Even after skiing with Don Portman (one of the best instructors in the country, I'm sure) I still have trouble remembering the difference between V1, V2, V2 alternating, and so on. Those names are terrible!
Alternate! (Not alternating.) But I guess that just proves your point...
That does bring up an interesting contrast -- when I skin, I always use the same pole plant rhythm, and had never even thought about mixing it up until I read this thread. But when I skate ski, I'm of course always going back and forth between the three different techniques (often over the span of only several seconds), just like shifting gears on a bike or car.
