Pole planting drills

[BenedictGomez]

Do you mean 10% use pole plants consistently or 10% use pole plants in certain terrain and conditions?

I mean that I think ~90% of skiers dont pole plant at all.

 

[Scruffy]

I mean that I think ~90% of skiers dont pole plant at all.

Where are you skiing? The bunny slope? Only kidding, I assume you're a better skier than that. Sorry I don't see your stats.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Where are you skiing? The bunny slope? Only kidding, I assume you're a better skier than that. Sorry I don't see your stats.

Maybe 90% was too aggressive, but I'd feel pretty safe with >=80%.

I just dont believe many people ever learn how to use their ski poles properly, and with that percentage, remember I'm including the entire mountain, so yes, beginner trails too.

 

[mulva]

I know that 80% of the people I saw at JFBB today did not use their poles for anything but creating excellent looking yard sales

 

[drjeff]

Maybe 90% was too aggressive, but I'd feel pretty safe with >=80%.

I just dont believe many people ever learn how to use their ski poles properly, and with that percentage, remember I'm including the entire mountain, so yes, beginner trails too.

Agree! Just look at how many people on the hill on any given day don't even have their pole straps on correctly, let alone actually make a proper pole plant!! For the majority of folks on the hill, poles are nothing more than something they use to help them shuffle through a lift line queue!!

 

[Domeskier]

I once ran some slalom gates for fun. A coach nearby complimented my turns but told me not to plant my poles. Since then, I've noticed that WC skiers only use their poles when skating at the top of the course and occasionally for balance, but never to initiate a turn. Seems like everyone but mogul skiers could just toss their poles after getting into their tucks.

 

[steamboat1]

Agree! Just look at how many people on the hill on any given day don't even have their pole straps on correctly, let alone actually make a proper pole plant!!

I'm pretty sure I know how to use my poles correctly. I haven't used my pole straps in years. Yes I know insert hand underneath then grip over the top.I feel wearing straps is just too dangerous.

On another note years ago I had one of those grips you just grip the pole & two pieces of plastic on the outside of the handle held the pole in place. I attribute me tearing my rotator cuff to that type of handle. I did a head over heals in powder & the pole never released swinging my arm completely around.

The best poles I ever owned where the old Allsop poles with the shock absorber handle. What I liked about them besides the shock absorbtion was that the straps had a clip on one end of the strap that would release the one end of the strap when any extraordinary pressure was put on them. It was very simple to just clip it back in when this happened & it did happen several times.

 

[fbrissette]

Skiing has changed tremendously in the past 15 years. Skiing in a wide stance and with shaped skis has made pole planting much less of a necessity to initiate a turn. Just like bdfreetuna, I barely use my poles in carving mode. On the steep stuff or in the woods it's another story.

 

[Scruffy]

I once ran some slalom gates for fun. A coach nearby complimented my turns but told me not to plant my poles. Since then, I've noticed that WC skiers only use their poles when skating at the top of the course and occasionally for balance, but never to initiate a turn. Seems like everyone but mogul skiers could just toss their poles after getting into their tucks.

Pole plants in a slalom course, that can be down right dangerous. Poles purpose in racing varies. In all Alpine racing disciplines, poles are, of course, used at the start to get you out of the gate fast and for the initial skate. In slalom, they are also used to block the breakaway gate, that's why the big hand guard on a slalom race pole. From GS and up, poles are used, for the start, and as an aid to keep your hands, arms, and shoulders, and therefore your body driving down the hill. If your going to bash the gate with shoulder, the pole aids in stiffening your arm for the assault. Poles also aid in balance and recovery. Believe me, if poles were superfluous after the start, you'd have coaches standing at the ready to collect cast off poles.

 

[Domeskier]

Pole plants in a slalom course, that can be down right dangerous. Poles purpose in racing varies. In all Alpine racing disciplines, poles are, of course, used at the start to get you out of the gate fast and for the initial skate. In slalom, they are also used to block the breakaway gate, that's why the big hand guard on a slalom race pole. From GS and up, poles are used, for the start, and as an aid to keep your hands, arms, and shoulders, and therefore your body driving down the hill. If your going to bash the gate with shoulder, the pole aids in stiffening your arm for the assault. Poles also aid in balance and recovery. Believe me, if poles were superfluous after the start, you'd have coaches standing at the ready to collect cast off poles.

I guess my point was that the "proper" pole planting techniques being discussed in this thread are not reflected in skiing at the highest levels of competition.

 

[Scruffy]

I guess my point was that the "proper" pole planting techniques being discussed in this thread are not reflected in skiing at the highest levels of competition.

Right, and not just competition. Expert all mountain rec skiers will use and not use their poles at their discretion. And, expert all mountain skiers may not use them "properly", on purpose, either. They are a tool to be used as the skier sees fit. Of course, for teaching noobs, an instructor will conform to certain acceptable proper pole usage standards.

 

[WoodCore]

http://ussa.org/alpine-programs/ath...exercises-by-skill/balance/freeski-pole-usage

 

[BenedictGomez]

I guess my point was that the "proper" pole planting techniques being discussed in this thread are not reflected in skiing at the highest levels of competition.

Okay, but we're not talking about FIS racing among the top 50 skiers on the planet. Recreational and functional skiing is different than elite ski racing. And I guarantee you when Bode Miller and Aksel Lund Svindal are skiing with their families on Sunday afternoon, they execute lovely pole plants.

I'm pretty sure I know how to use my poles correctly. I haven't used my pole straps in years. Yes I know insert hand underneath then grip over the top. I feel wearing straps is just too dangerous.

I'll never use another pole again. If this company ever goes bankrupt, I'll do what Pete Sampras did and buy enough to use for my lifetime.

 

[bigbog]

Realize in a lot of those areas where the wider skis help a lot with balance....but still helpful in SR turns/steeps and with rougher(ie easy bumps:grin: ) terrain..
Just got into using them more...then have laid off skiing for last ~5yrs, but looking to get back on the wagon...

 

[SIKSKIER]

When Cat and heli skiing,the guides strongly suggest never have your straps on.Having been caught in 2 small avalanches and buried while skiing in bottomless BC powder,I had a pole immobilize one of my arms because the strap was connected.I'm a firm believer in straps but not in those situations anymore.I don't think I could stop myself from pole planting.

 

[ScottySkis]

I need work on using my poles.

 

[MadMadWorld]

I'll make a bold statement....poles are like a pancreas. We use it because we have them but in reality we could live without them. Skis are designed nowadays to make turns without much help. With the exception of tight trees and moguls, poles are kind of useless and even then I imagine we could re teach ourselves to not rely on them.

 

[Not Sure]

Dr Jeff may have a diffrence ....I could use a 2nd Pancreas

 

[MadMadWorld]

Dr Jeff may have a diffrence ....I could use a 2nd Pancreas

You most certainly can live without a pancreas.

 

[Savemeasammy]

I'll make a bold statement....poles are like a pancreas. We use it because we have them but in reality we could live without them. Skis are designed nowadays to make turns without much help. With the exception of tight trees and moguls, poles are kind of useless and even then I imagine we could re teach ourselves to not rely on them.

Ugh.

I love Liftline at Smuggs, but I don't think I would relish skiing it without my poles. (This same statement could be applied to any number of expert runs out there.)




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