Mission Statement: NENSA is committed to making safe and supportive competitive events for all cross country skiers.
Rollerski programming is a central part of NENSA’s year-round commitment to the stated mission above. With more skiers choosing to participate in rollerskiing, we believe it is necessary to provide guidance towards best practices on rollerskis and in rollerski competitions which acknowledge the acute increase in the level of risk taken by participants versus on-snow skiing.
Protective Equipment Considerations
Helmet: At all NENSA-sanctioned rollerski events, a properly fitted helmet must be worn at all times on rollerskis.
Clothing Layers: Rollerski events take place in a wide variety of conditions, from very hot, humid Summer days through to the late Fall stick season when conditions more resemble winter. We recognize that these variable conditions will lead to very different choices in the attire that participants choose to wear at our rollerski events. However, as a simple guideline, remember that on rollerskis, clothing is protection.
With the increased risk of abrasion from falling at speed on pavement, NENSA highly recommends at least one top layer and one protective bottom layer (pants are preferred to shorts) of clothing be worn at all times on rollerskis. We also recommend that participants wear gloves (garden, bike etc..) to protect against blisters on their hand, as well as blister-resistant socks to protect their feet.
In competition, especially hot conditions, it is highly recommended that event participants wear a top layer underneath their competition bib.
High-Visibility Shirts/Vests: The best practice for rollerski safety is to wear high-visibility (neon yellow, orange, pink etc…) for use around traffic. While the majority of NENSA events occur in closed, low-traffic environments, we recommend wearing hi-vis as a precautionary measure, and may require it when skiing on open roads.
Pads: Plastic padding is an effective form of protection against high contact places on the body while roller skiing. With introductory and youth skiers, knee pads and elbow pads are an effective additional layer of protection against injury in the event of a fall.
Ankle Protection: Rollerskis tend to move at higher rolling speeds than on-snow skis, while carrying skiers at a slightly higher center of gravity. Most skiers adapt quickly after some time on rollerskis, however, on classic rollerskis, it is not uncommon for skiers who are newer to roller skiing to choose to utilize a boot with increased ankle support – a skate, or combination (combi) boot – that offers additional stabilization beyond on-snow classic boots.
Ski and Course Considerations
“How do you stop on those things?” is usually the first question that new skiers and observers ask about rollerskis. In fact, the vast majority of rollerskis do not include mechanical brakes, and the reality of the equipment must always be top of mind when having a safe roller skiing experience.
Ski Speed: There is no industry standard for rollerski ski speed, and therefore, skiers must use discretion in choosing a ski that will give them an excellent simulated experience and control speeds effectively. There are about as many opinions on which skis are best as there are skis on the market, so ask your local expert!
Wheel Speed: Wheel speed is a major consideration on rollerskis, with many companies offering multiple options. Oftentimes, advanced skiers will choose a slower wheel to allow them to remain within safe speed bounds while doing race-like efforts.
Wheel Speed Competition Guidelines: NENSA’s matched fleet of rollerskis is provided by Swenor courtesy of EnjoyWinter, and features their #2, “medium-speed” wheel, on both front and back. For competition use, we recommend the use of #2 wheels or a comparable “medium-speed” wheel from other brands (note that each brand has a proprietary system for denoting wheel speed). In the spirit of sportsmanship, NENSA highly discourages the use of “race” or “track” wheels at all our competitions.
For more on wheel speed, reference this article written by Gus Schumacher for EnjoyWinter, “How to Pick your Swenor Rollski Wheel Speeds.”
Rollerski Pole Tips: Carbide tip rollerski ferrules (like these) offer a sharper and harder pole tip than traditional ski baskets. Ferrule use is essential during harder efforts where full force is being put into the pavement, and will help prevent unsafe pole breaks. Keeping your tips sharp with a sharpening stone will help continue to ensure safe and enjoyable rollerskiing.
Please note that there is a variety of pole end widths and proprietary basket systems, and that your local expert or ski shop should be able to offer advice on compatible rollerski ferrules for your poles.
Course Considerations: At all NENSA rollerski events, extra care is taken to plan safe, controlled environments for skiers to participate in rollerskiing in partnership with our hosts. Precautions taken include varying event formats beyond those traditionally offered in snow skiing to allow for a safe, positive, and fun rollerski experience. Such considerations include, but are not limited to: shortening the overall length of courses, utilizing uphill terrain where speeds are controlled, and targeting a specific level of rollerski experience for each event.
Conclusion: Rollerskiing can seem like a daunting, even odd, thing to try and first, but with the right precautions, it can unlock the goodness of winter on the warmest of summer days. A good aphorism to understand its appeal: as long as people have been skiing, they’ve been trying to figure out how to do it in the summer too! We’ve come a long ways towards making it fun, accessible, and safe too!