Skisailor
Angel Diva
Agree with shorter poles. I think the standard guideline of your arm making a 90 degree angle when you hold the pole means poles that are too long - for me anyway. I had mine cut down a bit (no idea how long they are) and encouraged a friend to do the same - made a big difference. I had to "override" the guy in the shop who insisted our poles were the right length.
Totally agree. That "arm at 90 degree angle thing" really does not work. First of all, in skiing we flex our joints! So we aren't standing tall like we would in the shop. And then, a good hand position while skiing is a little lower than the elbow. When you add those things up, shorter poles are necessary to allow a proper pole swing.
And the battle with shop guys who don't want to cut them shorter is apparently universal. What's that about? Lol!!!
I've learned just how important pole length and proper pole usage is. It can have a major effect - good or bad - on your skiing. I constantly struggle with rental shop pole lengths in our beginner and low intermediate lessons. It's impossible to get someone "forward" when their poles are too long.
And with advanced skiers, poles that are too long (which is quite common) and the resulting bizarro pole touch arm movements can be very detrimental, especially in bumps.
I'm 5'2" and I use 41" poles - which I had to argue with a shop guy to get cut down.