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What is the Logic Behind No Poles?

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elinde
Posts: 1467 - Karma: 3,054
I know this topic has been discussed a lot on NS, and I'm probably going to get a lot of hate for this, but I thought of something that confuses me. Freeskiers are always trying to get as far away from aerials (I know it's kind of a joke, but it's true) and become a whole different sport. Some of the most adamant about that are those that don't use poles, like the kids that look up to E-Dollo and Phil and hate triples, anything that resembles a technical, "aerial" type trick, and those people make up most of the no-poles skiing population. But I've always thought of one of the key defining aspects of skiing was that we are still skiers, not just just gymnasts with skies on our feet, like aerialists. And they don't use poles. Whenever I'm trying to distinguish between freeskiing and olympic freestyle (before Sochi) I always say that we free skiers use poles, just one little difference to show that we are a different sport that usually gets the message to people who don't know our sport. So why are people who are so against aerials almost trying to get back closer to it. Sorry, this was extremely rambling and probably pretty confusing, since I am having trouble organizing my thoughts, and my point isn't very important. But still, I thought I should share this and see what NS thinks. Also, skiing with no poles makes you look like a fucking gorilla.
May 12 2013 1:15PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
May 12 2013 1:23PM
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stupendous-man
Posts: 8637 - Karma: 13,293
This



is pretty far from this



basically the only similarity is the fact that they have no poles, and are both on skis. the two are otherwise about as far as you can get from each other
May 12 2013 1:24PM
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joris.blanc
Posts: 914 - Karma: 6,584
You're thinking way to much man.
I once was taking picture at a contest, so had a camera bag and shit so didn't take my poles with me. while practice, lunch and at the end of the contest I went lapping the park without my poles. It was strange at first but then I quickly realized that I could grab my skies with more ease then with my poles.
So I spent a few other days riding without poles and noticed that it was actually pretty fun. Plus it one less thing to take with me, and since I often take the train it is a little easier simple to get on and off. But if I know that I will be skiing out of the park I will take my poles. Ohhh and plus I look so much cooler shredding without my poles...
I now see that I am becoming an aerialist, guess that I will have to go back and shredding with poles.
May 12 2013 1:30PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,110
Skiing park without poles is really fun, that's why people do it
May 12 2013 1:32PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5235 - Karma: 20,715
It's just another way to ski.

Freeskiers do not "want to be different from aerialists" we want to be able to ski how we like. People simply don't like aerials because style is dropped for perfection. Most people just ski without poles because they like the way their favorite pros ski without poles, and find it fun to do themselves


/thread
May 12 2013 1:35PM
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El_Patcho
Posts: 182 - Karma: 53
take a couple of laps without your poles and see how you feel. Make sure you do some grabs. Just feels free and fun
May 12 2013 1:35PM
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homestar
Posts: 2124 - Karma: 4,197
Grabs are 10x easier and you don't have to worry about getting stabbed by your poles if you crash.
May 12 2013 1:42PM
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Coxworth
Posts: 1377 - Karma: 2,845
if you want to really think about this dumb argument, think of what ski poles actually are. and what you are using them for, doing flips and rails and shit in a freak accident they could fuck you up pretty bad. i ski with and without all the time and dont see any problem with it. just chill
May 12 2013 2:28PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11954 - Karma: 12,298
Because its fun to switch it up. Sometimes I ski with poles, sometimes I don't. Plus as was mentioned above, grabs are much easier.
May 12 2013 2:30PM
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elinde
Posts: 1467 - Karma: 3,054
true, all valid arguments, I get it skiing is all about being free and doing what you want to do with it, so i guess i'm kind of contradicting myself. I think i'm just getting tired of kids who say "fuck dubs, fuck poles i wanna be like B-Dog". I also just don't like the way it looks and i prefer having poles when I ski myself, but that's just my opinion
May 12 2013 2:49PM
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bighomieflock
Posts: 2040 - Karma: 2,445
What is the point of having poles in the park? They serve no real purpose and and only make grabs harder, and require you to twirl metal things around on rails.
May 12 2013 2:53PM
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JBlend
Posts: 299 - Karma: 499
I don't use poles so I don't need to use gloves so I can put more of my ski budget towards smoking weed. Ski Whistler Every Day.
May 12 2013 4:05PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
.
May 12 2013 4:12PM
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GuacamoleMane
Posts: 1421 - Karma: 2,013
By this logic we shouldn't wear snow pants because aerialists do
May 12 2013 4:17PM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 3,909
To look like a tool.
May 12 2013 4:18PM
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C-Wal
Posts: 185 - Karma: 1,370
Are form of skiing isn't just about aerials, we also have other features such as walls, boxes and rails that can all be done without poles. But the no poles thing is more about people's own preferences as has been discussed on here many times.
May 12 2013 4:44PM
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cultrara
Posts: 5147 - Karma: 46,850
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This has been discussed so much that I don't understand why some people still are confused about it.

Not using poles allows you to be less restricted. Grabs are much easier and its one less thing you have to carry to your car at the end of the day.

However poles can be useful for getting speed, traversing, and planting your turns (if you learned how to ski before hitting the park).

At the end of the day there is no point arguing about it because it is personal preference and it is antithetical to the sport of freeskiing to tell people how they should be skiing.
May 12 2013 4:48PM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
if you have flaily style...not using poles will help it look less flaily... the way i see it.

May 12 2013 4:52PM
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Rockhound
Posts: 3432 - Karma: 851
i broke my park poles at keystone. was too lazy to cut down another pair.
May 12 2013 5:00PM
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Snazzy
Posts: 212 - Karma: 852
just take a couple of laps and see how you feel w/ or without your poles
May 12 2013 5:02PM
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,676
.
May 12 2013 5:08PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5235 - Karma: 20,715
uhhh no
May 12 2013 5:23PM
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oil.
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 1,254
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interesting....
May 12 2013 5:25PM
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skiSBmaine
Posts: 929 - Karma: 589
This should be the automatic response to all poles/no poles threads. Couldn't have said it better myself
May 12 2013 7:12PM
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Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,133
I was just about to post that. That's hilarious, though. Think they specifically set it not to be viewable on NS?
May 12 2013 7:13PM
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hippy.
Posts: 3106 - Karma: 14,364
broken poles, no money, fun!
May 12 2013 8:34PM
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lrob
Posts: 252 - Karma: 1,868
use paragraphs next time its impossible to read
May 12 2013 10:39PM
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suup
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 4,367
I used no poles for half of the season I think it's really fun to ski a few runs with and a few without I really dont care But on the bright side the more people without poles less people who steal them
May 12 2013 10:47PM
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Rockhound
Posts: 3432 - Karma: 851
if you look at the dudes bindings. old FKS for the win
May 13 2013 12:01AM
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AngryGramps
Posts: 243 - Karma: 707
I used to race, and love poles everywhere except the park. kinda the antithesis of the stereotype, but its just to much fun 
May 13 2013 12:11AM
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robotdna
Posts: 1232 - Karma: 2,959
Same here, bro! I think the racer mentality gets it into you. I love the rhythm and balance poles give you. But when I hit the park, especially for jumps, poles just fuck stuff up for me. 
May 13 2013 2:46AM
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
haha i never know what to do with my hands when i dont ski with poles, i flail so much more without poles.
May 13 2013 4:23AM
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coldcuts69
Posts: 3718 - Karma: 1,888
i ride without poles because it makes my penis larger


true story
May 13 2013 7:14AM
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LSDTripGod
Posts: 184 - Karma: 201
On my most recent injury from a fall I had to go to the er and luckily it wasn't too bad and that's because I don't use poles, if I had been I would have impailed myself this is my logic behind not using poles
May 13 2013 7:40AM
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nugeynuge
Posts: 388 - Karma: 254
I use poles if I'm not just taking laps but I'm also skiing groomers. But if I'm at a shitty place for groomers I'll leave my poles behind. It's all personal preference you shouldn't care too much.
May 13 2013 8:41AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
it's not for me but whatever, do what you want.

what i will say on the subject, most people that ski without poles have a really hard time making it look good. very few people are fluid enough to really pull it off
May 13 2013 11:03AM
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gouda
Posts: 84 - Karma: 600
Why does it matter? If you like going no poles then dont use them and if you like poles better then use them! Who cares what other people choose to do?
May 13 2013 2:54PM
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TNORTS
Posts: 2077 - Karma: 2,756
my style got waaaayyyy better once I ditched to poles. I started paying way more attention to where my hands were.


May 13 2013 5:26PM
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SIMPLE.
Posts: 1093 - Karma: 15,191
I'm not gonna tell you to piss off because I actually think it's a valid question. Personally I do compete and i know compete without the use of poles. People do look at you weirdly sometimes but it's becoming bigger and bigger on the comp scene. I used to ski with poles as my coach would make me up until about end of february when I got fed up with it. To be honest I am much better at switch tricks without poles as I find it's one less thing to worry about however I fine grabs about equal. I do find that balance is harder without poles however it does eventually become second nature. On top of this I find it more "flowy" when I'm skiing big mountain or even side hits on groomers and in the park and I also find it easier to put style into your trick without poles. I also enjoy the way it looks more as I fine it rly focuses solely on one's ski ability rather then just watching their poles, and it's a real test of skill to watch someone go from poles to no poles and watching how wavy their arms are, youll find that if you dont do it often your arms are really wavy. Thought I'd just clear this up for you.
May 13 2013 11:07PM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
What's more baffling? Skiing without poles, or skiing with two sticks in your hands that you don't actually need?

Some people are retarded. You don't lose all skiing ability if you choose not to pretend you're jerking off two dudes at once.
May 13 2013 11:24PM
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animeallstar
Posts: 835 - Karma: 1,245
Skiierman you just need to calm down you're always so angry
May 13 2013 11:48PM
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000000000000
Posts: 843 - Karma: 1,552
When you take a pole to the gut while flat landing a booter, you'll know the answer to this question grass hopper.
May 14 2013 12:13AM
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HWW
Posts: 3084 - Karma: 3,436
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May 14 2013 4:38AM
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TNORTS
Posts: 2077 - Karma: 2,756
Thank you.
May 14 2013 9:29AM
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skibum_mark
Posts: 515 - Karma: 567
Poles are good for flat spots, dragging boards along, getting bindings off in tree/rock wells.

Since the introductions of shaped skis, poles are just used as a timing tool for the rest of your body.

Then pole straps are sketchy as fuck. Rip your arm out if you snag a tree with your pole. And having poles stuck to yah will help you get suck deep in an event of an avalanche.

Do what you want and don't preach others.
May 14 2013 9:47AM
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first_rodeo
Posts: 2385 - Karma: 7,781

drink er beer

terk er jubs

#bostonstrong

May 14 2013 9:49AM
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NMMedia
Posts: 982 - Karma: 1,700
My skiing gets sketchy as hell when I ditch poles, Iv just gotten too used to them being in my hands. But Im not about to hate on people that feel the other way, to each his own.
May 14 2013 10:06AM
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scarsimd
Posts: 668 - Karma: 773
use poles = homo
May 14 2013 3:39PM
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Algebra
Posts: 5215 - Karma: 1,677
because snowboarding
May 14 2013 6:00PM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
personally i don't use my poles because when throwing for rotation i often find i hit myself with them as i rotate, thats because my poles are much larger than park skiers normally use but it is much easier and feels free-er than riding with poles.
May 14 2013 7:59PM
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