Ski-Skate

“Anybody ski-skate here? I went and checked out some high performance skis, bindings and booties. Man, they're as expensive as my alpine skis....$600.00Can (Fischer or Atomic). Think I'll wait till the end of the season....unless they've a mega sale.”

“The only ski-skating I ever did was over the flat areas on my way to the lift lines. Is this some new sort of sport, stanlee?”

“Most peope call it skate skiing. I've done a little, have friends who do it all the time. You can pick up some good deals end of season. Here is one online dealer I know of, can't vouch for them.

Nordic Equipment”

“I do it every winter when the conditions are right for it. It works best at a cross country ski area with groomed trails. I find it more taxing than classic X country skiing, but that's probably because I'm not good at it. The snow never lasts long enough around here to practice enough. I got my skis at the end of the season sale for $60. That's the time to buy.”

“You can skate on almost any ski, alpine, nordic, telemark,. Maybe not waterskies. If you want to try or learn to skate just use your old or rented XC skies. The skating skies are better for skating. I often skate with equipment made for the old diagonal stride. Ya can’t skate on soft back country snow.”

“I haven't tried it with the "proper" gear yet....after watching people blow by me at the local Nordic resort I realized that with the right gear it is a fantastic sport, they were gliding uphill!

I do it with my light tele gear every spring when I'm in the backcountry...you can really haul when conditions are right!”

“I do quite a lot of inline skating in the summer, that's why I'm interested in this sport.

When I'm doing traditional xc sking, sometimes I see people blow by me on backcountry snow that has settled for a few days.

BTW, I'm sick of putting/removing grip wax on my trad skis...with a pair of skating skis, I just have to decide which wax to use for gliding.

Arclite, the sport's been around for a good 10-15 years. They are in their own category in the Olympics.

Thanks Pathman for the links.”

“Live and learn. Thanks stanlee, I'll have to watch it if they show it on TV.”

“I'm an ex traditional x-country ski racer from the 70's. I think that if one finds skating more taxing than traditional, it's because you are using different groups of muscles.

mtngal's back!! Cooooooool! Let's here some hot tub stories.”

“Its a great sport, kind of a cross between cross country skiing, running and roller blading. Its is very aerobic, and takes some skill to do. Once you have the skill, it becomes less taxing, but its still quite a workout. I don't think you can really to it without the right gear, boots, poles, skiis, and the right wax. With the right wax, its easier to go uphill than going downhill with the wrong wax.

I was in a 30 KM race a few years ago, and the few traditional skiers were left in the dust. Modern XC races are either "open" which means they are skating, or "traditional" which means no skating.”

“I haven't tried any of the newer ski's, but I do know you can skate on touring or telemark ski's . I mix it up, skating uphill, and diagonal for the flats, but I'm not out there for speed, just fun. I think Idaho Bob has it right though,, the right wax makes all the difference,I used to get laughed at by the waxless crowd for having wax skis, but they stopped laughing when I was having less effort than they were,,”

“Arclite, watch the biathlons..they are more interesting than just regular xc sking. As Mariam Bedard (double gold medal winner) said, "You have to be like a rabbit..very quick and then be very still".

Idaho Bob, skate sking will almost always be faster than trad xc sking. Trad xc sking still has it's place..in the woods, narrow trails etc. since their movements require less space.”

“In my 30 km skate ski race, being a beginner, I was relying on poling to move me along, instead of the correct form which uses leg power, and a complete transfer of weight, like roller blading. At about 25 km my lats (latisimus dorsi muscle) of one arm spasmed, and if I moved it at all, would go into a huge charley horse. I let it hang limp, and kept going with one arm. After about another 3 km, the lat or my other arm spasmed out, and I had to let them both hang limp and drag the poles. When I skated across the finish line looking like s**t and dragging both arms, the nurse present put me where she could keep an eye on me, to see if I was going to die, or what.”

“Can someone explain the difference in x-country skis and skating skis? Is there a difference in the ski design?

I skate with normal (both waxable and waxless) x-country skis and downhill skis. It is a blast to blow by people on x-country skis when they are in a traditional stride and to whiz past people shuffling for the lift line on alpine skis.”

“I think the skate skis are longer. The poles are definitely taller to get more poling effect on each skate.

Idaho, sorry to say this, but if your arms got that bad off you probably were not hydrated well enough (and in a whisper, your arms are out of shape too).”

“I'm no expert but I think skate skis are shorter. Currently, I'm using 200cm trad skis...if I were to get a pair of skating skis, 185cm to 190cm would be for my weight. The poles are definitely longer. And the skis are double cambered so it'll give a more powerful snap when pushing off.”

“Stanlee is right, skate skiis are shorter, way narrower, have different camber. They are pretty flat compared to traditional XC skiis. Their bottom is waxed like a downhill ski, so that the wax doesn't stick at all.

Chief, you are right about being out of shape, but no one has strong enough arms to rely too much on poling when skating. Really its just bad technique, which I'll also admit to. My technique is a little better now, about 4 years later, but I've still got a long way to go.

I think its kind of like lap swimming. When you start out, its tough to go one lap because you are huffing and puffing. If you keep at it, you soon find yourself suddenly swimming 10 laps and its no big deal. Skating is like that, very very hard and strenuous at first, then much easier as your technique gets better. I know a few lessons really help. My wife took some lessons last year, and she is doing great this year.”

“skiracer, if you skate with regular cross country skiis, you would not believe how much better you would skate with skate skiis with the proper wax. You might be a natural, and be great at it right away. Its been a struggle for me.”

“Bought myself a pair of SCS Fischer skate skis (2nd from the top in the Fischer family) about a month ago. Using Salomon booties and their Pilot bindings...had my own telescopic poles.

Those babies can really fly once you get used to them...I've used them 5 times this year...will have to wait for next winter.”