| I took skiing lessons for six years, from the age of | | | | poles. When watching the speed skiers on the |
| eleven until I was seventeen. During that time, some | | | | Olympics, it may not seem as though poles really |
| of my instructors were more memorable than | | | | serve much purpose. This, however, is not the case. |
| others, but the one I will never forget was Stephan. | | | | Proper downhill skiing technique involves (among |
| The man was about 6'4" with shoulders so broad | | | | other things) carving turns into the snow with the |
| they were appeared to stick straight out from his | | | | edges of the skis. When the skier reaches the apex |
| neck. When he skied, his skis were so close together | | | | of the turn, he or she plants the inside pole and turns |
| that his body formed a perfect triangle. Needless to | | | | towards it, beginning a turn in the other direction. |
| say, he was a very skilled athlete and an excellent | | | | The act of planting the pole may seem purely |
| teacher, but one of his methods for teaching (or | | | | cosmetic, and in the case of an amateur skier it |
| torturing) his advanced students was to force us to | | | | usually is. However, a well-planted pole can also go a |
| ski down the hill on one ski WITHOUT poles. If | | | | long way towards establishing a good turning rhythm |
| you've never attempted it, skiing on one ski is | | | | for an average or advanced skier. Consequentially, if |
| difficult, but if you add a no poles scenario to the | | | | the pole is too long or too short, the skier will find |
| equation, it becomes darn near impossible. Of course, | | | | the act of planting it awkward and the rhythm will be |
| the point of the exercise was to teach us balance, | | | | thrown off. Additionally, a pole that is too short will |
| but for me, the unintentional upshot was an | | | | result in an overly flexed stance, throwing the weight |
| increased appreciation for my ski poles. | | | | forward and increasing the risk of a fall. |
| Most modern ski poles, as with most ski gear, fall into | | | | There is a fairly simple method to determine if a |
| two categories: those intended for cross-country | | | | downhill ski pole is the correct height. Turn the ski |
| skiing and those intended for downhill. Although it is | | | | pole upside down, place the grip on the floor, and |
| possible to use poles intended for one application in | | | | grasp the pole just below the basket (the found part |
| the other, I would not recommend it. Ski poles, while | | | | at the bottom of the pole). Place your body, including |
| they appear simple in design, are specially designed to | | | | your arms, in a skiing stance and put the grip in front |
| best aid the skier in specific situations. | | | | of your feet. Ideally, the ski pole should force your |
| For those of you who have never gone downhill | | | | arm to create a 90 degree angle. If it does, great. If |
| skiing, first of all, you should. Second of all, when you | | | | not, try again until you find the right poles. |
| do, you should make sure you get properly sized ski | | | | |