Are you a skier and want to try to skate on roller skis? Here are the tips from ski coach Kalle Gräfnings.

Last week, Kalle Gräfnings, a former elite skier at the World Cup level who now coaches skiers at levels ranging from beginners to several national team skiers in the Dala Sports Academy, gave you some tips on what to think about before embarking on your first roller skiing sessions. Now, he advises about skating on roller skis.

Read More: What to think about when you start roller skiing

Do you feel like trying to skate on roller skis as well?

“I’ve had several beginners who find it easier to start with skate skiing than classic skiing. And the main reason for this is that the wheels in skate skiing are narrower, which makes them easier to turn,” says Gräfnings.

How should you think about the equipment if you are going to skate?

“It is a different type of roller ski, with narrower wheels than in classic. As for the boot, I recommend a boot with a buckle over the ankle, even if you are going to ski in classic style, and that boot also works for skate skiing. It gives a huge difference in stability compared to a pair of low classic boots. By choosing a more stable boot, you feel more confident faster in your roller skiing and can thus develop faster. Then you need poles longer than those you use in classic style, and here too with sharp pole tips,” says Gräfnings to Langd.se.

Read More: When should roller ski training begin after the winter?

When it comes to pole length, there are a few different “theories,” but a basic rule can be said to be that you should have poles approximately to the shoulders in classical style and to the nose in skating.

Helmet and goggles are mandatory pieces of equipment for everyone who roller skis, but Gräfnings also advises two additional protections, especially for those who are new roller skiers:

“In my beginner courses, I have had several participants who had knee and elbow pads for maybe the first five times. If you fall, it’s often your knees and elbows that you hit, and if you have protection so you know you won’t hurt yourself if you fall, you can feel safer earlier and thus develop faster,” says Gräfnings.

Also Read: Setting SMART goals for the summer training season

What do you need to think about in terms of skating technique?

“Number one is to plan your session. This means you shouldn’t have to go down slopes you don’t know you can handle. And it’s hard to teach yourself, so I suggest taking a private lesson or a course. Perhaps the most important part is learning how to plow and then gradually being able to “handle more and more speed.” Because that’s one of the biggest differences between roller skiing and skiing in winter,” says Gräfnings and continues:

“In skating, it’s about being able and ‘daring’ to stand on one leg and glide. Those who have done some cross-country skating or inline skating usually have an advantage because the techniques are very similar. But as I said, it usually goes fast for many to get started and skate.”