Rolling instead of Gliding

I take my children with me, on inline skates. And by the time I see them zooming off and skillfully braking at the first downhill with their rubber stoppers, I wonder why I didn't choose this option too. Because a brake that I'm missing on my roller skis would be just what I need right now. But I have my pride. I had previously had the braking techniques explained to me by a friend who is a cross-country coach and practiced on the admittedly quite flat road in front of my house. Furthermore, I know that I sufficiently master both the classic and the skating techniques of cross-country skiing – well, at least on snow.

Putting on the roller skis while standing is not a problem, and the first double pole push goes well. But then I stand before the first downhill, and all my courage disappears. I had specifically chosen the classic version of the roller skis due to the considerably slower wheels, but they don't seem slow at all right now; on the contrary. My son, who is skating circles around me, asks with a laugh: "Are you scared, Mom?" "Yes," I admit, blowing my pride away. I unstrap and walk down the first downhill.

"Many people underestimate the fact that ski rollers have no brakes, and the wrong equipment can quickly become a weapon," says Martin Tauber, a former World Cup professional who has not only covered thousands of kilometers on ski rollers but also offers lessons in the summer version of cross-country skiing through his XC-Academy Seefeld. "While summer courses are significantly less booked than in winter, they also attract people with very different backgrounds." The clientele ranges from competitive runners to ambitious amateur runners to complete beginners.

This fact is also reflected on the ski roller course. I encounter professionals, junior racers, ambitious hobby runners, and even a few retirees who are a little unsteady on the rollers compared to me. Most of us would probably be advised by Tauber to take a course. "The most important thing is to master the braking techniques and steering. Then it’s actually a safe affair." And the equipment must be right. Customers often come to his cross-country school with racing rollers or cheap ski rollers with hard plastic wheels purchased online. Both variants are way too fast for inexperienced runners on the hilly course in Seefeld and can easily turn into uncontrollable weapons. "I really recommend everyone to get good advice from a specialist retailer and to spend a few euros more."

Tauber's tips are also supported by Benedikt Ertl from the nearby Olympic training center in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Bavaria) and German cross-country skier Max Olex. Both spend a lot of time on the Seefelden ski roller track. Olex for his own training, Ertl with the Bavarian junior team. And both highly appreciate the roller course on Tyrol's high plateau. "Due to its profile, which closely resembles that of competition tracks in winter, it is top for professionals. At the same time, it is also manageable for amateur runners," says Olex. "Especially if you skip the C1 ascent and, above all, its descent," I add with a grin. Junior coach Ertl is glad that the Seefelden roller track is a legally compliant training track for his athletes. "Due to the lack of brakes, ski roller skating on sidewalks and bike paths and on roads in Germany and Austria is prohibited," he explains. Unless you only move at walking speed on the sidewalk.

But this minimal speed I already exceed on my first meters after I have strapped the ski rollers back on at the end of the descent. After the conversations with the experts, I feel a bit caught off guard for not having gone on the track beforehand. Yet I ultimately manage to do a few laps – without the C1 ascent! – including even after the first refusal, with the descents. The classic technique worked well for me. However, I can understand Tauber's objection the next day that classic ski rollers are not the right choice for beginners. Classic rollers are quite difficult to steer, running with them requires concentration, a stable technique, and a fair amount of strength and endurance. Although I would consider myself to be moderately fit technically and physically, I have the muscle soreness of my life. My ankles, thighs, hips, and buttocks must have done heavy work just to stay in line and avoid kissing the asphalt in an involuntary split. Speed aside, next time I will therefore opt for skating rollers with a more stable shoe and an inline-skating-like running style. I will also treat myself to an official lesson to delve deeper into the topic of braking.

But back to the conclusion of my ski roller outing. As I push up to the Arena365 at the end with my son, the ski rollers are running smoothly, the rhythm is right, and I almost feel like I'm on skis; even if the winter sparkle is clearly missing. "I want to try that too now," comes the voice of my nine-year-old. "Maybe next year," I reply. Because when it comes to children, Ertl was very clear: "It makes no sense before the age of ten. Moreover, the children should definitely be able to skate cleanly on inline skates before that." If they are put on heavy ski rollers too early, the fun is quickly lost, and even for children who have been cross-country skiing under professional guidance for some time, the technique suffers.