To pole or not to pole...

[Danni]

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?

[TomC]

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/

[Michael]

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

[swteric]

I would go with out my poles...

[Michael]

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.

[Hot Sauce]

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

[rraju]

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)

[Eoghan]

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

[swoosh]

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.

[PlateauSkier]

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

[Michael]

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!

[Opie]

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

[HostBidder]

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.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by HostBidder

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.

[speedfreak]

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