Last fall I made the following (controversial?) statement in an article describing a skate rollerski interval session (To view this entire article see – www.fasterskier.com/training.php?id=575 ):
My opinion about rollerskis with pneumatic wheels
My choice of rollerskis was the PRO-SKI S2 model. I’m alternating my workouts between this model and the (a bit slower) S3. I’m through TorbjornSport www.torbjornsport.com selling the PRO-SKI Rollerski brand so my comments regarding skis from other brands are not (quite) objective. I still feel a need for commenting on rollerskis with pneumatic wheels as a training devise used to improve race performance.
In short:
It’s no way you can achieve the performance and quality I had in this workout with that type of skis. We have seen a number of them used by master-skiers at recent training camps and have to say that we don’t like what we see, which is poor technique. We never see top skiers using them and we know why. The skis are clumsy, give you a slow turnover and a “soft kickâ€. When you glide out on them it is hard to know if you end up on the inside or outside of the skis and we see “bicycle tendencies†with the recovery leg.
At harder efforts the turnover is too slow. There are several good rollerski models from different brands available including the above mentioned PRO-SKI models, but pneumatic wheel rollerskis is in my opinion not the way to go. I don’t recommend them at all for juniors wanting to be future good skiers and the same goes for older skier. There are too many good alternatives that will benefit you a lot moreâ€.
 with achieving optimal training and technique results in mind, not safety and comfort. I believe that (good) traditional rollerskis are (a lot) more specific to the speed, technique and demands that you find in skiing compared to rollerskis with pneumatic wheels. Skis that are too slow or too fast will neither benefit technique nor fully stimulate the development of the endurance system (aerobic endurance and capacity) in traditional training. A good rollerski also need to feel, steer, weigh and act as close to winter skiing as possible. The chance of making progress is therefore a lot higher with traditional rollerskis. Skiers I coach and (most) athletes all over the World are of course interested in optimizing the progress and results — that’s why you see them on regular rollerskis. Using rollerskis as a way of simply exercising is different than what I’m discussing.<br />
If I was to sell a pneumatic wheel rollerski similar to what’s available today it would be for the purpose of (also) providing an option for skiers looking for an exercise tool and without any safe roads or with a very poor road quality.</p>
<p><B>Comments and discussion</B></p>
<p>We are interested in receiving constructive comments on this issue from both coaches and athletes. Appropriate comments might be published in a future article. </p>
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