Ski Technique Resources

Trusted Sources

Nordiq Canada Materials

From Nordiq Canada, here is a list of technique videos for classic, skate and general agility techniques for skiers of all ages: https://www.kanatanordic.ca/wp-content/uploads/Technique-Videos.pdf

We have repackaged coaching advice from Nordiq Canada into focused sections for members to be able to self-coach or coach their own children.

Classic Diagonal Stride

Uphill Herringbone Technique

Downhill Skills

Double Poling Techniques

Skate Skiing (to be added)

Nordiq Canada Coaching Manuals

Introduction to Community Coaching Manual (Level 1)

This reference guide is designed for the Active Start age group (3-6), better known as Bunnyrabbits. Download it here (pdf). It contains the following sections:

  1. Introduction and Setting the Scene
  2. Children and their Sports Needs
  3. Clothing and Equipment
  4. Teaching Cross-Country Skiing (esp. pg. 67-79)
  5. Seasonal Plan and Activity Plans (esp. Activity Plans pg. 89-103)
  6. Sport Safety
  7. Practice Coaching Session
  8. Coaching Environment

Community Coaching Manual (Level 2)

This reference guide is designed for the FUNdamentals age group (6-9) better known as Jackrabbits. Download it here (pdf). It contains the following sections:

  1. Introduction and Setting the Scene
  2. Children and their Sports Needs
  3. Values and Ethics in Coaching
  4. Teaching Classic Technique (pg 60-103)
  5. Designing an Overall Plan for the Season
    1. Practice Plans for JR1 (pg. 125)
    2. Practice Plans for JR2 (pg. 160)
    3. Practice Plans for JR3 (pg. 206)
    4. Practice Plans for JR4 (pg. 282)
  6. Preparing for Your Practice Coaching Session
  7. Equipment Selection and Ski Preparation
  8. Introducing Competition to Children
  9. Teaching Skating Technique (pg. 411)
  10. Practice Coaching Session
  11. Coaching Athletes with a Disability (pg. 449)

Learn to Train Manual (Level 3)

This reference guide is designed for the Learning to Train age group (8-12) whether Adventure Rabbits, Teen Skate or the Kanata Nordic Racing Team Download it here (pdf). It contains the following sections:

  1. Developing a Team
  2. Equipment Selection and Ski Preparation
  3. Technique Development – Theory
  4. Technique Development – Skating (pg. 95)
  5. Teaching and Learning
  6. Athlete Support
  7. Technique Development – Classic (pg. 247)

Nordic Ski Lab: A useful resource, although predominantly for paid subscribers, with in-depth slow-motion video analysis of skate and classic technique. Subscribers can ask for more feedback.
Main site: https://nordicskilab.com/
Free technique videos channel here

Instructional Videos on YouTube

You can find a number of videos on www.youtube.com to help you teach your skiers various techniques.

XC Ski Academy offers free “How to” videos and tips about diagonal stride, skating, classic skiing, V1, V2A, V2, no pole skating, kick double pole and more. Click here for their channel

Classic Skiing

Fundamentals of Classic Skiing. 30 minute long video for beginners to intermediate athletes: https://youtu.be/Cqo3yu-j890

Traditional Nordic technique (diagonal stride):

Double Poling technique:

Skate Technique

Free Skate 
The free skate technique is the basis for most skating techniques. This short video does a great job of pointing out the most common errors that learners make. Have a look:

One Skate, a a low-gear technique for power on an incline:

Here is a series of instructional videos from an Eastern Massachusetts ski club that covers a range of progressions. Note that the American terminology is sometimes different — for example, V1 and V2 for them is One Skate and Two Skate for us.

Pushing Boundaries

Nordic skis can do a lot more than you think:

Red Bull meets Nordic skiing

Waxing

Here’s another video on how to apply glide wax. You can find a video on just about any topic so do a search on YouTube for whatever you need!

Remember that the videos are not necessarily what Cross Country Canada recommends and for that you should refer to the manuals from the coaching courses.