V1 Skate technique

For citizen racers and skiers the V1 technique is the absolute basic skate technique.  Unless you can execute the basics of V1 on command, you will always stall out on the hills.  It's like being caught in the wrong gear going uphill on a bicycle.
Basic terminology- V stands for the pattern left by angled skis as viewed from above.  1 stands for poling on one side.  In skating you are moving from one gliding ski to another gliding ski.  Because you don't push down and back  as in classic skiing, your push is to the side.  The ski angle increases as the slope increases. Beyond the basic terminology, V1 is properly done ONLY when both poles and the power side ski hit the ground at the same side.  (At an advanced level, there can be some advantage to syncopated poling, but only after you have learned it this way first.)
The first picture shows the end of poling on the power (poling) side.
 The skier is stepping onto the left, glide ski.  Her left hip will push out and forward, ankle flex, knee load and she will then drive across for another 3-point power stroke on the right.
The next picture show the 3-point landing.   This is obviously a steep hill and she is not getting much glide.  Notice 1- she is lined up nose knee toes over the left ski. 2- first illusion, she is not stepping up the hill as much as she is driving her hips across the hill, gliding ski to gliding ski (draw a perpendicular line from instep of right boot to heel of left boot) 3- illusion 2  it is not a bizarre hand/pole position.  It is a double pole.  Your body position will automatically put your hands in the correct position and poles at the correct angle.  You will screw it up if you try to look like this.
The following sequence with commentary comes from xcskiworld.com.  My commentary in italics.
"V1 (aka--Off Set Skate)
Once a skier learns to V2 Alternate they will quickly find any kind of significant grade is pretty grueling in terms of maintaining momentum. Hence, the V1. Here the skier uses a slightly off-set double poling motion starting out almost identical to the V2 Alternate. The skier starts to compress over their poles, as in the V2 Alternate, but instead of quickly completing a double pole motion the skier continues the poling motion until the torso and trunk has shifted the drive onto the other ski. (See photo sequence) Then comes a quick pole recovery and drive shift back to the original side of emphasis. The off-set poling motion and the continuation of the poling motion are the primary differences between the V2 Alternate and the V1 (at least in a beginners eyes).
Here is a great look at the three phases of the V1 technique. Watch the lead skier in each photo!
Note- this skier's position has moved just a fraction past where the roller skier is.  The "start" of the V1 stroke. 3rd skier is just alittle past that  and is in better position, the 1st skier is twisting a bit and his hips will fall behind.
1) Poling side with excellent upper body compression and weight shift.
Note: his hips have pushed well across, knee is about to unload and provide power to get up on the left ski, but notice that his upper body is not twisting (much).  His poling power is in the direction of travel- uphill.
2) Lateral weight transfer with continuation of the poling motion.
Note: front view 1st skier similar to first picture. He is lined up perfectly on the left ski.  Also, notice the 3rd skier.  He is also poling with right side power.  His right leg will not come over to click heels (do a Dorothy).  Instead it will just slide up the hill to perfect position.  This is the skier it would be great to see the full video sequence on.  Also, he is not hurrying, and he is maximizing glide on the left ski, the only way you will get any rest on an uphill.
3) Superior weight transfer onto the glide side."

Keep skiing, hopefully we will have some hills available soon to try this out.

Steve