The skating or “freestyle” technique has been used in cross-country skiing since the 1970s. Skating is largely inspired by rollerblading and ice skating and reproduces the same movements. Skating skis are slightly shorter than conventional cross-country skis and have flat soles all the way from the tip to the tail end. They do not have any mechanical backstop. Skating is practised on groomed trails and requires a slightly more difficult and advanced learning process than cross-country skiing.