Pole length and skiing steeps/bumps

[Skier31]

Poles that are too short can have unintended consequences. In order to release our skis, our center needs move over the downhill ski. If you plant your pole too far away from you or have to reach too far to plant the pole, your hips actually move back and up the hill making it harder to release the edges.

 

[bounceswoosh]

Poles that are too short can have unintended consequences. In order to release our skis, our center needs move over the downhill ski. If you plant your pole too far away from you or have to reach too far to plant the pole, your hips actually move back and up the hill making it harder to release the edges.

That would be very short, indeed.

 

[pinto]

That would be very short, indeed.

Not necessarily ... all it takes is having to bend over at the waist. You want to get forward, but not by bending. That moves your arm and pole down, but your butt back. (That's how I understand it, at least -- I've been working on this, myself.)

 

[bounceswoosh]

Not necessarily ... all it takes is having to bend over at the waist. You want to get forward, but not by bending. That moves your arm and pole down, but your butt back. (That's how I understand it, at least -- I've been working on this, myself.)

Fair enough. For me personally, it seems like a small difference in pole length (about 2") helps me and makes me feel more confident. Jury still out on whether it sends my butt back at this point =)

 

[Skier31]

Not necessarily ... all it takes is having to bend over at the waist. You want to get forward, but not by bending. That moves your arm and pole down, but your butt back. (That's how I understand it, at least -- I've been working on this, myself.)

Exactly, Pinto.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I am a big fan of adjustable poles. For long side hill tours they rock, of course, but also for on the fly experimentation.

As my coaches have made stance suggestions over the years (from taller to more aggressive carving stance) i have been able to play around with heights, in very small increments.

I err on the short side of things even though my neutral stance is fairly upright.
The shorter pole allows for great extension down the hill and makes me reach for it.

I skied a few days with no baskets in soft snow. While not something I recommend it very rapidly cures any stabbing into the snow tendency of old school skiers who use the pole plant as a blocking move!

Park and pipe rider's pole lengths should not be used for recreational skiing as they sometimes go as far as cutting theirs almost in half. Landing on ice with any sort of normal length poles can spell rapid disaster.

 

[Tammy]

Hmmm... Maybe a pair of adjustable poles might be on my wish list for next season.

Went down the same steep double black diamond run that prompted this thread today. Nice thing was that it was covered in some powder. Parts of it were fun to ski, but once I started hitting rocks and scraped off bumps, it just became hard work, had to give myself pep talks, and I found myself in the back seat in a few spots. At least I didn't fall on that run today .

 

[Gloria]

Tammy, funny to just see this today, as our pole issue yesterday related to this when we saw you. I don't know if you noticed the difference between the single pole and the green poles I showed you ( not the random one), if not catch me next time and I can show you the difference.

 

[Tammy]

Hey Gloria, I'll have to see it again I'm afraid. Trying to see if I can score a deal on some adjustable poles maybe next month when it comes to the end-of-season sales.

 

[geargrrl]

So are all going to hookup at lookout this year?

 

[Tammy]

Sounds like a plan to me . I'll post something under "meet on the hill."

 

[Gloria]

Okay now I have read through the entire thread and I also wouldn't use a shortened pole for steeps, especially if it's truly steep. I would be scared of missing a plant and falling etc. Mogul skiers shorten their poles to compensate for the compression not necessarily the terrain so if you aren't going ATF you probably only need to go a bit shorter and not much more. Alot of things like using a whole arm plant, turning around the pole and planting on the top of the bump can put you in the backseat as well as not keeping your feet underneath you and compressing late. I have a pair of adjustable poles you are welcome to experiment with and see if they help before you buy some.