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Slopstyle Ski Poles

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max-k.
Posts: 31 - Karma: 10
Hey you out there,

Are you also tired of skiing around with these stingy short poles that you found in the basement, or spray painted to cover the horrific design.

Well, the German Ski pole company Leki wants to bring out a freeride/slopestyle pole, and WE can input our ideas for the product...

What do you want to have on a ski pole, and what is useless?
Feb 7 2007 4:38AM
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pDails
Posts: 1238 - Karma: 75
hahah belt holster, super soft grips, and finger rib things for all fingers, some out there graphics and not like a picture but just colors cause the pictures on poles cant even be seen, strong but nothing thatll break your arm if you land on it, and interchangeable baskets, oo and bright grip colors too so they are easy to find
Feb 17 2007 1:41PM
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max-k.
Posts: 31 - Karma: 10
I like the echo!!!

i like the samurai sword style better anyways due to the agile symbol of those things.

It would even fit very well with the new collection of Völkl with all those asian designs... (Orage open, where the team won in samurai dresses)

well, rip it up!!!
Feb 17 2007 5:54PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
on my poles, i rounded the shit outta the tops of them. that way when you reach for grabs, it slides out of the way. some kind of releasable strap is a good idea, however, i personally cant stand when my adjustable straps blow out when im pushing. maybe if they release, they could release upward and backward, but not downward, so it would pop off in the trees, but wouldnt blow out on you. um, i cant stand composite poles, cause they flex when you put pressure on them.

seriously tho, i have no idea why companies try and create a freestyle pole market. kids are cheap, poles break, and there really isnt anything that you cant get from the mountains rental department. id say your much better off selling 100 dollar poles to Ski magazine readers.

what would be sick thou, is if you could come up with a poles that had some secondary functions. maybe a whole line of them. maybe something similar to armadas line, with all sorts of grips, shafts and baskets. but each different grip had a function. maybe a wireless ipod/zune controller ontop of 1, a lighter in the other, monopod mount(great idea), stash tube, rub on wax applicator, grips with the canted forward grip, freestyle shaped grips, lock, etc etc. the buyer could pic the shafts, from wild to mild graphics, materials, etc. i think you guys would have ALOT more success with something like that could be mass marketed toward the entire skiing population. this way, the buyer could build a set, from basic, cheap, durable poles, to something functional and unique.
Feb 17 2007 6:53PM
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max-k.
Posts: 31 - Karma: 10
The price issue is definetly a faktor which affects the slopestyle kids. But to be hinest, it shouldnt be a problem to sell poles bellow 15 bucks or €'s.


And to offer a simple pole with various grips for the numnerous types of skiers makes sense. I like the idea.

lets see how it works in the development. I will keep you guys updated!

MK
Feb 18 2007 11:28AM
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Casey
Posts: 7849 - Karma: 24,317
one thing i hate about the poles i hate now is the grips. If i put my hand down when landing the top of the pole is really big so it like dislocates my thumb. Kind of hard to explain/visualize but basically I want no indentations for fingers.
Feb 18 2007 1:47PM
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smuggart
Posts: 31 - Karma: 10
really good idea. and also available to canada easily (if there not already)
Feb 18 2007 4:21PM
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steevner
Posts: 4502 - Karma: 47
a ski lock built into the handle is soo genious its not even funny
Feb 18 2007 4:54PM
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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165
strong and cheap, if you want designs spraypaint them. also good grips but mainly strong and cheap
Feb 18 2007 6:44PM
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603skier
Posts: 587 - Karma: 11
You know when your fumling around to change the song on your ipod with your poles inbetween your thighs, then you go to grab the poles and all of a sudden you drop one? make something that would prevent that.
DURABLE!!!
CHEAP!!! i dont like paying $60 for metal rods.
Feb 18 2007 7:28PM
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DiamondC
Posts: 1529 - Karma: 28
put ur poles under one of your legs you and theres your solution
Feb 23 2007 6:23PM
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dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
lifetime warranty! I would shell out some extra dough if I new I could take my broken pole into a shop and get a new one immediately. I think Ice Usa used to do this. I loved these poles but sadly I just broke them recently, and they went out of business.
Feb 23 2007 7:37PM
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IHOP
Posts: 2155 - Karma: 19
BAM
http://http://www.funshop.co.kr/vs/detail.aspx?no=1313280183

Make some Light Saber poles, please.
Feb 25 2007 6:14PM
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anxju
Posts: 9371 - Karma: 61
^^ good ideas
Feb 25 2007 7:29PM
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4-Front
Posts: 5306 - Karma: 199
the future of park skiing is gunna be no poles,
Feb 25 2007 8:28PM
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craZrider
Posts: 45 - Karma: 10
on the design aspect id say have just plain color options but have a stencil kit with them that have some cool designs
Feb 25 2007 8:35PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
my idea involves not paying $150 for LEKI poles, ever.
Feb 25 2007 8:51PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
wow, wondering where this thread went. any comments on my ideas?
Feb 25 2007 8:55PM
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pDails
Posts: 1238 - Karma: 75
lifetime warranty is genius!!
Feb 25 2007 11:08PM
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RosarioAK
Posts: 59 - Karma: 10
yeah, make them decent sized... none of that like 60 inch bullshit. then get some gaudy ass fake diamonds, bling them out.. put a fat ass ruby on top. and sell them cheap...
Feb 25 2007 11:33PM
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SkiMN
Posts: 4005 - Karma: 38
The one freestyle pole that could outsell whats already on the market would be this:

Cheap, damn near impossible to break.
Feb 25 2007 11:47PM
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SmoKinSkier
Posts: 5501 - Karma: 20
bright colors always kick ass!!
Feb 26 2007 12:22AM
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Sholte
Posts: 2929 - Karma: 12
sounds alot like armada poles
Feb 26 2007 12:27AM
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pDails
Posts: 1238 - Karma: 75
i personally find different baskets useless...for me a park the difference of a park basket and a powder basket is only like 2 inches of how much the sink
Feb 26 2007 1:16AM
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Travapple.
Posts: 6787 - Karma: 88
they gottta be light.....
Feb 26 2007 8:57AM
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weenox
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 19
honestly, nobody wants to pay for poles.  you'd be better off just finding the cheapest way to mass produce millions upon millions of pairs of ski poles and selling them for the cheapest possible price.  and make them look cool.
Feb 26 2007 10:59AM
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C.Apple
Posts: 287 - Karma: 111
bluetooth capability?......
Feb 26 2007 11:08AM
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nothanks
Posts: 13551 - Karma: 31
Bow down to Joystick. Let Joystick keep making the "slopestyle poles" along with the other freeski companies already making them.

Keep making good carbon fiber poles, and the poles you have now Leki, and let joystick reign!

www.joystickskiing.com





Peace.
Feb 26 2007 11:27AM
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nothanks
Posts: 13551 - Karma: 31
All of these ideas have been covered by Joystick and Armada Poles anyways...
Feb 26 2007 11:30AM
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LittleJibber16
Posts: 1492 - Karma: 15
^not price or skinny grip
Feb 26 2007 11:34AM
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Travapple.
Posts: 6787 - Karma: 88
hahahahahahaha.......... built in mp3 or speakers.............. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!
Feb 26 2007 11:35AM
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max-k.
Posts: 31 - Karma: 10
Hey you out there:

I am designing the pole right now and have some concrete ideas:

make the grip super short so that it is dideal for grabs (I will get rid of the top plate above the thumb)

The design will be based on a samurai sword! the pole will be shaped a little like a sword/blade. which makes it more stable too!

Graphics will be simple but with a bright colour (red?) and some wiked font...

i will post some sketche later.

give me feedback, if you would like a pole like this....

MK
Mar 5 2007 6:26AM
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max-k.
Posts: 31 - Karma: 10
would you guys buy a super light stylish pole that fits ergonomically. Samurai style.

Update...

MK
Mar 5 2007 10:17AM
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stinkypoodangle
Posts: 1322 - Karma: 33
i'd say make the grips super thin so you have less bulk in your hands when grabbing.
Mar 5 2007 4:06PM
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Uncle_Remus
Posts: 1880 - Karma: 368
cheap cheap cheap
Mar 5 2007 4:31PM
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slopestyle4331
Posts: 1301 - Karma: 42
one word cheap
Mar 5 2007 4:38PM
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KillerMonkey
Posts: 6436 - Karma: 109
Money is the key here. The only reason most kids prefer rental poles over another set is because they dont want to spend the money to get poles when a lot of them are pretty much the same thing. It has to be under $35 tops.
Mar 5 2007 6:27PM
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slopestyle4331
Posts: 1301 - Karma: 42
who cares there poles just make em cheap
Mar 5 2007 7:33PM
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steezerampage
Posts: 2171 - Karma: 214
40s dont work for freeride
Mar 5 2007 8:44PM
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pDails
Posts: 1238 - Karma: 75
max-k: id buy it...if its cheap enough
Mar 5 2007 9:48PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 20
You should make bottle openers on them, that would be clutch.

bright colors for easy location in deep pow.

rotating razor sharp baskets for those peksy snowboarders that cut you off. like a roman chariot.

Flamethrowers couldnt hurt either.

Maybe if they doubled for an umbrella? so that if it was raining, or you wernt skiing you could be like BAM umbrella.

The lightsaber idea was pretty sick too.
Mar 5 2007 10:11PM
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Grimace.
Posts: 8345 - Karma: 25
all of that, for cheap and your golden. also make them fully customizable by making them a spraypaintable surface.
Mar 5 2007 11:07PM
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123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
somebody said that maybe a pole that was adjustable would weigh too much for the flicklock or something on it, maybe the pole would be adjustable in the handle. To illustrate this, I have a simple drawing. On the left, when the button red button is depressed, the pole is completely extended. on the right, the red button is pushed in, causing the pole to go up into the handle...this would be a great way to easily adjust the pole a good 4 inches or so, which is about as much difference as you would need to switch from a park pole to a BC pole.
 
Click for larger image
Mar 19 2007 2:42AM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 205
why would you pay that much money for a standard aluminum pole. my shop sells regular aluminum poles as low as $25. leki's stuff is sick. i've been rocking the same pair of visions for 6 years now. yeah, they cost a little more to begin with, but they last. they're lightweight, are flexible so they are very resistant to snapping in half, have nice comfy, grippy rubber grips, and the straps come off without having to mangle the grips. oh, you can swap out baskets too. they also make this pole in an adjustable length model too.
Mar 19 2007 12:58PM
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123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
joystick makes carbon fiber poles too
Mar 19 2007 3:12PM
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max-k.
Posts: 31 - Karma: 10
Personally i take quality over price when it comes to ski equipment.
i dont want to risk a day in my favourite elemt due to some shitty poles that snap.

would you pay 70 Bucks for poles that last for 4 years, or rather buy cheap 20 Dollar polles 4 times in 4 years?

MK
Mar 20 2007 7:30AM
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Rajna
Posts: 3824 - Karma: 90
last year i went through 4 pairs of poles...2 pairs of them were $60 and 2 were rentals.

If you could put out a sick looking pole that was bombproof it would have my $35 and no more.
Mar 20 2007 8:33AM
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max-k.
Posts: 31 - Karma: 10
OK, i want to thank all the great input.

The new slpoestyle pole has been presented to leki and they were very keen with the new idea.

I have designed a slopestyle pole that has a special feature grip handle. It is a stub that is super short in order to make grabs easier.

I might post some of my sketches later.

tell me what you think about that idea. i would definetly buy a park pole, due to my numerous days spent there.

laters, MK
Mar 23 2007 8:05AM
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mattster
Posts: 4120 - Karma: 41
bottle openers^

also, make it under 15 bucks...
Mar 23 2007 12:01PM
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max-k.
Posts: 31 - Karma: 10
BOTTLE OPENER

I just made a sketch last week of a ski pole grip that had a bottle opener on the bottom of it.

especially in bavaria where the beer is soooo good i could use it all the time to open my augustiner bier...

MK
Mar 24 2007 10:01AM
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invader7
Posts: 5756 - Karma: 49
yes!
Mar 26 2007 12:37PM
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