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Tech Tip # 12:
SKATING IN FIRM SNOW |
January 10, 2002 |
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Powder conditions are forgiving and allow skiers to extend their forward step more than is possible in firm or icy conditions. In harder snow, keep the feet more under the body. Think about walking on glare ice: stepping too far forward or out to the side can land a person on their butt, and pronto!
When encountering firm snow, especially if one has been used to more powder or packed powder conditions, it is important to make some adjustments to the skating technique and to take a few minutes to practice.
A) First, warm up a bit by just double poling in the tracks. This also gets the body used to faster speeds.
B) Next, ski without poles for a while. Be it skating or striding, it is always a good idea to periodically ski without using the poles, which can be used as a “crutch” and mask improper technique. It is OK to carry the poles, even with the hands in the straps, while skating. Work on stepping forward onto each ski, less out to each side. Do not over step, but try to land with the foot moving forward and with the body’s mass pretty much over the ski. Close-up the width of the step, with the feet closer together.
C) Once the weight of the body is planted onto a ski, it’s time to move off of it and onto the next ski. There is no “glide phase”; the skis are always gliding. The body (shoulders) should remain pointed down the track, and not turn or swing from ski to ski. Face down the track, not from side to side. Allow the hips to move to get the mass over each ski. Since the feet are moving more forward with a narrow stance (much like walking), there will not be any major rotation of the body. Nor will the hips be locked to always be dead square with the trail. This is a natural motion.
D) Try landing just slightly on the outside edge of the foot, and just ahead of the body mass. When the mass of the body is fully weighted on the ski, the ski will be dead flat and the hips should be aligned over the ball of the foot. Allow the body to fall forward onto the next ski without hesitation. At the same time, the foot and ski will rotate to the inside edge and allow for the push-off.
E) After skiing without poles for a while, add in the poles. This might be with the “V1” stroke on an uphill, or perhaps V2-Alternate (Open Field skate) on the flats. Maybe it’s just to add an occasional boost with the poles. Do a few pole strokes; then go back to skating without poles. Then add in some more poles. After just 10 minutes or so, skating in firm snow should become easier.
F) If the snow softens a bit, try doing some V2 skating. If a lot of skiers have used the tracks, they could be smooth and slippery. But if there are still “corduroy” grooves left by the grooming machine, which have soften a bit, these will provide just enough extra holding power to prevent the skis from slipping sideways and allow for V2 practice for intermediate and beginner skaters.
For more information on skating techniques, Lee Borowski’s “The Secrets of Dynamic Ski-Skating” video is highly recommended. Review just a small section of this 56-minute tape the night before going skating (not the entire video). Then practice this “mini lesson” at the beginning of the day’s skiing. 10-15 minutes is enough. Then just go skiing, putting the “lesson” into use as appropriate during the day’s ski. Improvements in skating technique will be noticeable. At $25, this may well be the best lesson investment a skier can make. This video can be ordered on-line or by calling Sierra Nordic.
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