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April, 2025

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Ditching poles

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ModMommy
Posts: 10870 - Karma: 58,084
I've been skiing with poles for around 8 years, and have decided to ditch them this year. How many of you ski poleless? Was the process of change easy, or did you end up going back to them?
11 years ago
216 59
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*YungBuckwheat*
Posts: 474 - Karma: 893
No pole are chiller, really improved my balance skills too. I don't even go poles when im skiing bc.
11 years ago
5 28
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TurquoiseGrizzly
Posts: 1819 - Karma: 13,149
Powder and back country I got my poles.

Cruisin and messing around in the park = NO POLES. I'm a G.
11 years ago
28 0
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YoungWookiee
Posts: 710 - Karma: 525
Yeah I love skiing poleless I started last year and I tried skiing with them again and they are just a hastle now hahahaha! It really does make you a better natural balanced skier! Try it this year just dont even bring your poles up too the mountain
11 years ago
2 1
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Gnarbangalakazoo
Posts: 561 - Karma: 262
Generally I don't use them, and definitely not in the park. I think it makes grabs feel a lot more natural and ultimately I just feel a lot more comfortable without them. But for Pow I use them of course. Are there any pro's who don't use poles in Pow?
11 years ago
2 1
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ndye
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 7,094
I ride poleless now, whenever im taking park laps its no poles all the way. I just prefer that one less thing going on. Just go a day without it, and it will feel weird to have them back in your hands again. When I snag poles on pow days or if theres no park, I feel kinda funky the first couple runs, but it works out quickly.
11 years ago
3 0
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Matt5838
Posts: 321 - Karma: 335
No poles no problems
11 years ago
4 0
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.frenchy
Posts: 18231 - Karma: 12,399
I usually only use poles when the snow is slow and I don't get enough speed for rails that are on flat ground
11 years ago
8 0
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sNaubi
Posts: 1633 - Karma: 2,357
I'd let you use my pole.

Seriously tho, i go w/ and w/o whatever i feel like, comfortable doing both
11 years ago
2 1
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CrapBandit
Posts: 142 - Karma: 861
SACRILEGIOUS! I'm reporting you to the high counsel of pole sitters.

Personally, I like poles cause I can poke fun at people. Get it? Poke fun? Poke? ...... I'm so bored at work right now please help
11 years ago
46 1
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
If I'm jibbing, I don't like full size poles at all. Like many others, I just use kids poles so I still have the ability to push for speed, but they don't get in the way.

Otherwise, for actual skiing there's zero way I'd go without poles. They help so much with upper body balance.
11 years ago
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Noddard
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,876
If you can't decide just ski with one pole....
11 years ago
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uyghur
Posts: 993 - Karma: 2,028
I like no poles but its pretty hard to maneuver a packed liftline/slow snow without them
11 years ago
6 0
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Casey
Posts: 8009 - Karma: 26,823
I picked them back up because in more difficult terrain I just ski better with them. But for a few seasons I mainly skied without them, and in the park I go without them because I have this weird thing where in the air holding poles is distracting and I am afraid I'm going to get smacked in the face with them or something.
11 years ago
1 0
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powerbong2000
Posts: 737 - Karma: 1,802
super fun cutting trail in hip deep with no poles.
11 years ago
0 0
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Alexhiglo
Posts: 260 - Karma: 1,083
I skied without poles for the last season since i had a broken hand. went back to poles and i found i just was smoother. Just my opinion, but some people ball out without poles
11 years ago
2 0
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38028 - Karma: 128,845
IMO poles and no poles don't really matter in the park. they're some help when you need them, but having no poles in the park isn't going to impact you a lot. i'll switch it up every now and then in the park, its fun to cruise around trying dumb grabs on jumps and shit like that. outside of the park, you need them. not too many people can put it down without poles outside of the park, i remember a few years back some of the nimbus guys skied pow without poles and they killed it, but the rest of you just look like shit and it pains me to see good snow go to waste by some goober.
11 years ago
10 1
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brend
Posts: 779 - Karma: 3,608
I might not use them as much in the park this year
11 years ago
0 1
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
I couldn't care either way if I used them or not. They are convenient to have on flat ground and they have caught a few falls for me but they are in no way required. I don't seem to have much trouble switching between using them and not so I would say you shouldn't either.
11 years ago
0 0
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HuckNorris44
Posts: 1025 - Karma: 2,394
No poles unless im hiking or skinning. I like having the freedom of nothing in my hands. Besides, the poles i did use wee only 28cm long.
11 years ago
1 1
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Newschoolers55
Posts: 851 - Karma: 4,794
NoddardIf you can't decide just ski with one pole....


I actually did that when i was kid. I pushed it like cossac style I was thinking "who needs other pole"
11 years ago
5 0
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hcaulfield
Posts: 112 - Karma: 393
uyghurI like no poles but its pretty hard to maneuver a packed liftline/slow snow without them


Gotta watch out for sliding into people while in line
11 years ago
3 0
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washparkdub
Posts: 266 - Karma: 66
If I had to guess, I'd say all you non pole skiers are horribly off balance despite you saying otherwise. Probably skiing with your hands down to the side or behind your backs.
bunch of mooks.


How do you expect to defend yourselves against bears and abominable snowmen?!?!?
11 years ago
6 0
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11990 - Karma: 12,272
If I'm having a silly day then I'll go no poles. But other than that I gotta have poles in my hands. It just helps with back seat skiing and easier to get around on the flats.
11 years ago
2 0
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johnblaze
Posts: 1540 - Karma: 2,813
so you're saying you are snowboarding this year...
11 years ago
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wutangforever
Posts: 181 - Karma: 575
I rode no poles for a season then went back I think poles give you more style and they are pretty practical if u smoke a bunch of weed and ur high and lazy and U just wana move around and not use your legs as much haha
11 years ago
3 5
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
It really doesn't matter in the park. Until you go in a long lift line. THen you wish you had your poles
11 years ago
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SFB
Posts: 8895 - Karma: 26,363
no poles if just cruisin park.
poles everywhere else
11 years ago
0 0
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SimplyClean
Posts: 556 - Karma: 1,754
Don't be that person on the run that looks super awkward and can't ski without poles. Some people try and it just hurts to watch.

I only use mine when there's pow because it sucks without them in those conditions. I had a wrist injury last season and couldn't use mine for most of the pow days - it sucked.
11 years ago
1 0
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charcharbinks
Posts: 515 - Karma: 734
It depends on the conditions and what I'm trying to do on my skis. I wouldn't usually ski powder without poles but sometimes its fun to ditch them in the park or when cruising around of piste. Do what you feel, skiing is fun regardless!
11 years ago
0 0
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charcharbinks
Posts: 515 - Karma: 734
.Charlie.It depends on the conditions and what I'm trying to do on my skis. I wouldn't usually ski powder without poles but sometimes its fun to ditch them in the park or when cruising around of piste. Do what you feel, skiing is fun regardless!


*Off piste
11 years ago
0 0
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PhotoGraphic
Posts: 241 - Karma: 477
The only reason people did use poles was originally for monoskiing and straight skis, unless your just plain janed autistic professional then your going to need the poley moleys.
11 years ago
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toastyteenagers
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 6,793
the only cook person who doesn't use poles is andy parry, everyone else is either a beginner or a tall tee wearing mascoChist
11 years ago
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AbusedBanana
Posts: 110 - Karma: 107
this season i knuckled a big jump when spinning so i didn't really spot my landing and nutted myself with my pole. never used poles after that in the park.
11 years ago
0 0
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Anathema
Posts: 21048 - Karma: 5,062
it just doesnt feel like skiing without poles
11 years ago
5 1
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TomDavies
Posts: 788 - Karma: 5,295
TightRipperDaveNo pole are chiller, really improved my balance skills too. I don't even go poles when im skiing bc.


that sounds like a terrible idea
11 years ago
2 1
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brett_fisher
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 10,518
i get better grabs and it feels easier to set tricks
11 years ago
0 0
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Scotty_Boy
Posts: 777 - Karma: 1,449
I like the weight of ski poles in my hands. It makes me feel more balanced and I can flex my arms more easily if I want to set a spin really hard. Plus I always want the option to use my poles to gain speed quickly. Although I definitely understand how others are saying grabs feel better, because they definitely feel better without poles in your hands.
11 years ago
0 0
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Ozgod
Posts: 374 - Karma: 448
I ride with poles but end up falling on them and breaking them so usually end of the season I have no poles, I'd say poles are so much better but personal preference.
11 years ago
0 0
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Peachbutt
Posts: 623 - Karma: 601
I'll switch between using them and leaving them at the lodge. Used to always use them but it feels so liberating to have your hands totally free to drag/grab/make snowballs/do whatever with and it's fun to pretend you're B-Dog lol. It does however make busy lift lines a pain in the ass when you don't have poles
11 years ago
0 0
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.Steezy-McGee.
Posts: 369 - Karma: 2,620
I always tend to switch off every now and then. Poleless is fun for sure
11 years ago
0 0
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thedanimal
Posts: 490 - Karma: 180
going no poles in the park is so liberating for me. i love the feeling and it compliments my style of skiing. i found it also helped with my balance.
11 years ago
0 0
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milk_man
Posts: 5252 - Karma: 5,975
I've only used poles for one season of my life. Poles suckk.
11 years ago
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caseysegal
Posts: 24 - Karma: 33
its a good time to bomb without poles
11 years ago
0 0
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uhhhhhhhhhhhh
Posts: 4 - Karma: 111
I go no poles because I suck… I also use a camera.
11 years ago
2 0
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,673
the only reason why i don't use poles in the park is because i always seem to fuck my thumbs up when i fall with poles. If i'm doing any other kind of skiing its poles all day.
11 years ago
0 0
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skier58284
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 5,366
Poles are pointless on groomers but extremely useful off-piste. I skied for 8 years without poles but that was in the midwest where there are only groomers. On occasion when I ski groomers without poles now it's a lot of fun, but I hardly ever ski groomers anymore so I always use poles. Skiing without poles is good for beginners because they learn to rely on their own skill for balance instead of using poles as a crutch, but if you're already a good skier then I would advise against going without poles unless you never ski off-piste.
11 years ago
0 0
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APunx176
Posts: 1189 - Karma: 2,628
I didn't realize so many people ski without poles. I tried skiing without poles a few times and I found that I did worse without them. It must just be a balance thing. I'll go without poles a few times this year just for shits and giggles.
11 years ago
0 0
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balzach
Posts: 241 - Karma: 2,616
I do both. At first the transition was strange but meow i can go one run no poles one run with no prob.
11 years ago
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GeneralStonewal
Posts: 23 - Karma: 32
you don't ditch the poles. the poles ditch you.
11 years ago
0 0
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shwesoni
Posts: 94 - Karma: 63
When I'm riding park, i usually go without poles. But since I prefer powder they are a must-have!
11 years ago
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