Cross overs are especially useful for Cross Bladers. The technique is for intermediate to advanced skaters and takes practice, but it’s worth it. Skaters can generate a lot of speed through turns.
Note: Cross overs do not work well for road skis or Skike (due to their length).
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Here skating icon Eddy Matzger teaches the basics of cross overs.
Jenex V2 rollerskier climbing Alp d’Huez FR. Jenex has pneumatic tires for handling rough roads.
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Jenex V2 Rollerski
LandRollers are cool. They have large wheels which roll over obstacles more smoothly than inline skates. It’s similar to the advantage of the larger “29er” mountain bike wheels.
For Nordic skaters there are drawbacks. The outboard wheel design interferes with the natural pole plant location which can cause a fall. They don’t have the traction of a 4 wheel inline skate, so they can’t generate as much energy in an Alpine ski turn. In a turn, the angle of the inside skate wheels means they don’t contribute much control or energy. So turns are more a one skate balancing act than on inline skates. The wheel angle also compromises the “double push.”
Having said that, they are very beginner friendly. I’m sure some will adapt to these limitations and go have fun. Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Milan love ’em. Visit LandRoller.
Skike is a great Nordic skating tool. Some find the turning ability less exciting than Alpine turns on inline skates, but they handle rough pavement and smooth dirt/gravel roads which inline skates will not. Speeds are lower than inline skates and the Skike brakes are very effective.
Visit Skike.