Diagonal stride is the cross-country skiing technique in which athletes push off alternately with their skis.
In diagonal stride, the skier’s arms and legs move in opposition: the right arm works with the left leg, followed by the left arm and right leg. The skis remain parallel and travel through prepared tracks on a classic cross-country course.
The technique is especially useful on level ground and climbs. Skiers transfer weight from one ski to the other while using their poles to add propulsion. Efficient diagonal stride depends on balance, rhythm and a strong kick phase.
It is often confused with skate skiing, which uses a V-shaped skating motion and usually takes place outside classic tracks. Double poling is different again: both poles are planted together while the skier glides on both skis. Herringbone is mainly a climbing pattern in which the ski tips point outward.