I need a bit of advice...

I?m not sure if it?s just me but when downhill skiing I just cant seen to use the poles. I see everyone else using poles and having no troubles but to me they seem to just be in the way all the time so I?ve been going without.

Are there any pros or cons to not using poles?

Well, I recently started pole planting. I think it makes a bit of a difference. It can also sometimes make yourself a lot better going down the mountain if you pole plant.

I found a good guide, it says;


The Pole Plant
The pole plant serves three purposes in a turn:
Ensuring correct positioning of your body by moving your weight forwards and down the fall line.

Providing stability by giving you an extra point of support as you transfer pressure from one ski to the other, and from one edge to the other.

Acting as a trigger to time the beginning of your turn.


http://www.ifyouski.com/Technique/Alpinesk...rmediate/poles/ (http://www.ifyouski.com/Technique/Alpineskiing/Intermediate/poles/)

Yes, I have recently started pole planting as well. I find it is much easier to ski and turn by doing it.

I would go with out my poles...

Originally posted by swteric@Sep 21 2005, 03:12 AM
I would go with out my poles...
Do you have any problems skiing without poles? IMO, the correct way to ski is to use your poles. ;)

yes i use poles but not all the time u always want to try things different may be more fuun.

Originally posted by Michael+Sep 25 2005, 10:41 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Michael @ Sep 25 2005, 10:41 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-swteric@Sep 21 2005, 03:12 AM
I would go with out my poles...
Do you have any problems skiing without poles? IMO, the correct way to ski is to use your poles. ;) [/b][/quote]
True, the correct way to ski is to use your poles. However, whats the fun in skiiing if you're constrained to the poles?

It might be a bit intimidating at first, but once you get used to skiing without poles, its quite fun. give it a try B)

i always find that if i wanna move with a lot of speed and control the pole make a lot of difference.........although skiing withou tcan be quite fun as well :)

When you use poles you have a much better balance and ski much better to, i can't do it without them. You can turn much easier with them so i recommend you to use them.

For the reasons a lot of people have mentioned, pole planting is a good thing, however it can still be fun every now and again to leave them behind and go for a morning/afternoon whipping around on blue/red cruisers without poles.

In the park they are just another thing to worry about when your landings go pear shaped ;)

Originally posted by PlateauSkier@Oct 23 2005, 06:28 PM
For the reasons a lot of people have mentioned, pole planting is a good thing, however it can still be fun every now and again to leave them behind and go for a morning/afternoon whipping around on blue/red cruisers without poles.
I agree with you there!

I plant my poles aswell. Though like said above just chilling out on the easier stuff can be just as fun. ;)

If you are a beginner skiing without your poles for a little while can be helpful to your technique. Beginners can sometimes become to dependent on their poles and the way to cure this is to ski without them for a while.

If you are a beginner skiing without your poles for a little while can be helpful to your technique. Beginners can sometimes become to dependent on their poles and the way to cure this is to ski without them for a while.

Very true, as you said, you should be able to ski perfectly ok without your poles.

I hate skiing without poles, i just feel so vunerable without them, so therefore i need to use them.. lol

I'd feel safer with them, more control over where I'm going, and how I can stop easier, etc etc.

Definately with them, atleast until I learn HOW to even skii! Until then, I'll be keeping them for awhile longer.

I'd probably want to not use them since its more like snowboarding then.

I'd probably want to not use them since its more like snowboarding then.

I have to disagree here, it is not any more like snowboarding if you don't use ski poles.

Well, you don't use your hands while snowboarding, neither with poles, so thats why I said its slightly more like snowboarding. Of course the posture is different since you're standing on your side while snowboarding, and facing forward while skiing, but I was just referring to hands not using poles.

To be honest I think I would struggle without my poles.

I have always used poles when skiing - I cant understand ho you are finding it easier without! :)

I used poles the first time I went sking and now I can not go with out them i do not think ther is anything wrong not using them it is just how you feel confotable. They are great to have on flat ground.

I used poles the first time I went sking and now I can not go with out them i do not think ther is anything wrong not using them it is just how you feel confotable. They are great to have on flat ground.

I agree, I would hate to be a snowboarded stranded on a big stretch of flat ground. :P

I tried skiing without poles last year for the first time. I was skiing with my son and needed my hands free to keep ahold of his harness. It was kinda fun!

I also did a fair amount of skiing backwards, that was pretty fun too.

I also did a fair amount of skiing backwards, that was pretty fun too.

Yea I suppose you would need to, to watch your son ski down. It's easy enough to do if you are good at keeping your balance. But anytime i try it I usually hit a bump and fall over :P

I have tried with poles and without. I found that the best uses for poles was to use them for walking, and to modify my balance by using the bottom as a grip. I find it easier and faster control to use my hands on my thighs.

I love to ski without my poles, its so fun, sometimes poles just get in the way, so i usually dont use them, its so fun to be able to use my hands more, i dont feel so restrained with using my poles

The Truth is that I can go either way. Being advanced, I just do what I feel like.

what do you do if you lose one of your poles when your going down the mountain??

I like poles but since i downhill i sometimes go without

If you want to become a better skier pole planting is a must. You will find balancing very difficult in bumps and off piste terrain if you don't plant poles properly. But.... there are also some benefits to skiing without them. When I teach I will take poles away from clients to get them to balance, if you can't rely on your poles to tell you where you are you have to balance by using a good solid stance. I like doing my first couple of runs on any day without poles, and my boots undone so I have to centre myself and stand over the skis. Then I get my poles and shred. A solid pole plant in the bumps and harder terrain helps stop rotation from the upper body from twisting you around and throwing you sideways down the hill. Just some thoughts............................

all cons i hat seeing skiers without poles you need them they will make you a better skier way more balanced and you will fall much less often you need them

Poles are net necessary, I do not need to use poles, and I have done my best skiing without them.

If you want to become a better skier pole planting is a must. You will find balancing very difficult in bumps and off piste terrain if you don't plant poles properly. But.... there are also some benefits to skiing without them. When I teach I will take poles away from clients to get them to balance, if you can't rely on your poles to tell you where you are you have to balance by using a good solid stance. I like doing my first couple of runs on any day without poles, and my boots undone so I have to centre myself and stand over the skis. Then I get my poles and shred. A solid pole plant in the bumps and harder terrain helps stop rotation from the upper body from twisting you around and throwing you sideways down the hill. Just some thoughts............................

Excellent points! When we used to teach, it was encouraged to spend a day in rental boots and skiis to get a better idea of what newbies were experiencing as well.

Balance is key and you're right, learning how to properly use poles will curb the tendancy to ski with your upper body. Too often you'll see skiers flailing as they attempt to turn without any purpose. Pole plants initiate a turn and if you encorporate a rhythm you'll find you develop smooth turns and expend much less energy.

If you watch any of the ski films or races it is a rarity to see the pros without poles. Besides what else are you going to lean on while waiting in line?:P

I seriously never needed poles, and I always skied with my legs, which as a result are immensely strong.

Here lies the difference between most (and I do say most) mid-western skiers and skiers that have been to world class ski hills. The ones who have skied on the better hills know how to pole plant. In my opinion learning how to use poles is a great technique to learn, but just because you know the technique doesn't mean you have to use it every time. I would suggest you learn how to pole plant and then do either depending on what mood your in.

My dad learned to ski in europe in places like france because he's english. He's told me that poles are only useful for balancing, holding your place in lift ques, and fighting off line breaking germans. I've tried poles, and I don't notice a diferent.

Poles really only help me when I'm in line for the chairlift!