Cross Country Skiing

Master the Art of Stopping on Roller Skis: Tips and Techniques

How do you stop on roller skis? This is a great question and there are a lot of different types of rollers. He's out there and some have brakes. And so if you're a beginner on roller skis, I would definitely highly recommend getting a pair that has brakes on them. We usually trained on roller skis that didn't have brakes and so there was no obvious stopping mechanism. And so I would say the most important thing for us was really scouting Our Roots before we went on them and our coaches would usually go out and make sure every Hill ran out. There was a flatter and Uphill after the downhill, and you wouldn't get going too fast because we didn't have brakes to stop ourselves. There are also some pretty funny techniques. You can do like a kind of a makeshift snow plow and roller skis. So there are ways to dragging your poles. There ways to slow yourselves down but yeah, most rulers, he's we use, did not have A braking system.

If you are a beginner on roller skis, it's best to get a pair with brakes. For those without brakes, the most important thing is to scout the route before going and look for any hills that may be too steep or fast. Additionally, there are some makeshift techniques, such as dragging your poles or performing a snow plow, that can help slow down the roller skis.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/kpds9x81ly0nn1nknhiu.vtt

Stopping on roller skis can be approached in different ways depending on the type of roller skis being used. Some roller skis come equipped with brakes, which can be helpful for beginners. If you're new to roller skiing, it is recommended to choose roller skis with brakes.

However, many roller skis do not have an obvious stopping mechanism. In such cases, it is important to scout the routes beforehand. Coaches often go out to ensure that there are flatter or uphill sections after downhill stretches, which helps to prevent excessive speed buildup. Without brakes, this scouting technique allows skiers to manage their speed and avoid going too fast.

There are also alternative techniques that can be used to slow down or stop on roller skis. One method is to create a makeshift snowplow by dragging the poles or finding ways to slow oneself down. It's worth noting that most roller skis used in training do not have a built-in braking system.

Is it developmentally better for young skiers (U8) to ski on fish scales or skins?

Fish Scales vs. Skins: Which is Best for Young Skiers?

The question is, is it developmentally better for young skiers around you, 8 age to ski on fish scales or skins? Great question. I think both fish scales and skins have come a long way in the last few years. I think for that young of age, you know, under 8 years old, I would almost leaned towards fish scales. I think at that age, the goal should be to give them bomb-proof kick and skins can be a lot faster in some conditions. But There are also slick in some conditions. I think, at that age, putting them on fish gills, that always give them good kick and let them get the hang of the classic technique is probably the way to go and then maybe you can shift to skin skis, once they're a little older and I know they're trying to make some skin skis more like race caliber skis, but I think at that young of an age, slapping him on the pair of fish scales is perfect.

For young skiers under 8 years old, it is better for them to ski on fish scales rather than skins. Fish scales provide a reliable kick and allows them to learn classic technique, whereas skins can be faster but also slicker in certain conditions.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/kofc12qyyh6zu2uzqbqw.vtt

When considering whether it is developmentally better for young skiers (under 8 years old) to ski on fish scales or skins, I would lean towards fish scales. Both options have improved in recent years, but for this age group, I believe the focus should be on providing them with a reliable kick. Skins can be faster in certain conditions, but they can also be slippery. By using fish scales, young skiers can consistently experience good kick and become familiar with the classic technique. As they grow older, they can transition to skin skis, especially as advancements are made to create race-caliber skin skis. However, for young skiers, starting them off with a pair of fish scales is a perfect choice.

Are there any athletes over the years that you've become good friends with?

Bonds Formed Through Ski Racing: Athletes Becoming Lifelong Friends

Are there any athletes of the years that you've become good friends with? I became good friends with a lot of athletes on on my team, but I think it was also fun to become close with a couple of the other International athletes. In particular, one of my good friends was a French national team skier and she came over and came to one of our camps and New Zealand One Summer and we just hit it off and got along really well and stayed in touch and I ended up going to visit her and her family over in France in the summer and we've just become very close and I think we remain friends for the left the rest of our lives these days it's more like sending photos of our children back and forth but I really value our friendship and that was formed through ski racing. And there are a couple other stories like that becoming friends with International Racers, which is a lot of fun.

I have become good friends with a few international athletes, particularly a French national team skier that I met while attending a camp in New Zealand. We have stayed in touch and I have visited her family in France. Now we stay connected by sending photos of our children back and forth.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/gcyo9uvhn5nhlllvjsz6.vtt

Over the years, I have developed good friendships with several athletes, both on my team and internationally. One particular friendship that stands out is with a skier from the French national team. We met during one of our camps in New Zealand, instantly clicked, and stayed in touch. I even had the opportunity to visit her and her family in France during the summer. Our friendship has remained strong, and although these days we mostly exchange photos of our children, I truly value the bond we formed through ski racing. There are a few other similar stories of becoming friends with international racers, which has been a lot of fun.

What is your worst travel experience? ￼

Olympic Nightmare: Forgotten Skis at Sochi 2014

My worst travel experience was actually when I forgot to bring my skis to my first Olympics in 2014, I had qualified for the Olympics in Sochi and we were going through processing and Munich and I was pretty shy and nervous. And I think I just, I assumed that our texts were packing our skis and text assumed, we were packing our skis, but I guess maybe I was too shy to clarify or confirm that. And when we, Arrived in Sochi, I did not have my skis and I was absolutely mortified. Luckily the Nordic combined team was coming a couple days later and and they brought my skis for me and no one made me feel too bad about it but that was definitely a pretty embarrassing bad travel experience for me.

I forgot my skis when traveling to the Olympics, but luckily a teammate brought them for me later.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/ncbz7okihbxfyu9owfkg.vtt

My worst travel experience was when I forgot to bring my skis to my first Olympics in 2014. I had qualified for the Olympics in Sochi, and during the processing in Munich, I was feeling shy and nervous. I assumed that our team was responsible for packing our skis, and they assumed the same. I didn't clarify or confirm this assumption, perhaps due to my shyness.

When we arrived in Sochi, I realized that I didn't have my skis, and I was absolutely mortified. Fortunately, the Nordic combined team was arriving a few days later, and they kindly brought my skis for me. Thankfully, nobody made me feel too bad about it, but it was definitely an embarrassing and unpleasant travel experience for me.

When should I double pole kick during a ski race?

Mastering the Kick: Double Pole Transition in Ski Races

When should I do for kick during a race? Great question. And as I was mostly a Sprint racer on the World Cup and I have to admit that, I rarely used double pull kick Sprinter. So short that I think I tried to transition between techniques as as little as possible because each transition takes some time. And so as a result I was mostly double polling and striding and in Classics Prints, but now has retired athlete. I find myself using dope. We'll kick a lot more. My upper body isn't quite as strong and so I can't double pull everything. I used to double pole and I find up old kick to be a great technique, gradual ups and just a great transitional technique between double colon striding. And I think it's also used quite a bit in distance racing. I think it's a great technique for when you're starting to get bogged down double coin but it's still a little too flat to stride.

Double pole and stride are the most common techniques used in sprint racing, but doppel kick can be a great transitional technique between the two for when you're starting to get bogged down double polling but it's still a bit too flat to stride.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/qpd6he60dehunu6lway9.vtt

When should I use double pole kick during a ski race? As a former Sprint racer on the World Cup circuit, I have to admit that I rarely used double pole kick in sprints. I tried to minimize transitions between techniques as they take time. So, I mostly focused on double polling and striding in Classic Sprints.

However, now as a retired athlete, I find myself using double pole kick more often. My upper body strength isn't as strong as before, so I can't rely solely on double polling. Double pole kick has become a great technique for me, especially on gradual inclines and as a smooth transition between double polling and striding. It's also commonly used in distance racing when you start to feel fatigued from double polling but the terrain is still not steep enough for striding.

Streamlined Training Watch: The Polar Vantage - All You Need, Nothing You Don't!

What watch do. I use when I train? I've been using the polar Vantage for a long time. Now I feel like it's pretty simple and has everything I need, but doesn't have too much of what I don't need. I think sometimes watches have a lot of different functions on them now that I personally don't use and so sometimes that can just make a watch that I feel is too big or I just don't utilize everything. It has to offer. So So I find that the polar Vantage has everything I need, and no more than that and I really like the size and the look of it.

I use the Polar Vantage watch when I train because it's simple and has everything I need without extra functions that I don't use.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/w0hqlsejiuwcamgmntap.vtt

When it comes to training, I've been using the Polar Vantage watch for a while now. It's a simple yet functional watch that provides everything I need without overwhelming me with unnecessary features. Some watches these days have a multitude of functions that I personally don't use, making them feel too bulky or excessive for my needs. The Polar Vantage strikes the right balance for me, offering all the necessary features without any extras. I also appreciate its size and aesthetic appeal.

Swimming

Strength

Triathlon

Photography

Track & Field

Nutrition

Physical Therapy

Running

Pets

Cycling

Podcasting

HealthCare

Musculoskeletal

Hockey

First Responders

Integrative Medicine

Chiropractic

Adaptive Sports

Climbing

Mental Health

Surfing

Tennis

Military

Mind Body

Scholars

Criminal Justice

Liquor

CrossFit

Golf

Soccer

Pickleball

Hunting

Public Speaking

Venture Capital

Competition

Career Journey

Mental Toughness

Gear & Equipment

Form & Technique

Sophie Caldwell Hamilton grew up skiing in Peru, VT. She joined the West River Sports Club in 7th grade and attended Stratton Mountain School. After graduating from Dartmouth College, she joined SMS T2 and the US Ski Team. She competed in the 2014 Olympics and earned her first World Cup win last season. to fellow US cross-country teammate Simeon Hamilton.

Sophie Hamilton