Skating is a zig-zag motion. The key to effective skating is
to power the zig-zag.
Turn the body to face where the ski is
aiming.
Aim the pole-push to follow the aim of the
ski.
I get more forward-motion power if I push the ski more toward the
back, not just out to the side. The optimal skate-push is made
at a 45-degree angle from my average line of forward motion.
Another perspective
The center of the skier's body takes a more gently curved
path. Each ski gets pushed way out to the side, so
that my body doesn't have to go there. This is
fortunate, since the imagined zig-zag path is very wasteful
of my muscular power.
The magic of skating is that I push sideways on the ski,
but most of the power goes forward. Pushing backward
is only effective when moving slowly.
The faster I go,
the closer the ski angle comes toward straight.
