Skating on Skis
Flat sections will no longer strand you — you will glide efficiently and arrive at the lift without embarrassing pole-pushing or walking.
Propelling yourself across flat terrain by pushing off alternating skis in a V-shape — an essential skill for navigating runouts and lift lines without poles.
Watch & Learn
Not clicking? Try a different teaching style below:
Key Moments
Open your ski tips into a V with heels together — like the opposite of a snowplow
Push off the inside edge of one ski and glide on the other — alternate left and right
Let your arms swing opposite to your pushing leg — the natural cross-body movement adds propulsion
A tiny downhill grade makes skating much easier — find a gentle slope to practice before flat terrain
What It Should Feel Like
- ✓Like ice skating or rollerblade skating — the push-off and glide rhythm is nearly identical
- ✓Your weight shifting fully onto the gliding ski with each push — committed, not tentative
- ✓A satisfying momentum building as each push adds to the last
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Pushing with the flat ski instead of the edge
Angle the pushing ski so its inside edge grips the snow — without edge, there is nothing to push from
Short, choppy strokes with no glide phase
Let yourself glide on the weighted ski for a full count before pushing again — slow strokes go further
Looking down at your skis while skating
Eyes forward toward your destination — looking down causes a cascade of balance problems
Practice Drills
One-foot glide contest: push once and see how far you can glide on a single ski before touching down — longer glides mean better balance and technique
No-pole lap: skate an entire flat section with poles under your arm — forces proper leg-driven technique rather than leaning on poles
Cadence build: start skating at a slow, deliberate pace then gradually increase stroke frequency — feel how rhythm affects speed more than raw power