Apart from the inherent dangers you mentioned as well as the mechanical technique differences (in classic roller skiing vs snow skiing), I would say that rollerskiing in both classic and skate can reinforce/develop bad techniques if the individual isn't already a highly proficient skier. This is most obvious in classic since the constant kick of the lock wheel doesn't force the skier to use proper compression loading. Some novice/intermediate skiers with a base foundation might opt to mostly use double-pole and kick double-pole techniques to mitigate development of lazy/bad habits in executing proper diagonal stride with strong kick and weight transfer. Although skate rollerskiing is definitely more analogous to snow skiing, there are other considerations. On skate rollerskis, the wheels are usually only 20mm wide round cross-section (compared to a ~40mm flat base snow ski). This makes skate rollerskis inherently somewhat tippy such that people with poor balance and form will often ride on the edge (at an angle) during the glide phase as a technique crutch. This negatively reinforces and translates back into a lack of ability to land on a flat ski. I would say athletes can and will certainly make use of rollerskis, mostly as a method of training. Individuals who aren't quite at a high skill level but interested in keeping up general health and fitness are better off doing other exercises as you mention, including dry land training and balance drills before dabbling into rollerskiing. Learning to rollerski is often best in enclosed environments like a small empty parking lot where drills can be done safety with minimal speed and obstacles around.
Thanks so much for the meaningful feedback! You make all kinds of great additional points about the potential pitfalls of roller skiing. I appreciate it :) The thinner wheels in relation to an actual xc ski base is definitely a concern for me when it comes to skate roller skis trying to simulate the on-snow experience. It's funny because I have fairly good single leg balance in many environments, but I can't walk a slackline to save my life! haha. It's one of those things that I'd like to learn over time, but not everything is a one-for-one transfer. I know that if I was able to walk a slackline, that would ultimately benefit me as a cross-country skier. However, when walking a slackline would I still be modeling a beneficial position/posture for xc skiing? A rhetorical question because I know I mostly wouldn't, but there are all kinds of ways in which we can balance on one leg that won't be ideal in the xc ski environment. So, again, we can see that there could be pitfalls for more novice xc skiers training in another environment (without realizing how different they are). I agree that finding a "safe" zone in which to practice, such as an empty parking lot is more suitable. That's why I mostly stick to the same stretch of bike/hike path near my house. For training this is fine, but for an overall outdoor experience it's pretty ... meh. I'd rather hike a mountain and get some views (and not have to worry about ebikers zipping by at 25mph!). Again, I appreciate all of your feedback. I think it's helpful to have this kind of discussion because, as I mentioned, I've had a number of people over the years try to convince me that I should be roller skiing in the off-season. And, I just don't believe a person should really even humor the idea until they're highly competent at xc skiing on actual snow. Thank you!
I find my pmeumatic tires roller skis to be stabler and more forgiving then hard wheels, but you must remain focused while on roller skis to be safe. You cant zone out and relax like you can sometimes on snow skis. definitely helmet, pads and gloves. Ive brakes on my Skike roller skis. You didnt touch on going downhill but more challenging on roller. Thank you Jared for the videos.
Hey Bruce! Thanks for the feedback :) I had to look up pneumatic tires roller skis because I wasn't familiar with them. When I saw them, however, I realized that they looked similar to the pair that I borrowed from a friend years ago. The ones I used also had a type of friction bar that was adjustable so as to prevent the wheels from rolling too fast. That was a really nice feature on that particular model. Super cool! But, yeah, they're still roller skis and you're still mostly rolling over unforgiving terrain. But I like the idea of using them on dirt roads/paths and on terrain that may not be as smooth as pavement. I think for the time being, though, I'm just going to stick with what I have and roller ski on favorable terrain to mitigate risk. Again, thanks for tuning in and for contributing to the conversation. I really appreciate it!
Congratulations on your level 3 certification! This is a great video on technique. Occasional skiers like me appreciate the cautionary comments and encouraging feedback about trying new options for becoming a better cross-country skier.
Thanks, Joan! Now that I've been roller skiing with some relative consistency this season, I felt it was time to offer some initial thoughts (based on how many people have told me to get into it over the years). Without a strong xc ski foundation, I just see the endeavor being more counterproductive than anything else. Anyway, thanks so much for tuning in and for the kind words :)
Hi Jared, thanks for the thoughtful and honest perspectives on roller skiing. As a non-competitive senior cross country skier, think I will live with being perhaps a bit out-of-shape for skiing at the beginning of the season and stick with my enjoyment of biking during the non-ski seasons. Interestingly enough, just 2 days ago while out biking I came across a "swarm" of younger generation folks (normally see mainly us older ones out in the winter) on roller skis practicing their charging up a fairly steep uphill section of road - fun to watch, they were really giving it!! Out this way, we are all so saddened by what is going on in Jasper - an absolute gem of a place. Only 3 more months until the white stuff returns!!
Hey Brad, I appreciate the opportunity that I have right now to dive a little deeper into the art of xc skiing (via roller skiing). But I try to envision the beginners that I've taught over the years, as well as many of the folks who've tuned into my channel on roller skis, and I just don't see it being a very good thing (for many of them). There's just so much that could go wrong without having a solid foundation from which to work. I think roller skiing is definitely for a younger crowd - haha! They just bounce off pavement so much easier ;) That's a tragedy about Jasper. Hoping for the best... Thanks again for watching and commenting. And I'm also looking forward to some cooler temps and snowy precipitation!
Thank you. I appreciate the feedback :) And I think focusing on technique on snow is the way to go until you feel super comfortable with that single leg balance (and asphalt!). As always, thanks for tuning in and commenting :)
Thank you very much for addressing this "issue." I wish someone had told me this years ago when I bought some roller skis and "tried" to get better using them in the off-season. I was too timid. I should have spent more time on balance and stability drills. Eventually, I got smarter and gave up roller skiing in the off-season to spend more time doing other kinds of cross training - trail running with poles, nordic walking with poles, strength training, etc. I think I am a better skier for this decision. I am glad you did this video - it will help me answer those questions on roller skiing I get from other skiers new to cross country skiing.
Hey Jennifer! As I mentioned in another of my responses, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to borrow a friend's roller skis for a couple of weeks (years ago) to give them a test run. Many of my co-workers/fellow instructors have all mentioned over the years to beware. Many of them have roller skied in the past but have since let it go as they grew tired of the occasional crash. That's also why I was able to borrow those roller skis - most of my friends were like, "Use them as long as you'd like!" haha. I do believe there are tons more options for preparing for each upcoming season, especially when a person isn't a dedicated xc ski competitor. And, as much as I love cross-country skiing, I also need a break from that world. Thanks again for tuning in, and for your great feedback. Let me know if you have any questions or want additional feedback. But, so far, there's been a nice selection of personal anecdotes regarding peoples' experiences roller skiing (here in the comment section). Take care!
Thanks for bringing this topic up and shedding some light on it. I know we’ve talked about the pros and cons of roller skiing, and as you mention in the video roller-skiing has a much higher risk of injury than xc-skiing. Also if you dont have good form to begin with then roller-skiing can be harmful
Hey Andrew! You're welcome :) Thanks for watching, and for the feedback. I've found over the years that it's usually beneficial to stick with one style, instructor, focus when learning new stuff before cross-training (in an adjacent style, with a new instructor, or shifting your focus). I consider roller skiing as a method of cross-training because, again, it's similar but different. And if a person doesn't have that solid foundation (in this case, technique on snow), the results can just be less than ideal. Anyway, it's great to hear from you. I hope you're summer has been a good one :)
Jared, thanks for this video. I agree with many of the points discussed and have found skate roller skiing much more difficult than on snow skate skiing. I’ve done a lot more classic skiing since I started the sport about 6 years ago but for the reasons you mentioned (developing bad technique), I opted to avoid classic roller skis when purchasing a pair last fall. Pavement generally isn’t as smooth and uniform of a surface as a groomed ski trail unless the asphalt is relatively new. As a result it seems much easier to have your skating rhythm disrupted (especially for V2) by bumps, or trying to avoid large cracks, pot holes etc. I had no difficulty after I learned the V2 technique on snow, but at times I feel like I am really struggling to be consistent with it on roller skis. Appreciate your channel and am looking forward to future content on roller skiing (and more). Best regards.
Hey Ben! Thanks so much for the great feedback :) The inconsistent road surface can really be a drag, literally. I was skate roller skiing earlier this season on a freshly surfaced road, thinking it would be ideal. However, the road was a bit remote and wasn't smooth at all. It looked great from a distance, but it was very textured and had the finest wave pattern. So much so that as I was working on a slow and controlled V2, I would actually get caught in the "troughs" of the wave pattern and come to a halt. So, in order to negotiate it, I had to add more power and go faster just to get through it. Needless to say, I took a knee at one point and I decided I wouldn't be roller skiing on that road again! In many respects, no matter the snow conditions, xc skiing is just so much more smooth and forgiving on snow. You just have so many more options to deal with terrain features and variable conditions simply thanks to the gliding properties of the whole thing. On asphalt and concrete, none of that is an option. Pure friction and, as a result, I do find that more often than on snow, I'm just roller skiing for survival rather than actually focusing on technique. All of that said, roller skiing in all its forms is definitely a training tool. But it'll never replace skiing on snow and should be (in my opinion) treated as such. That is, a supporting element, not the true thing in which we're trying to do. Anyway, thanks so much for tuning in and providing some great feedback. I appreciate it :)
Thanks Jared for mentioning the safety aspect. I find rollerskis treacherous. Amazing when you see the pros fly on them like its nothing. I've seen a few XCers mentioned rollerblading as a safer alternative due to the shorter wheel base and hard boots for more stability (although still with plenty of risk when you hit the asphalt!)
Thank you for the kind words and feedback! I appreciate it :) It is amazing to see the pros running roller skis at such high speeds. That takes really great technique, lots of confidence, and maybe just a hint of madness! haha :) But for the rest of us mere mortals, I don't know, I'm just not willing to risk going that fast. Even on roller blades I've taken some nasty spills, mostly on hilly sections where I gained too much momentum and couldn't effectively stop myself. So I'll stick to the flats and really gentle terrain while practicing slower, controlled, and repeatable technique. Thanks for tuning in, and for contributing to the conversation :)
With today's high of 92 degrees at my house in South Lake Tahoe, I'm right there with you. We had a cold spell for a few days last week, which was nice, but not cold enough! haha :)
Hello Jared, you are right! I do love cross country skiing, I got myself a good and expensive pair of roller skis to keep doing my sport during the summer, I can't hide the fact that I was excited to try it, but it's only when I finally started doing it that it felt like it was a totally different sport: so much more difficult and dangerous. I fell 2-3 times at average speed, I broke one of my roller ski, scratches and blood + back pain. I'm not a bad skier at all on snow but roller ski is very technical, falling on asphalt is brutal. I decided to not keep doing this activity. Instead, I'm only doing work out and running to keep my body in shape and ready for the next winter season. Thanks for the good work you put in sharing your knowledge and experiences!
That's a total bummer that you had invested in so much gear (that ultimately didn't get used as you hoped). I was fortunate in my first go-around years ago that I could borrow a set of roller skis to try them out. So I never invested in anything beyond the elbow/knee pads. At this point, however, I have outfitted myself with skate/classic roller skis and the roller ski pole tips. But I'm taking things lot more mellow on the roller skis so as to limit my risk. Basically, I'm just trying to keep things slow, controlled, and repeatable. Part of my reason for investing know, though, is that I am trying to refine technique and keep up the momentum (pun intended) of having this RUclips channel and my website. I'm not necessarily trying to be the expert, but I do want to have information in which to share when people ask. Call it research, I suppose - haha! Thanks so much for sharing your experience on roller skis. I really appreciate the feedback. And I'm glad that you were able to try it, determine there were other options, and to explore those options without (hopefully) too many long-term drawbacks (to trying roller skiing). Thanks for tuning in!
I'm with you Yan. I really wanted to like, putting much time into drills. But I took a hard fall on my back and said screw this. Its just not worth the risk especially if you are 50+ like myself.
I've had ski instructors here in Michigan advise the same thing that skischwein (and Jared) point out. Too much chance for nasty injury and reinforcing poor technique. I'm low intermediate level btw. I have lots of fun, but definitely still kinda clumsy.
Thanks so much for the feedback! Glad I'm not the only one saying it :) Which I know isn't true because a lot of my co-workers and fellow xc skiers (who've been teaching and skiing a lot longer than me) have told me that they gave it up years ago. That is, once they started getting old enough to not want to deal with crashing anymore. I hope you're having a great summer!
Excellent message -there was a lot of think about for an intermediate skier with various skills and experiences. While you sold me on the idea NOT to buy classic roller skis (for the next few years at least) I still wonder about the roller skate skis. Will you be making an analysis on roller skate skiing or do you feel like what has been said is enough? (I just took up skate skiing last year (3x) and want to develop that strength and technique).
Hey EC, great to hear from you :) As always, thanks for the feedback and questions. I want to start a mini-series of skate skiing videos this upcoming winter. Whether or not I do one for skate roller skiing beforehand is to be determined. I've been taking a break from all roller skiing this past week (or two) in order to catch up on other projects, but my intention is to roller ski a lot more toward the end of summer/beginning of fall. And a lot of that has to do with the fact that summer work for me will be winding down in mid/late-September, as well as birding (for the Tahoe Big Year). I'll just have more time to film and roller ski once we get to the second half of September. All of that said, perhaps I'll just start that series of skate ski how-to videos on roller skis and then carry on with the series on snow. I'll start to brainstorm that idea over the next month. In the meantime, I agree that it's wise to hold off on picking up classic roller skis. And, even if you don't have tons of skate technique-related lessons to currently be working on with the skate roller skis, you could just go for lots of double pole and step turn sessions. Make yourself a simple slalom course (on flat terrain) and work on stepping around those cones (or whatever markers you use). It's the latter push-off that you want to be developing for skate skiing. And step turns are a very natural way in which to build that into your practice. Okay, time to get ready for work. Thanks for tuning in and reaching out. I hope you're having a great summer!
Dear Jared Manninen，I love watching your outdoor and skiing adventures on RUclips. We think our ski goggles and sports glasses would be a great fit for your channel, and we'd love to offer you some gear to review in exchange for a feature in one of your videos.
Jared, thanks for this video. I agree with many of the points discussed and have found skate roller skiing much more difficult than on snow skate skiing. I’ve done a lot more classic skiing since I started the sport about 6 years ago but for the reasons you mentioned (developing bad technique), I opted to avoid classic roller skis when purchasing a pair last fall. Pavement generally isn’t as smooth and uniform of a surface as a groomed ski trail unless the asphalt is relatively new. As a result it seems much easier to have your skating rhythm disrupted (especially for V2) by bumps, or trying to avoid large cracks, pot holes etc. I had no difficulty after I learned the V2 technique on snow, but at times I feel like I am really struggling to be consistent with it on roller skis. Appreciate your channel and am looking forward to future content on roller skiing (and more). Best regards.
Apart from the inherent dangers you mentioned as well as the mechanical technique differences (in classic roller skiing vs snow skiing), I would say that rollerskiing in both classic and skate can reinforce/develop bad techniques if the individual isn't already a highly proficient skier.
This is most obvious in classic since the constant kick of the lock wheel doesn't force the skier to use proper compression loading. Some novice/intermediate skiers with a base foundation might opt to mostly use double-pole and kick double-pole techniques to mitigate development of lazy/bad habits in executing proper diagonal stride with strong kick and weight transfer.
Although skate rollerskiing is definitely more analogous to snow skiing, there are other considerations. On skate rollerskis, the wheels are usually only 20mm wide round cross-section (compared to a ~40mm flat base snow ski). This makes skate rollerskis inherently somewhat tippy such that people with poor balance and form will often ride on the edge (at an angle) during the glide phase as a technique crutch. This negatively reinforces and translates back into a lack of ability to land on a flat ski.
I would say athletes can and will certainly make use of rollerskis, mostly as a method of training. Individuals who aren't quite at a high skill level but interested in keeping up general health and fitness are better off doing other exercises as you mention, including dry land training and balance drills before dabbling into rollerskiing. Learning to rollerski is often best in enclosed environments like a small empty parking lot where drills can be done safety with minimal speed and obstacles around.
Thanks so much for the meaningful feedback! You make all kinds of great additional points about the potential pitfalls of roller skiing. I appreciate it :)
The thinner wheels in relation to an actual xc ski base is definitely a concern for me when it comes to skate roller skis trying to simulate the on-snow experience. It's funny because I have fairly good single leg balance in many environments, but I can't walk a slackline to save my life! haha. It's one of those things that I'd like to learn over time, but not everything is a one-for-one transfer. I know that if I was able to walk a slackline, that would ultimately benefit me as a cross-country skier. However, when walking a slackline would I still be modeling a beneficial position/posture for xc skiing? A rhetorical question because I know I mostly wouldn't, but there are all kinds of ways in which we can balance on one leg that won't be ideal in the xc ski environment. So, again, we can see that there could be pitfalls for more novice xc skiers training in another environment (without realizing how different they are).
I agree that finding a "safe" zone in which to practice, such as an empty parking lot is more suitable. That's why I mostly stick to the same stretch of bike/hike path near my house. For training this is fine, but for an overall outdoor experience it's pretty ... meh. I'd rather hike a mountain and get some views (and not have to worry about ebikers zipping by at 25mph!).
Again, I appreciate all of your feedback. I think it's helpful to have this kind of discussion because, as I mentioned, I've had a number of people over the years try to convince me that I should be roller skiing in the off-season. And, I just don't believe a person should really even humor the idea until they're highly competent at xc skiing on actual snow.
Thank you!
I find my pmeumatic tires roller skis to be stabler and more forgiving then hard wheels, but you must remain focused while on roller skis to be safe. You cant zone out and relax like you can sometimes on snow skis. definitely helmet, pads and gloves. Ive brakes on my Skike roller skis. You didnt touch on going downhill but more challenging on roller. Thank you Jared for the videos.
Hey Bruce!
Thanks for the feedback :) I had to look up pneumatic tires roller skis because I wasn't familiar with them. When I saw them, however, I realized that they looked similar to the pair that I borrowed from a friend years ago. The ones I used also had a type of friction bar that was adjustable so as to prevent the wheels from rolling too fast. That was a really nice feature on that particular model. Super cool!
But, yeah, they're still roller skis and you're still mostly rolling over unforgiving terrain. But I like the idea of using them on dirt roads/paths and on terrain that may not be as smooth as pavement. I think for the time being, though, I'm just going to stick with what I have and roller ski on favorable terrain to mitigate risk.
Again, thanks for tuning in and for contributing to the conversation. I really appreciate it!
Congratulations on your level 3 certification! This is a great video on technique. Occasional skiers like me appreciate the cautionary comments and encouraging feedback about trying new options for becoming a better cross-country skier.
Thanks, Joan!
Now that I've been roller skiing with some relative consistency this season, I felt it was time to offer some initial thoughts (based on how many people have told me to get into it over the years). Without a strong xc ski foundation, I just see the endeavor being more counterproductive than anything else.
Anyway, thanks so much for tuning in and for the kind words :)
Hi Jared, thanks for the thoughtful and honest perspectives on roller skiing. As a non-competitive senior cross country skier, think I will live with being perhaps a bit out-of-shape for skiing at the beginning of the season and stick with my enjoyment of biking during the non-ski seasons. Interestingly enough, just 2 days ago while out biking I came across a "swarm" of younger generation folks (normally see mainly us older ones out in the winter) on roller skis practicing their charging up a fairly steep uphill section of road - fun to watch, they were really giving it!!
Out this way, we are all so saddened by what is going on in Jasper - an absolute gem of a place. Only 3 more months until the white stuff returns!!
Hey Brad,
I appreciate the opportunity that I have right now to dive a little deeper into the art of xc skiing (via roller skiing). But I try to envision the beginners that I've taught over the years, as well as many of the folks who've tuned into my channel on roller skis, and I just don't see it being a very good thing (for many of them). There's just so much that could go wrong without having a solid foundation from which to work.
I think roller skiing is definitely for a younger crowd - haha! They just bounce off pavement so much easier ;)
That's a tragedy about Jasper. Hoping for the best...
Thanks again for watching and commenting. And I'm also looking forward to some cooler temps and snowy precipitation!
Yah pretty much only competitive XC ski racers do this around here, beginning around age 12! 😮
@@TahoeLand It is pretty crazy how young people go for it! But I guess they probably bounce a little better than me! haha :)
Great video. I was checking these out a few years ago and this was informative. I’m holding off now, I need more snow time.
Thank you. I appreciate the feedback :) And I think focusing on technique on snow is the way to go until you feel super comfortable with that single leg balance (and asphalt!). As always, thanks for tuning in and commenting :)
Thank you very much for addressing this "issue." I wish someone had told me this years ago when I bought some roller skis and "tried" to get better using them in the off-season. I was too timid. I should have spent more time on balance and stability drills. Eventually, I got smarter and gave up roller skiing in the off-season to spend more time doing other kinds of cross training - trail running with poles, nordic walking with poles, strength training, etc. I think I am a better skier for this decision. I am glad you did this video - it will help me answer those questions on roller skiing I get from other skiers new to cross country skiing.
Hey Jennifer!
As I mentioned in another of my responses, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to borrow a friend's roller skis for a couple of weeks (years ago) to give them a test run. Many of my co-workers/fellow instructors have all mentioned over the years to beware. Many of them have roller skied in the past but have since let it go as they grew tired of the occasional crash. That's also why I was able to borrow those roller skis - most of my friends were like, "Use them as long as you'd like!" haha.
I do believe there are tons more options for preparing for each upcoming season, especially when a person isn't a dedicated xc ski competitor. And, as much as I love cross-country skiing, I also need a break from that world.
Thanks again for tuning in, and for your great feedback. Let me know if you have any questions or want additional feedback. But, so far, there's been a nice selection of personal anecdotes regarding peoples' experiences roller skiing (here in the comment section).
Take care!
Thanks for bringing this topic up and shedding some light on it. I know we’ve talked about the pros and cons of roller skiing, and as you mention in the video roller-skiing has a much higher risk of injury than xc-skiing. Also if you dont have good form to begin with then roller-skiing can be harmful
Hey Andrew!
You're welcome :) Thanks for watching, and for the feedback. I've found over the years that it's usually beneficial to stick with one style, instructor, focus when learning new stuff before cross-training (in an adjacent style, with a new instructor, or shifting your focus). I consider roller skiing as a method of cross-training because, again, it's similar but different. And if a person doesn't have that solid foundation (in this case, technique on snow), the results can just be less than ideal.
Anyway, it's great to hear from you. I hope you're summer has been a good one :)
Jared, thanks for this video. I agree with many of the points discussed and have found skate roller skiing much more difficult than on snow skate skiing. I’ve done a lot more classic skiing since I started the sport about 6 years ago but for the reasons you mentioned (developing bad technique), I opted to avoid classic roller skis when purchasing a pair last fall. Pavement generally isn’t as smooth and uniform of a surface as a groomed ski trail unless the asphalt is relatively new. As a result it seems much easier to have your skating rhythm disrupted (especially for V2) by bumps, or trying to avoid large cracks, pot holes etc. I had no difficulty after I learned the V2 technique on snow, but at times I feel like I am really struggling to be consistent with it on roller skis. Appreciate your channel and am looking forward to future content on roller skiing (and more). Best regards.
Hey Ben!
Thanks so much for the great feedback :)
The inconsistent road surface can really be a drag, literally. I was skate roller skiing earlier this season on a freshly surfaced road, thinking it would be ideal. However, the road was a bit remote and wasn't smooth at all. It looked great from a distance, but it was very textured and had the finest wave pattern. So much so that as I was working on a slow and controlled V2, I would actually get caught in the "troughs" of the wave pattern and come to a halt. So, in order to negotiate it, I had to add more power and go faster just to get through it. Needless to say, I took a knee at one point and I decided I wouldn't be roller skiing on that road again!
In many respects, no matter the snow conditions, xc skiing is just so much more smooth and forgiving on snow. You just have so many more options to deal with terrain features and variable conditions simply thanks to the gliding properties of the whole thing. On asphalt and concrete, none of that is an option. Pure friction and, as a result, I do find that more often than on snow, I'm just roller skiing for survival rather than actually focusing on technique.
All of that said, roller skiing in all its forms is definitely a training tool. But it'll never replace skiing on snow and should be (in my opinion) treated as such. That is, a supporting element, not the true thing in which we're trying to do.
Anyway, thanks so much for tuning in and providing some great feedback. I appreciate it :)
Thanks Jared for mentioning the safety aspect. I find rollerskis treacherous. Amazing when you see the pros fly on them like its nothing. I've seen a few XCers mentioned rollerblading as a safer alternative due to the shorter wheel base and hard boots for more stability (although still with plenty of risk when you hit the asphalt!)
Thank you for the kind words and feedback! I appreciate it :)
It is amazing to see the pros running roller skis at such high speeds. That takes really great technique, lots of confidence, and maybe just a hint of madness! haha :) But for the rest of us mere mortals, I don't know, I'm just not willing to risk going that fast. Even on roller blades I've taken some nasty spills, mostly on hilly sections where I gained too much momentum and couldn't effectively stop myself. So I'll stick to the flats and really gentle terrain while practicing slower, controlled, and repeatable technique.
Thanks for tuning in, and for contributing to the conversation :)
Can't wait until winter returns! ⛷️⛷️⛷️
With today's high of 92 degrees at my house in South Lake Tahoe, I'm right there with you. We had a cold spell for a few days last week, which was nice, but not cold enough! haha :)
Hello Jared, you are right! I do love cross country skiing, I got myself a good and expensive pair of roller skis to keep doing my sport during the summer, I can't hide the fact that I was excited to try it, but it's only when I finally started doing it that it felt like it was a totally different sport: so much more difficult and dangerous. I fell 2-3 times at average speed, I broke one of my roller ski, scratches and blood + back pain. I'm not a bad skier at all on snow but roller ski is very technical, falling on asphalt is brutal. I decided to not keep doing this activity. Instead, I'm only doing work out and running to keep my body in shape and ready for the next winter season. Thanks for the good work you put in sharing your knowledge and experiences!
That's a total bummer that you had invested in so much gear (that ultimately didn't get used as you hoped). I was fortunate in my first go-around years ago that I could borrow a set of roller skis to try them out. So I never invested in anything beyond the elbow/knee pads. At this point, however, I have outfitted myself with skate/classic roller skis and the roller ski pole tips. But I'm taking things lot more mellow on the roller skis so as to limit my risk. Basically, I'm just trying to keep things slow, controlled, and repeatable. Part of my reason for investing know, though, is that I am trying to refine technique and keep up the momentum (pun intended) of having this RUclips channel and my website. I'm not necessarily trying to be the expert, but I do want to have information in which to share when people ask. Call it research, I suppose - haha!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience on roller skis. I really appreciate the feedback. And I'm glad that you were able to try it, determine there were other options, and to explore those options without (hopefully) too many long-term drawbacks (to trying roller skiing).
Thanks for tuning in!
I'm with you Yan. I really wanted to like, putting much time into drills. But I took a hard fall on my back and said screw this. Its just not worth the risk especially if you are 50+ like myself.
Sorry I didn't see your reply sooner, but thanks for the comment. Yeah, falling is just no fun anytime 😬
Thanks Jared for this excellent informative discussion! For once, a video on youtube that does NOT say "Why you need to buy this and do that."
You're welcome! And, yeah, this time I recommend everyone to just save their money :) Or, maybe use that money for more winter gear - haha!
I've had ski instructors here in Michigan advise the same thing that skischwein (and Jared) point out. Too much chance for nasty injury and reinforcing poor technique. I'm low intermediate level btw. I have lots of fun, but definitely still kinda clumsy.
Thanks so much for the feedback! Glad I'm not the only one saying it :) Which I know isn't true because a lot of my co-workers and fellow xc skiers (who've been teaching and skiing a lot longer than me) have told me that they gave it up years ago. That is, once they started getting old enough to not want to deal with crashing anymore.
I hope you're having a great summer!
Excellent message -there was a lot of think about for an intermediate skier with various skills and experiences. While you sold me on the idea NOT to buy classic roller skis (for the next few years at least) I still wonder about the roller skate skis. Will you be making an analysis on roller skate skiing or do you feel like what has been said is enough? (I just took up skate skiing last year (3x) and want to develop that strength and technique).
Hey EC, great to hear from you :)
As always, thanks for the feedback and questions. I want to start a mini-series of skate skiing videos this upcoming winter. Whether or not I do one for skate roller skiing beforehand is to be determined. I've been taking a break from all roller skiing this past week (or two) in order to catch up on other projects, but my intention is to roller ski a lot more toward the end of summer/beginning of fall. And a lot of that has to do with the fact that summer work for me will be winding down in mid/late-September, as well as birding (for the Tahoe Big Year). I'll just have more time to film and roller ski once we get to the second half of September.
All of that said, perhaps I'll just start that series of skate ski how-to videos on roller skis and then carry on with the series on snow. I'll start to brainstorm that idea over the next month.
In the meantime, I agree that it's wise to hold off on picking up classic roller skis. And, even if you don't have tons of skate technique-related lessons to currently be working on with the skate roller skis, you could just go for lots of double pole and step turn sessions. Make yourself a simple slalom course (on flat terrain) and work on stepping around those cones (or whatever markers you use). It's the latter push-off that you want to be developing for skate skiing. And step turns are a very natural way in which to build that into your practice.
Okay, time to get ready for work. Thanks for tuning in and reaching out. I hope you're having a great summer!
Dear Jared Manninen，I love watching your outdoor and skiing adventures on RUclips. We think our ski goggles and sports glasses would be a great fit for your channel, and we'd love to offer you some gear to review in exchange for a feature in one of your videos.
I appreciate the kind words, but I don't do product reviews for anybody.
@@JaredManninen Thanks let me know this
Sweet! Hopefully you making this video causes the secondhand market to flood so I can get me a cheap pair 😉
Haha! That's hilarious :) And I hope that scenario comes true for you. But don't say I didn't warn you ;)
Jared, thanks for this video. I agree with many of the points discussed and have found skate roller skiing much more difficult than on snow skate skiing. I’ve done a lot more classic skiing since I started the sport about 6 years ago but for the reasons you mentioned (developing bad technique), I opted to avoid classic roller skis when purchasing a pair last fall. Pavement generally isn’t as smooth and uniform of a surface as a groomed ski trail unless the asphalt is relatively new. As a result it seems much easier to have your skating rhythm disrupted (especially for V2) by bumps, or trying to avoid large cracks, pot holes etc. I had no difficulty after I learned the V2 technique on snow, but at times I feel like I am really struggling to be consistent with it on roller skis. Appreciate your channel and am looking forward to future content on roller skiing (and more). Best regards.
It appears that this is probably just a duplicate post :)