For many people, the hardest part of learning a new ski technique is the timing and rhythms of the technique. While these are not perfect rhythms for the advanced skier, thinking of them when you are learning a new technique or having difficulty getting the timing can be extremely helpful. All you need to do is say these to yourself or aloud when you are working on improving your technique. Think of it as ballroom dancing meets Nordic skiing.
One Skate (v2) has a simple even beat. Pole, Skate, Pole, Skate… where you say the word pole your pole hits the snow and when you say skate your ski hits the snow.
Two Skate (v1) is more like a waltz. Pole, skate, skate, pole, skate, skate…again when you say pole your poles hit the snow and skate your skis hit the snow.
For both one skate and two skate (v1 and v2) the key thing need to remember is your poles and skis hit the snow at different times.
Offset or uphill skate is tap, skate, tap, skate, tap skate. When you say tap your poles and one ski hit the snow then when you say skate your other ski hits the snow. You can also go pole, no pole, pole, no pole. In offset the most important thing for timing is that your poles and one ski hit the snow at the same time.
And as a bonus for kick or one-step double pole you need to think pole, kick, pole, kick, pole, kick. Again, it can be a very even beat.
So, while these rhythms might not be the perfect rhythms for each technique (that might be a debate for later), they will get you 95% of the way there and help you get the coordination and right sequence of movements for each technique. We have also found over the years that once people get the basic timing they learn to adapt them to the various snow speeds and terrain quickly.
If you or someone you know is having trouble with the timing of one of the skating techniques go somewhere flat and set a timer for 2 minutes and say the rhythm aloud as you ski. It is amazing how different it is saying the words aloud vs. in your head. Go ski around for a bit and practice your timing and then repeat the two minutes aloud again. Repeat these 4 minutes every time you skate ski until you have mastered the rhythm mastered. Note this will also help impove your glide and balance.
