Free Skating

Also known as Downhill Skating, Skate Skiing, Speed Skating or Tuck Skating (in Scandinavia).

A cross country skiing skate style used mainly downhill, and on the flat (rarely uphill) without the use of poles. Skate skiing involves the skier pushing one ski outward with the ski angled, so that the inner edge of the ski is driven against the snow, much like an ice skater.

Skate skis tend to be stiffer and shorter than those used in classical technique, and poles longer. Neither grip wax nor fish scale skis are used.