In-Line Skating With Ski Poles

Inline skating is an excellent form of low-impact aerobic exercise. It offers a fitness workout that focuses on lateral leg and hip movement. To get an upper body workout, adding Nordic poles is an option that can be challenging and fun.

  1. Nordic Poles with Skates

    • Using cross-country or Nordic poles with inline skates is very similar to cross-country skiing, or skate skiing. Many skiers use skates and poles in the summer months to continue their training. The poles add speed and assist with balance in the side-to-side movements of the skating. With poles, a skater can take longer and stronger strides on the skates. It may take a bit of practice to manage the poles while on skates.

    Selecting Poles

    • The proper height of the poles should be determined by the height of the skater while on the skates. The skates add a few inches in height so that should be taken into consideration. The length of the poles is generally measured while the arm is extended out in front of the body, from the shoulder. Measure for height from the extended arm to the ground. The poles that are used with cross-country skis will be a few inches too short, so a different set of poles will be needed.

    Tips of the Poles

    • A cross-country ski pole can be used as an inline skate pole, but it must be slightly modified. A ski pole has a sharp tip to dig down into the snow, and may have a small basket on the end so that it does not go too far down into the snow. The basket is removed for inline skating, and a rubber tip is added so that the pole tip does not slide across pavement. Rubber tips used for canes or walkers will fit over the tip of the ski pole.

    Where to Skate with Poles

    • Bike paths are ideal for inline skating with poles. Poles will allow the skater to go much faster and longer, and bike paths offer a long stretch of uninterrupted pavement to enjoy this sport. As the skater strides, the pole is extended out and pressed into the ground. Pull back on one pole with the alternate stride and reach out with the other pole at the same time. It is the same movement as cross-country skiing.

    Safety

    • Inline skaters using poles takes up more room as they skate. The poles can go out to the sides a bit and the stride is a bit wider, so care must be taken when passing pedestrians or bikes while skating. Speed is also a factor. With the poles, the skater can go a lot faster, so safety equipment such as a helmet and pads is essential. Always make sure that you know how to stop quickly on skates before getting your speed up.