What is rollerskiing?
Rollerskiing is essentially a training method for cross country skiers. The technique and motions used are identical to on-snow technique, making rollerskiing the best way to prepare for the coming snow season. Rollerskis are mounted with standard cross country ski bindings, using standard boots as well. The poles are also the same as what is used on snow, yet they are equiped with a roller ferrule. Roller ferrules are tips made of harder carbide (a metal alloy), which is reinforced by stronger plastic to prevent the tip from breaking off. We carry the Swix Rollerski Ferrules for $20. Skiers will use the same pole lengths as well. A rollerski does put the skier higher off the ground than they would be on snow, but the poles do not sink into the road's surface--making their effective length the same.

All elite-level cross country skiers, biathletes and nordic combined skiers use rollerskiing as an integral part of their off-season training, and a steadily growing number of recreational skiers are finding that rollerskiing can be a fun way to stay in shape and improve their overall fitness. We do not encourage people who have not cross country skied before to purchase rollerskis, since it is a somewhat dangerous activity and requires a certain level of technique proficiency.

PRO-SKI manufactures six different models of rollerskis, some of which come with or without speed reducers. Generally, these skis can be divided into two categories: dual-technique and skate-specific. The dual technique skis are made with wider rubber wheels which tend to be more stable than most skate-specific skis. They also have slightly longer shafts which, combined with the more-forgiving rubber wheel, give these dual-technique models a comfortable ride which closely resembles the on-snow feel of skis. Because dual-technique skis use rubber wheels, these models are also available with an optional Speed reducer. Speed reducers not only offer the obvious safetly benefits of controlling the speed of the skis on a downhill, but they can also add smaller amount of resistance for skiers looking for slightly harder workouts or for those who would like to adjust the speed of their skis so that they may ski with other skiers at the same pace.

Skate specific rollerskis are designed to be used for skate technique skiing. The wheel material is either a polyurethane or a harder rubber compound, and the wheels are noticably narrower than those on dual technique skis. Skate specific rollerskis are a must for serious skiers looking to have the most realistic simulation of skate skiing, but we tend to recommend dual technique rollerskis to beginning rollerskiers. This may sound odd, since many skiers do most if not all of their snow skiing with the skating technique. Yet please consider the following points:

1. The biggest physiological benefit of rollerskiing is the ability to train your upper body in a way that you couldn't duplicate with any other off-season training method. Specifically, this is done with the single-pole and double-pole techniques and are part of standard classic skiing technique. It is for this reason that many athletes such as biathletes and nordic combined skiers, who only race with skate technique, do much of their summer rollerskiing on classic rollerskis.

2. Classic rollerskiing is safer than skating since you are taking up roughly one-third of the space on the road that you would if you were skating. Considering that many of us train on roads we have to share with cars or crowded bike paths, this makes a big difference.

3. The design of dual technique rollerskis yields a more stable and comfortable ride, making it easier to get used to the activity of rollerskiing. Keep in mind that dual technique skis can be used for skate skiing. Skate-specific skis are just better since they are designed specifically for skating.

Click here: Which model to chose chart

Safety on Rollerskis

The most important thing to remember when rollerskiing is to ski safely. There are inherent risks involved with rollerskiing, but you can do your best to minimize them. As similar as rollerskiing is to snow skiing, there is one glaring difference: asphalt is nowhere near as forgiving as snow. Because of this, you'll need to take some precautions:

These are some tips to keep in mind out on the road.

Always wear a helmet and bright clothing when rollerskiing. It may be a good idea to include other protective gear as you learn to rollerski, such as elbow and knee pads. Wrist guards tend to make controlling ski poles difficult, but it is a good idea to wear gloves to prevent your hands from blistering. Standard cross country ski gloves are good, but lightweight mountainbike gloves offer the same performance without the unnecessary insulation.

When learning to rollerski, learn to snowplow and stop first.

Check your rollerskis before using them to make sure that the bindings are secure and that they work properly. Also inspect the wheels to make certain that they are firmly secured to the ski. The vibration created by skiing over rough surfaces for an extended period of time can loosen parts on a rollerski.

Don’t be so excited that you forget to watch for cars. When cars pass, pull as far over to the side as you can and either double pole (even if you are skating) or stop poling completely. Most skiers choose to ski on the right side of the road (with traffic), although there are others who prefer to ski facing traffic and step off to the side of the road when cars or trucks pass. Since there is no set rule, do what makes you more comfortable. However if you are skating, always double-pole when a car or truck passes--regardless of which side of the road you are on.

If you are in group, always ski single file.

Choose roads without a lot of traffic: bike paths, residential areas, back roads, etc. Don't be afraid to find one good section of road and go back and forth. Repeats can be a great workout. Since the carbide roller ferrule pole tip needs to sink into the road's surface for effective poling, rollerskiing is largely limited to asphalt surfaces. Any road with relatively smooth pavement and little traffic can be used, and bike paths also make for excellent training routes. You'll want to make sure that the roads you ski on do not have steep downhills, or intersections requiring you to stop at the bottom of the hills.

When in doubt about a downhill, take the skis off and walk.

It is not as much of a safety issue, but it is a good idea to sharpen the tips on your poles regularly. Dull tips are annoying and reduce the effectiveness of the workout, plus they become more difficult to sharpen the more dull they become.