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December, 2024

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Losing the poles? Yay or nay?

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TheSkiingBlader
Posts: 131 - Karma: 993
So I've been riding with a lot of people lately who don't use poles and I have been thinking about making the conversion. I would love to start throwing trucker slides on rails and doing other steezy shit. Thoughts? Any experiences of trying to convert?
Feb 3 2014 3:39PM
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PureSport
Posts: 77 - Karma: 305
I ride without poles all the time doesn't make much of a difference
Feb 3 2014 3:44PM
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BChaps1209
Posts: 1350 - Karma: 2,441
I switched after I fell into my pole and broke a rib- everyone I talked to always said it would throw off my balance and mess up my skiing but I found it quite easy and didn't notice any difference. I just really enjoy having two less things to worry about
Feb 3 2014 3:45PM
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hughesbrennan
Posts: 66 - Karma: 130
I say poles are the way to go
Feb 3 2014 3:46PM
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trueheads
Posts: 83 - Karma: 252
Really depends on the situation.
Sometimes im feeling poles, but other times im ready to snap them because they "get in the way".
Feb 3 2014 3:47PM
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galardogod
Posts: 1704 - Karma: 5,306
No poling is great in rails boxes small to medium jumps but when it comes to skiing half pipe, big lines ungroomed and steep stuff i like my poles
Feb 3 2014 3:49PM
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TNORTS
Posts: 2077 - Karma: 2,761
I ditch em when I'm just lapping park. They're just one more thing to land on and fuck up yourself/your thumbs. Grabs are way more fun without poles too.
Feb 3 2014 3:49PM
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SimplyClean
Posts: 556 - Karma: 1,752

It's all up to you and how you like the feeling of it. Some people look really awkward and shouldn't be skiing without poles. I ski without them because I like having the free flow of my arms when ripping groomers and not having anything in the way, ever. It also allows you to do some grabs in the air and on rails much easier.

However, if I'm skiing pow, steep lines, or bumps poles are a must.

Feb 3 2014 3:58PM
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GetOnMyNeville
Posts: 63 - Karma: 184

Another pole thread?

But my 2cents on the topic

I dropped them to try flat truck 5's but I got used to the motion now I feel perfectly comfortable tweaking them to B&A flat spins even with poles. To me, I could go either way on having pointy sticks with grips. Nobody judges you for not having them anymore at least not at PNS.

Feb 3 2014 4:02PM
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mski
Posts: 4791 - Karma: 3,803
Poles are pretty unnecessary in the park
Feb 3 2014 4:49PM
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Iraq_Lobster
Posts: 1866 - Karma: 4,905
i usually bring my poles, but occasionally when riding we just put them in a ditch behind the lifty hut up top.
Feb 3 2014 5:09PM
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thehighestllama
Posts: 81 - Karma: 464
Give it a shot without em. Worst case scenario you don't like it. It really is a personal thing in that its what you feel comfortable with and pretty much nothing else.
Feb 3 2014 5:15PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
I propose a test.

>bring poles to mountain
>leave poles in car
>ski morning
>make assessment
>adjust dress
>????
>profit

You shouldn't care if other people tell you to lose your poles. If you're curious, try it, and see for yourself if you like it. You don't have to ski more than one run without them.
Feb 3 2014 5:18PM
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aosmonson
Posts: 453 - Karma: 837
But without poles how will you be able to cosack?
Feb 3 2014 6:26PM
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
Park without poles is fun but anywhere else except perfect groomers is way harder without them.
Feb 3 2014 7:18PM
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Theskiingguy
Posts: 476 - Karma: 2,514
I ski without poles currently because A. my style sucks and I need to work on it, poleless will help me get less flarely. B. more importantly, I snapped mine by accident and havent gotten around to getting more.

Preferably I ski with poles though
Feb 3 2014 7:20PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37680 - Karma: 123,640
who the fuck cares? pardon my tone but this is probably the dumbest argument in skiing. if you want to ski pole-less, go for it. if you like the pointy sticks in your hands, do that as well. anyone that has a problem with people skiing without poles needs to take a step back and worry about their own skiing.
Feb 3 2014 7:29PM
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galardogod
Posts: 1704 - Karma: 5,306
I think he is focusing on is it better to ski with out them. I might be wrong doe
Feb 3 2014 7:44PM
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NotGhood
Posts: 2809 - Karma: 1,255
Who says you have to make a commitment to one or the other? Sometimes you just know it's gonna be a no poles kind of day and other times you want to have them. In the end its all for the yolos anyway so just do whatever bro.
Feb 3 2014 7:49PM
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Iliveinutah
Posts: 1250 - Karma: 5,147
i just fell on my pole and cracked 2 ribs last weekend, i now ride with no poles as well
Feb 3 2014 7:52PM
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werd.
Posts: 967 - Karma: 4,330
No poles for park is fine, anything else just looks stupid
Feb 3 2014 8:12PM
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bgeskior
Posts: 463 - Karma: 1,552
I love skiing without poles but the lift lines force me to use them
Feb 3 2014 8:13PM
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11989 - Karma: 12,264
i feel naked without poles anytime i'm skiing.
Feb 3 2014 8:14PM
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gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,550
after blazing i always go no poles. after drinking i always go poles
Feb 3 2014 8:15PM
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11989 - Karma: 12,264
i feel like this could also relate to your sexuality.
Feb 3 2014 8:46PM
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ES.
Posts: 160 - Karma: 1,367
its easy enough to do a few runs and see how you like it. #notthreadworthy
Feb 3 2014 9:04PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7518 - Karma: 51,233
I go no poles when it's 28 or above
Feb 3 2014 9:09PM
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TomDavies
Posts: 788 - Karma: 5,295
broke my thumb this weekend because of my poles. no more poles for tom.
Feb 3 2014 9:14PM
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DanielPlainview
Posts: 391 - Karma: 1,707
i tried to convert to no poling this year but found it to be a pain in the ass. I also think using poles keeps my upper body quiet, which i prefer to the arm swinging landing. Just my opinion tho.
Feb 3 2014 9:22PM
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humpty
Posts: 1190 - Karma: 3,162
Sometimes i like to throw the hood on and lose the poles then take some hot laps just screwin around
Feb 3 2014 9:48PM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,166
Midwest rule #857:
Rope park- no poles
Chair park- poles

I don't ski any differently, poles just help me get around quicker.
Feb 3 2014 9:53PM
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Cambrewski
Posts: 320 - Karma: 3,136
THIS ISN"T ROLLER BLADING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click for larger image
Feb 3 2014 10:15PM
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gravel
Posts: 5523 - Karma: 42,371
Definitely depends on where you're shredding. I don't shred the park, rather the whole mountain, and I sometimes go no poles for the first month or two of shredding when it's just groomer cruising, but when I'm hitting bigger terrain in the winter poles really help me with my balance and form if that makes sense.

Really I think it comes down to the fact that I think poles are a hell of a lot more helpful for being really balanced as a skier.
Feb 3 2014 10:30PM
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histonskiah
Posts: 467 - Karma: 1,834
This may seem weird but when ever my hands get cold I go no poles and they warm right up. Gets the blood flowin to the hands.
Feb 3 2014 10:40PM
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thedanimal
Posts: 490 - Karma: 180
If youre skiing park, you won't notice the difference. But pow and abd ungrommed stuff, I'd use em. But hey, that's just my opinion, try it out and see how you like it, nothing bad can happen
Feb 3 2014 10:41PM
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MAWman
Posts: 142 - Karma: 49
Read a study from UVM on how dudes who rock poles in the park have statistically smaller junk.
WIth NON pole riders averaging an extra 3" of length and 1" of girth!

Hope this helps man, just hookin a brotha NS'r up
Feb 3 2014 10:57PM
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Dubal
Posts: 82 - Karma: 795

ricky-bobby-dont-know-what-to-do-with-my-hands-300x263.jpg

Feb 3 2014 11:29PM
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manzear
Posts: 843 - Karma: 849
You can do whatever the fuck you want to do, it doesn't bother me either way. But, for my own skiing, I like riding with poles. I think poles are the OG of ski equipment, have changed since the beginning. It separates skiers from snowbladers, snowboarders, and I think in pictures looks really cool off jumps. Again, do whatever makes you happy for me, I use them. What the fuck do I know?
Feb 3 2014 11:47PM
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WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
1) bring poles to hill
2) toss in woods / ask liftie to put by lift area
3) make decision
4) retrieve if conquering necessary terrain
Feb 4 2014 12:09AM
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cwphoto
Posts: 2332 - Karma: 780
i've always skied without poles because they never seemed to make a difference to me. i've really been trying to get better at rails this year, and starting to ride with poles has helped my balance immensely. it was pretty crazy, i did a run with poles, and suddenly i was sliding everything 10 times better than the run before without poles. oh well, its personal preference anyways.
Feb 4 2014 12:11AM
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ljackstar
Posts: 114 - Karma: 233
I use poles right now, but mostly because I've never tried to ski without them. However, when I was at sunshine during Christmas I landed back seat coming off of a cliff, and mole poll dug in and yanked my arm back (If I'd had the pole straps on I probably would have dislocated my shoulder). A month later and my arm still hurts if I move it certain ways.
Feb 4 2014 1:13AM
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
Do you feel like riding without poles? Then do so. I go nopoles maybe 30% of the time I ride park. It's just fun to do different shit sometimes. Outside of the park is basically 100% poles though. It just helps so much. Oh and you can truckslide with poles. B-Dog's huge one at the start of Muddy Winter is done with poles.
Feb 4 2014 1:57AM
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Zimmy
Posts: 1258 - Karma: -1,327
Poles are not for pole-planting anymore but for giving balance and tactile feel to your upper body when it is at a significantly different angle to lower body.

(they are most useful for the severely retarded.)
Feb 4 2014 5:36AM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Use poles. Spear bitches.
Feb 4 2014 7:11AM
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TheGreenBastard
Posts: 215 - Karma: 135
babylon sticks
Feb 4 2014 9:31AM
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flurry*
Posts: 287 - Karma: 1,192
Since I ski in NC I never use poles because we don't have these un groomed pow runs you guys are talking about, haha. But if you just wanna lap the park, drop them polez dood.
Feb 4 2014 9:40AM
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skithedirt
Posts: 1759 - Karma: 382
Stop. Just stop.
Feb 4 2014 9:52AM
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BBurt
Posts: 1588 - Karma: 3,781
def not a repost
Feb 4 2014 10:59AM
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mitchellbrower
Posts: 131 - Karma: 1,228
no poles when winching or bungee, poles when i can

Feb 4 2014 11:21AM
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lurking
Posts: 2222 - Karma: 6,788
I stopped using poles late last season and haven't used them since
Feb 4 2014 3:50PM
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sNaubi
Posts: 1633 - Karma: 2,357
nayay

I ski with poles on and off, depends on what I feel for that day.
Feb 4 2014 4:13PM
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