TECHNIQUE 

There are many way to become a better skier.  Improving your technique is one of the best ways to get faster. 

Choose a video to watch.

• Watch it once for fun. 

• The second time, skating: try to notice when the skiers use V1, V2, or V2 Alternate technique. 

Classic: notice when they use classic stride, double pole,  or double pole kick

• The third time, choose one of the techniques to focus on the whole time--if you can choose one skier to watch, that works even better! Notice their body position, hips, foot placement, arm movement/placement, timing.... (SEE BELOW FOR HOW TO IMPROVE TECHNIQUE BY VISUALIZING)

TECHNIQUE VIDEOS

This is a Canadian video that shows the main skate techniques. Note that the names are different :-) This is good for understanding each technique better.

This is a World Cup Skate race. The women use a lot of V2 and V1.

This is a men's world cup classic race. Nyenget has beautiful classic technique. Notice double pole, double pole kick, and uphill stride.

How to learn technique from videos. (By Coach Amy)

There are many way to become a better skier.  Improving your technique is one of the best ways to get faster. 

One trick to improving technique is to VISUALIZE  good technique.  Here's how:

1. Watch a totally awesome skier ski. Notice their general movements, how graceful and powerful they are, and try to name what you admire.

2. Now as you watch, notice one specific thing about their technique: 

• for classic: stride, double pole, double pole kick; or hills, flats, gradual climbs, starts/finishes, etc.

• for skate: V1, V2, V2 alternate; or hills, flats, graduals, starts/finishes, etc.

• then focus in on something specific about the technique: foot placement, weight transfer, forward lean, hip position, arm placement and movement, ankle flexion,  turnover... 

3. Watch them ski again, just focusing on this one technique and movement.  Watch it enough so that when you close your eyes, you can imagine it.

4. Visualization. 

• Lie down or sit comfortably 

• Close your eyes

• Take 20 slow deep breaths. "Watch" your breath moving through your nose, down your throat, into your belly, then back out. Let other thoughts go, and return to the breath.

• "Replay" the image of the skier in your mind.

• Now imagine YOU are the skier, you are the skier you watched.

• Take yourself on a ski along a course you know well. Imagine you are skiing perfectly. Try to feel the feeling of skiing just as you imagine. If other thoughts enter your mind, just say "thinking" and let it go, then return to the image/feeling of you skiing perfectly. Do this for a few minutes or 10-15 minutes. 

• The next time you ski, return to this image and feeling, and practice skiing like a pro!

• It takes practice to be able to embody the feeling of someone else skiing, but it can happen over time if you practice! It's a great way to improve your skiing.