Working with the cross-country ski ergometer does not require any prior knowledge of winter sports, the technique is beginner-friendly and quick to learn. However, there are a few points to bear in mind: Firstly, stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart (how close you stand to the device is a matter of taste, although taller people usually prefer a greater distance in order to achieve a full arm extension at the starting point and therefore ultimately a longer stroke). The hands should also be just outside the shoulders when gripping the handles. As the handles of the device are attached to freely movable hinges, you can easily rotate them to your optimum position. The edges of the hand, including the little finger, should be placed on the thickened end of the handle, allowing more pressure to be applied. At the beginning of the pull, the entire body is stretched, only the arms remain slightly bent, the handles are now pulled downwards at an angle until the hands are just below the knees (a V-shaped curve, where the hands move sideways away from the body, is avoided). At the lowest point, the elbows are fully extended while the knees are minimally bent (comparable to the starting position of a jump). In the return phase, the body straightens up again completely, synchronised with the backswing of the arms. Lifting your heels off the ground is perfectly fine, especially at higher speeds.
Attention:
Do not turn every repetition into a squat, as this will tire your legs too quickly. Take a deep breath before each pull on the machine and keep the abdominal muscles under constant tension.
Lighten/Harden:
The intensity is controlled by adjusting the air valve. The higher the lever is moved on the scale (1-10), the wider the flap opens and the more air can flow into the bike. More air means more resistance in the initial phase of the pull (comparable to a higher pedalling resistance in the higher gears on a bicycle). It is important to find a setting at which a continuous and controlled pressure can be maintained. If the setting is too high, the air resistance initially has to be overcome with an excessively strong pull and the remaining range of motion "runs into nothing", which is a waste of energy. If you pay attention to the background noise, you will get a suitable indicator: the aim should be to achieve the smoothest possible whirring with only slight peaks in the initial phase of the pull. Most exercisers tend to over-optimise the resistance setting. As is so often the case, less is more; levels 6-7 work well for men and 4-6 for women, with exceptions for particularly heavy and strong athletes.
Variant:
The double pole technique is usually used for training, which means that both arms work in synchronisation with each other. The diagonal technique, in which the arms are used alternately, is less common but can be used as a variation. It achieves lower speeds than the simultaneous use of the arms, but is certainly suitable as an occasional training stimulus, which above all creates a healthy rotation of the spine and a strain on the lateral trunk muscles. The diagonal technique can also correct imbalances in unevenly developed back and arm muscles (e.g. after injuries).
