MRG for the weekend: short bump pole or regular poles?

[Grassi21]

hahaha..I actually crashed into the camara man...anyway the Avatar picture is the woman I woke up with Sunday morning..

Ouch. I hope that isn't true. I have a friend from growing up that actually bedded the bartender at our local dive. She didn't look much better than that.....

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Ouch. I hope that isn't true. I have a friend from growing up that actually bedded the bartender at our local dive. She didn't look much better than that.....

Actually I found that picture doing a google picture search for ugly people..I'd rather get with Rosy Palms than her...lol..

 

[Grassi21]

Actually I found that picture doing a google picture search for ugly people..I'd rather get with Rosy Palms than her...lol..

kinda looks like howard stern with a dye-job

 

[jack97]

All this talk about getting drunk and ugly people reminds me of my days behind the bar and college for the receiving end, good to reminisce.... but I just wanted give a heads up (maybe I should use another phrase )

REI outlet has a clearance sale on poles. Haven't seen any adjustables but anyone looking to saw off their old poles.....might want to get a pair of news one as insurance or a just get different size.

 

[JimG.]

You guys get this worked up discussing poles?

My pot stirring is no longer needed.

 

[Grassi21]

You guys get this worked up discussing poles?

My pot stirring is no longer needed.

But aren't you the short pole guru? You have created many disciples who will defend your teachings. ;-)

 

[JimG.]

But aren't you the short pole guru? You have created many disciples who will defend your teachings. ;-)

Well, actually this goes back to Dan DiPiro's book.

Yes, I'm DEFINITELY in favor of shorter poles. Listen to what people say about pole "plants". It's not a plant...it doesn't need water or anything. It's a touch. That's all. Alot of times I ski and just keep my poles plum to the pitch of the hill without a touch. A touch can be a crutch. To keep people who bank their turns because they have poor core strength and flexibility from keeling over.

Most people's poles are just too long. I'm 6' 2" and my poles are set between 43" and 44".

But I think GSS is just trolling for yips.

 

[bvibert]

I brought my longer poles to MRG yesterday. I probably should have brought the shorter ones. Not sure what I was thinking, I was probably too embarrassed to use the 80's girls poles anywhere but my home mountain... I doubt it really would have mattered all that much though, I was going to be in the back seat a bunch anyway... :roll: Might have saved my shoulders form being so sore though... I really need to get a decent set of poles that are somewhere in between my long poles and my super short poles.

Jim is totally right about the poles being a crutch. I use mine as such all the time, but I'm trying to get better.. Though they did keep me upright on a few occasions..

 

[deadheadskier]

I've always gone by the same length standard that I've used for 25 years on the snow. Drop arms straight down to your side, bend arm at a 90 degree angle, grab poles and that's where the grip should be.

I'm 5'8, and I have no idea how long they are. Maybe 38-40 inches. Never have they felt too short, never have they felt too long. The only instance I could see a need for telescoping poles is for climbing steep angles in the back country, which I haven't done in seven years. Even when I did, I used the same size poles.

For those who feel that having two different pole sizes is beneficial to them for different conditions, great. To me the idea seems silly though.

 

[Greg]

For those who feel that having two different pole sizes is beneficial to them for different conditions, great. To me the idea seems silly though.

Your sizing method is good for groomers. Try some shorter poles in the bumps before you say it's silly though. Everyone I know that has hasn't looked back.

I ski with short poles full time now; mostly because I don't want to mess around with multiple poles of different lengths. More often than not bumps are a big part of my day anyway so I'd rather have the clown poles.

 

[deadheadskier]

you might be right

I did however compete in a half dozen or so USSA bump competitions in high school as well as skied bumps almost exclusively back then and never felt my poles held me back. Perhaps it's because I tend to try and take a fairly high line through the bumps and ski as tall as I can that the longer poles haven't bothered me.

The saying is true, don't knock something til you try it. I guess spending a day with 'clown poles' :lol: as you call them has never struck me as something I needed to try.

 

[bvibert]

Once I get a decent pair of poles that are slightly longer than my girls poles I plan on skiing with short poles full time as well. They really do help me stay forward in the bumps.