as you skate, pull your bum forward as you glide-see larger photo. This will force a longer glide which is what skating is all about. Think about bringing your hips forward and you can then begin to add power to your poling action. If you double pole with legs bent and weight back it is hard to harness much leg or arm push. See the Nordic Skating page for more no poles skating drills

Most novice skaters I see adopt a very wide arm position when offsetting (V1 skate) as shown in the smaller photo at left. This is often combined with a short choppy skating action. Instead try to narrow your poling action so that your arms are about shoulder width apart as shown in the larger photo on the right. This tighter arm position combined with a stronger leg push will really start to get you up the hill. So think closer arms and also try to put each ski down flat as you can as shown with my left ski in the larger photo. This will enhance your glide.

Offset (V1 skate) is often one that beginners have trouble with because of the pole timing. Unlike the other skating techniques this one has a 3 point landing-both poles and 1 ski hit together. Sometimes I have beginners try this without skis on (left photo) and simply walk through the action. Saying "3" and "1" as they alternate between the 3 point landing and simply skating off their other ski. Next in the progression is to walk through it with skis on with the same timing (right photo). In both cases I my 3 point touch is both poles and left ski hit the ground at the same time.

Often beginners stall their arms at the waist as shown in the smaller left hand photo in the 2 skate (V 2 Alternate). This is probably because their pole push is not dynamic enough. So think about swinging your poles actively forward as shown on the larger photo to start your poling and then extend your poles back as you follow through. Often though stronger poling comes with more confidence gliding and so be sure to practice the various free skate techniques shown on this page.