Pole or No poles

_Astro_ · 2013-12-20 18:47:01

Ok so I lost my baskets to my poles and I'm wondering if there is any point to ski without them. I only do park skiing and don't need to plant. Is the balance thing just a placebo effect? But I also don't want to look like a damn penguin.

JahLiam

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#14B

Dec 20 2013 6:49PM

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Noddard

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Both, I like skiing with and without poles. I think they have unique styles and it's good to practice both. In the end it's just skiing right? People who get pissed about guys who don't have poles are really just silly, do what you want. As far as I know it wouldn't affect your balance, they do however help you have better form that doesn't really relate to park skiing.

Dec 20 2013 6:51PM

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errrka

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I've been having this debate recently. My thoughts are that:

Poles are useful for actual mountain skiing. I live in Ohio where even if you're skiing groomers, the actual necessity of poles isn't there. They're helpful, but not crucial.

In the park I haven't been using poles. Frankly, I can't find my short poles from last season and I don't want to use my long mountain/racing poles.

So if you live out west and ride I would say poles (but like the right kind, height so that your elbow is at 90 degrees), but if you're just cruising around the park you don't really need them.

Dec 20 2013 7:58PM

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Parks.

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just do it like the pros, go with just one pole.....steez

Dec 20 2013 7:59PM

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Casey

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No poles for messing around, slackcountry, park, beer drinking, poles for being mobile, touring, traversing, skiing harder lines, being more serious.

Dec 20 2013 8:44PM

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gotti

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always use poles unless you are very good. otherwise your arms will go everywhere and you don't want that. you don't have to buy poles either just walk into the rental shop at a mountain and ask to just use a pair of poles for the day. and since poles are free to rent you just don't return them. if you want smaller poles anyways you will just end up taking them from a huge pile of poles

Dec 20 2013 10:15PM

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Morriski_

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Poles, i have no clue what to do with my hands without them

Dec 23 2013 9:12AM

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Wizerd

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I used to use them, then I felt like they got in the way. So its every now and then that I use them. They aren't a necessity, but some prefer them.

Dec 23 2013 9:35AM

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CKpolicy

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whatever you decide to do, please do not ski without baskets.

Dec 23 2013 9:42AM

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humpty

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Poles if I'm gonna be skiing trees and groomers and shit or go hard and no poles If I'm just playin around havin fun doing hoodrat shit in the park

Dec 23 2013 9:43AM

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Whouzz

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Fo real?
20 threats 'bout this shit?

Dec 23 2013 10:43AM

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youngdtay

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This.

Like most of the people in this thread, I don't really see the necesity in using poles for park. It seems counter-intuitive, like it's just another thing to break and can potentially hurt you. The only reason why I would think someone should use them in the park is if they're not yet used to riding without them.

Dec 23 2013 11:20AM

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SkiTheYeast

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I used to use poles all the time but recently I've been going no poles. i feel like it helps me focus on getting rid of all the awkward arm movement.

Dec 24 2013 11:53AM

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yhprum1720

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I like to use one pole so that I have the optimal mix of performance both in and out of the park

Dec 24 2013 12:17PM

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steezy_doge

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-Parks-just do it like the pros, go with just one pole.....steez

Best reply ever

Jun 19 2014 12:43AM

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Ali_Dibden

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NoddardBoth, I like skiing with and without poles.  I think they have unique styles and it's good to practice both.  In the end it's just skiing right?  People who get pissed about guys who don't have poles are really just silly, do what you want.  As far as I know it wouldn't affect your balance, they do however help you have better form that doesn't really relate to park skiing.

It doesnt affect balance at all but when i ski w/o poles i do feel slightly off balance on rails all because im not a very good skier i think. But yeah just a placebo effect i reckon.

Jun 19 2014 5:33PM

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tomPietrowski

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NUSSC_FreestyleIt doesnt affect balance at all but when i ski w/o poles i do feel slightly off balance on rails all because im not a very good skier i think. But yeah just a placebo effect i reckon.

You will find it will effect your balance when skiing out of the park. Go ski a steep mogul run with poles then without and see if you still think poles do nothin for your balance. It's amazing how much simply having a pole in your hand encourages good body position. Whenever I watch edits of guys with no poles doing side hits ect they never look that solid as they are always leaning back on landing. Weird how just having something in your hand encourages a good 4 point landing wen if you don't 4 point.

Jun 20 2014 2:57PM

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eddy9

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I like to have REPOST in one hand, I keep the other free incase I want to SEARCHBAR.
Seriously just try it and decide.
And no, I didn't read the OP.

Jun 20 2014 4:22PM

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Negromancer

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eddy9I like to have REPOST in one hand, I keep the other free incase I want to SEARCHBAR.
Seriously just try it and decide.
And no, I didn't read the OP.

What a wonderful contribution to the thread.

But I just about always ski with poles even though I ski in a Snowdome and the run is only 200m long. I find they help with spins and balance on rails.

Also it's essentially impossible to ski moguls properly without poles.

Jun 21 2014 6:39AM

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