Skating works best with skate skis. It is impossible on a snowboard and difficult on "waxless" skis.

If you want to go fast on skis use skating technique. However it only works well on packed snow. Skiiers didn't use it much until the 1980s when track setting equipment came into use . Earlier trails set by foot or snowmachine were too narrow for skating.

Basically you use your skies as if they were ice-skates or in-line skates while you pole. Differences between using skis and skates.

Skate Techniques.