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Getting harassed for short ski poles

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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
Prepare for a rant...

So, Ive been skiing with my gf and her family a few times this year and they're a group of gapers (they're pretty good but they're gapers) and other gapers in general are really judgmental Ive noticed. One big thing they judge me on are my poles. They just go on and on about them. Im almost 5'8 and i think my poles are like 36". I work for panda poles and my boss is really smart about all things skiing and he doesn't comment on them. Anyway I'm not really a park skier, i ski all mountain, i just enjoy a shorter pole. They don't get int the way, I can still traverse just as fast if not faster than them, and i just really don't need a longer ski pole until I get a bit taller.

So I always get comments on why my poles are so short and they make fun of me for it.
Like:
Gaper 1: "Why are your poles so short"
Gaper 2: "He thinks they're 'stylish'"

um no i actually just don't need 4 foot poles

gaper: "you don't even use your poles when you turn you're supposed to pole plant to turn"

umm no?? my edges help me turn. My poles help with balance and traversing thats about it. Ever notice how they start kids off WITHOUT poles so they learn to use their edges and what not? Yeah crazy


But really I'm sorry for the rant but its getting ridiculous. My poles are short because I'm not traversing 24/7, i have bend in my knees when i ski so i don't need poles that touch the ground when I'm standing straight up, and my edges are what turn my ski, not my poles. But thank you for your insight gaper, its very much appreciated.



/rant
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Dec 25 2015 10:43PM
410 61
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skicel
Posts: 195 - Karma: 411
.lenconGaper 1: "Why are your poles so short"
Gaper 2: "He thinks they're 'stylish'"


"no they are just what i prefer, since ski gear is about preference not what some picture guide of riperoo on the wall of a ski rental in downtown breck says"
Dec 25 2015 10:47PM
23 0
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
ok and what really pisses me off is one of the gapers dads totally cut me off going mach 9, like as fast as ive been cooking all year and he cuts me off and clips me, i tomahawk, snap my ski entirely in half, almost decapitating bfish. then, he says it was my fault for "screwing around" i was in front, i have the right of freaking way

/rant


as for op and short poles, peeps are just rude and dont understand. some people are stuck in the gaper culture and never get out. i hate those kind of people.
Dec 25 2015 10:49PM
20 1
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
Gapers be stuck with those 13th century vibes

Dec 25 2015 10:55PM
56 0
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,324
Dude just lay the fuckers out. Ski hills are like the best place to destroy somebody without getting caught.
Dec 25 2015 10:59PM
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TheDoughAbides
Posts: 1319 - Karma: 4,036
huh I rock shorter poles and never catch shit for it...must be cause everyone already knows Im the best skier on the mountain
Dec 25 2015 11:01PM
24 2
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Brocka_Flocka
Posts: 1215 - Karma: 8,742
C'mon OP you know the drill.

Pics of GF so we can see if her/her family is actually worth dealing with.
Dec 25 2015 11:03PM
43 0
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
Brocka_FlockaC'mon OP you know the drill.

Pics of GF so we can see if her/her family is actually worth dealing with.


its not really her, but more of her family.


also if i should go on another rant they don't really get the concept of durable skis..
Dec 25 2015 11:05PM
5 2
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
.lenconits not really her, but more of her family.


also if i should go on another rant they don't really get the concept of durable skis..


I think I know what we're dealing with here


Dec 25 2015 11:13PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51652 - Karma: 162,335
One of my friends had some super short pink poles he stole from some little girl and used to slay it in the park with them8 or 9 years ago. I think someone stole his poles so he upgraded.

Short pole steezzzz

It's all about undercompensating
Dec 25 2015 11:18PM
3 0
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
.lenconits not really her, but more of her family.


also if i should go on another rant they don't really get the concept of durable skis..


Hahahahahah oh my gosh your posts are killing me
Dec 25 2015 11:35PM
5 1
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Shoey-Ski
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 6,190
Haha I'm 5'11" and have 32in poles my brother calls them baby sticks
Dec 25 2015 11:36PM
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_salty_
Posts: 672 - Karma: 1,034
Shoey-SkiHaha I'm 5'11" and have 32in poles my brother calls them baby sticks


Haha I'm in the exact same boat
Dec 26 2015 12:08AM
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AGOF
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 3,602
I'm 5'10" and I can't imagine using a pole shorter than 40", I mean at that point why not just go no poles?
Dec 26 2015 12:34AM
3 2
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Casey
Posts: 7849 - Karma: 24,320
Your GF's family is giving you shit because its your GF's family.

I used to rock no poles religiously and my poles were always super short like you, but as my needs and style changed I now like long (normal) poles to get around better. I wouldn't make fun of you for having short poles I would just know that it means you're not skiing as good of lines as me.
Dec 26 2015 1:21AM
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Rennis_Deynolds
Posts: 2739 - Karma: 19,058
.lenconSo, Ive been skiing with my gf


/claim
Dec 26 2015 1:41AM
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Deepskier
Posts: 3267 - Karma: 4,829
Read them this thread and score some gnar points by telling them you are the best skier on the mountain.
Dec 26 2015 2:24AM
3 1
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
A-cAllI'm 5'10" and I can't imagine using a pole shorter than 40", I mean at that point why not just go no poles?


I kind of think thats the point. If it weren't a pain in the ass to get around with out poles more of us would go no poles.
Dec 26 2015 2:27AM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
CaseyYour GF's family is giving you shit because its your GF's family.

I used to rock no poles religiously and my poles were always super short like you, but as my needs and style changed I now like long (normal) poles to get around better. I wouldn't make fun of you for having short poles I would just know that it means you're not skiing as good of lines as me.


Do long poles actually help you get to good lines? This is at a resort right
Dec 26 2015 2:30AM
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B_K
Posts: 723 - Karma: 1,293
best way to answer gapers is give a huge smile a ton of nods followed by "yea" x 4
Dec 26 2015 2:37AM
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GormanNoahSki
Posts: 62 - Karma: 145
Fuckin' Gapers, but seriously rock those short poles. I'm 6'2 and I ski a pair of 40'inch long poles and do just fine. Unless it's a pow day then I steal some taller poles. Just tell Gapers who give you shit to fuck off! They usually can't ski for shit so they have no reason to talk shit.
Dec 26 2015 3:11AM
1 0
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corona
Posts: 12795 - Karma: 32,751
shin-bangok and what really pisses me off is one of the gapers dads totally cut me off going mach 9, like as fast as ive been cooking all year and he cuts me off and clips me, i tomahawk, snap my ski entirely in half, almost decapitating bfish. then, he says it was my fault for "screwing around" i was in front, i have the right of freaking way

/rant


as for op and short poles, peeps are just rude and dont understand. some people are stuck in the gaper culture and never get out. i hate those kind of people.


If you were in front and going Mach potato, how did he manage to cut you off?
Dec 26 2015 5:55AM
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,124
kudos to panda poles for employing labor from the short bus, short poles, challanged labor pool
Dec 26 2015 7:12AM
13 2
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freestyler540
Posts: 13083 - Karma: 18,725
.lencon...

So, Ive been skiing with my gf and her family a few times this year and they're a group of gapers


And you listen to advice from gapers? There is your first problem...
Dec 26 2015 8:22AM
7 1
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McLS
Posts: 1985 - Karma: 6,454
K dont wanna hate here but...pole planting is actually pretty essential when you're ski8ng piste well, and for moguls. Sure you dont have to but its better. I know i sound like a gaper dad, but i actually use 90cm poles (im 183cm, so pretty much as small as it gets without being useless). But when im not park skiing i rock bigger poles for sure. Only reasons park poles are small are to not injure yourself with em and so they dont get in the way when rotating. Also, way more stylish.

Do what u want doe wtf why u even make this thread who gives a fuck what they think, you think i care that gaper moms find me clown looking when im in my xxxlt hoodie? Nah
Dec 26 2015 8:35AM
11 1
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
CaseyYour GF's family is giving you shit because its your GF's family.

I used to rock no poles religiously and my poles were always super short like you, but as my needs and style changed I now like long (normal) poles to get around better. I wouldn't make fun of you for having short poles I would just know that it means you're not skiing as good of lines as me.


I still traverse all the places they do and I do it faster too. And it's not just them giving me crap, it's all gapers.

McLSK dont wanna hate here but...pole planting is actually pretty essential when you're ski8ng piste well, and for moguls. Sure you dont have to but its better. I know i sound like a gaper dad, but i actually use 90cm poles (im 183cm, so pretty much as small as it gets without being useless). But when im not park skiing i rock bigger poles for sure. Only reasons park poles are small are to not injure yourself with em and so they dont get in the way when rotating. Also, way more stylish.

Do what u want doe wtf why u even make this thread who gives a fuck what they think, you think i care that gaper moms find me clown looking when im in my xxxlt hoodie? Nah


Yeah I agree that pole planting is good on moguls, but mogul skiers do use slightly smaller poles.
Dec 26 2015 10:18AM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
VinnieFIf you were in front and going Mach potato, how did he manage to cut you off?


He is a lot bit bigger than me, and he didn't fly by me, he wiggled his way up to my tails and next thing I know our bindings are parallel, then he starts worming his way right into me and next thing I know my face is in the ground. it was a real crappy situation. I've made a way to fix my snapped ski and I'm gonna test it out, and if it works I'll make a thread. #frankenski
Dec 26 2015 10:28AM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 3,909
You sound like the gaper

Short poles are useless for any type of real skiing
Dec 26 2015 10:37AM
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
SkiBum.You sound like the gaper

Short poles are useless for any type of real skiing


Well that sounds pretty judgemental. I use relatively normal poles (maybe a little short) and usually leave them behind if I'm skiing park. That said, what the fuck is "real skiing"? If Candide started using short poles the same way he uses regular sized ones, would they be useless? It depends on your style of skiing and what you're doing. Don't act like gapers with longass poles are somehow making better use of them than someone who can actually ski.
Dec 26 2015 11:13AM
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profa_212
Posts: 8901 - Karma: 35,884
shin-bangHe is a lot bit bigger than me, and he didn't fly by me, he wiggled his way up to my tails and next thing I know our bindings are parallel, then he starts worming his way right into me and next thing I know my face is in the ground. it was a real crappy situation. I've made a way to fix my snapped ski and I'm gonna test it out, and if it works I'll make a thread. #frankenski


Fuck that if it was really his fault I would make him buy me a new pair. If he doesn't tell him the rules and it is 100% her fault
Dec 26 2015 11:19AM
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The.Fish
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 4,988
Why don't you just stand up for your opinion? If they ask why your poles are short, just say that you like them short. If they make fun of you then you should laugh at their ignorance. If you can't stand them then just don't ski with them.
Dec 26 2015 11:50AM
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ggfski42
Posts: 651 - Karma: 700
Who cares what other people think. Just Do you man, its called freeskiing for a reason. I am 6'1 and ski with pretty long poles outside the park. My friends give me shit for them all the time. But i could honestly care less because i rip twice as hard as them, using both my poles and edges.
Dec 26 2015 11:58AM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
The.FishWhy don't you just stand up for your opinion? If they ask why your poles are short, just say that you like them short. If they make fun of you then you should laugh at their ignorance. If you can't stand them then just don't ski with them.


Yeah that's what I've been doing I just find it odd how they question everything I do when they really know nothing about gear and they obviously aren't better skiers than me (not trying to have an ego, I'm far from the best skier on the mountain)
Dec 26 2015 12:17PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8901 - Karma: 35,884
.lenconYeah that's what I've been doing I just find it odd how they question everything I do when they really know nothing about gear and they obviously aren't better skiers than me (not trying to have an ego, I'm far from the best skier on the mountain)


Because you are fucking their daughter.
Dec 26 2015 12:23PM
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3mania
Posts: 2613 - Karma: 10,361
Bend your knees, get in the front of your boots, put your hand in front. How far is it from your hand to the tips of your skis? Probably about 40-42 inches. That's how long your poles should be. Also pole plants should be made with your wrists, not your shoulders, if you have to move your upper body to make pole plants you are doing it wrong.
Dec 26 2015 12:34PM
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The.Fish
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 4,988
I get that you work for panda poles but you could always telescoping poles if it really gets that bad.
Dec 26 2015 1:15PM
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Nikolaus
Posts: 863 - Karma: 995
i find that all poles just get in the way
Dec 26 2015 1:21PM
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arnie_grape
Posts: 3451 - Karma: 11,683
.lencongaper: "you don't even use your poles when you turn you're supposed to pole plant to turn"


if this is true you're probably not as sick as you think you are
Dec 26 2015 1:26PM
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addie.
Posts: 350 - Karma: 1,430
Sometimes short poles aren't really functional outside the park but I find spinning on jumps so hard either without poles or with poles that fit, so they're kinda necessary if you're gonna be doing that kind of stuff




physics.
Dec 26 2015 1:29PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,093
You will always get ridiculed for having short poles. I grew up in Montana and moved to utah for school. My style of skiing and outerwear, etc all changed cause I joined the park scene in Utah in 2007. If go home for break with my new gear and I would get hounded by my friends for being 'too steezy' or whatever and these guys aren't gapers, just different style of skiers (big mnt etc) and now 8 years later if I show up to visit, my gear has matured but they'll still make fun of my poles haha. Just how it goes man
Dec 26 2015 2:08PM
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SammyDubz
Posts: 2168 - Karma: 7,222
why do you care so much? seriously. fuck what other people think of you
Dec 26 2015 3:22PM
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THEE_wizard
Posts: 304 - Karma: 1,842
You can only really use your poles to turn when you're going slow. I know the only reason I have mine is to get around and not slide into people in lift lines. No clue what size they are but I just look at kids poles and pick what feels good.
Dec 26 2015 3:46PM
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roach1324
Posts: 215 - Karma: 331
man you and shin bang are either retarted or the most brilliant trolls(s) on newschoolers right now...

its actually insane how well you manage to piss off the "i cant ski park that good but i raced u12 and sucked so i'm gonna tell everyone to learn good form type of guy" who tend to have bioners for this site
Dec 26 2015 3:52PM
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FastSpeed
Posts: 646 - Karma: 644
shin-bangok and what really pisses me off is one of the gapers dads totally cut me off going mach 9, like as fast as ive been cooking all year and he cuts me off and clips me, i tomahawk, snap my ski entirely in half, almost decapitating bfish. then, he says it was my fault for "screwing around" i was in front, i have the right of freaking way

/rant

this is my life in one sentence, take today for example. I was skiing fast, not super fast, but the main trail I was on was icey af. Anyway the trail was bent to the right and I was trying to time my pass on some snowboarder when he suddenly changes his turning pattern and cuts me off. Well when it's thats icey cha boi is not quite as agile as he usually is and I almost kil the boy and I have ended of falling and sliding off the trail. Well fuck you snowboarder kid, fuck you
Dec 26 2015 5:13PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
Im 6'2'' and use 46'' or 48'' poles. Anything shorter and its like why the fuck and I even holding these. Plus when traversing outta the bc/sc I dont want to be hunched over attempting to keep up with the group.

next times either tell em to fuck off or throw a gaper insult back to him.
Dec 26 2015 5:15PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
Profahoben_212Because you are fucking their daughter.


I figured it out...







haha but thanks guys. Just got home from skiing and they weren't near as bad today. I think now that they ski with me and realize I do everything they do just as well if not better they finally have some respect.
Dec 26 2015 6:30PM
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Lbird
Posts: 401 - Karma: 2,190
Shoey-SkiHaha I'm 5'11" and have 32in poles my brother calls them baby sticks


Yeah my poles are just barely long enough to reach the ground and my dad calls them t-rex poles
Dec 26 2015 8:13PM
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
LbirdYeah my poles are just barely long enough to reach the ground and my dad calls them t-rex poles


Dec 26 2015 8:25PM
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grilled_steeze
Posts: 422 - Karma: 1,448
im 5'8" and i plant a 125cm swix medieval 5.2 (Traditional sizing). I use poles 50/50, depends on the day and what im skiing. cruiser runs, teaching (still stuck on the grom hill) and fuckin around in the park i go no poles, but trees, steeps, and east coast shit days i use poles.
Dec 26 2015 9:23PM
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notJacobJohnson
Posts: 105 - Karma: 344
.lenconits not really her, but more of her family.


also if i should go on another rant they don't really get the concept of durable skis..


Please continue. I'm sure we'd all love to hear.




P.S. No sarcasm intended.
Dec 26 2015 10:37PM
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