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April, 2025

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20 year old learning with or without poles?

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muffMan.
Posts: 2891 - Karma: 27,580
My gf is learning to ski at 20 years old. She isn’t a total newbie, she skied a bit but chose boarding as a kid, and figure skated for quite a bit too.

should she get some poles and learn with those? Or try without them and see if she will be good
4 years ago
5 0
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dant02
Posts: 254 - Karma: 2,346
Poles for sure. Gonna help her to be a better skier. Besides, she probably doesn’t want to become a park rat but anything is possible
4 years ago
9 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8084 - Karma: 64,390
I’d say no poles if she’s just learning to get down the bunny hill but once she can pizza and starting to French fry start with the poles. They can help initiate turns and build good habits, only downside is they can also build bad habits
4 years ago
8 5
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r00kie
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 59,591
Give her poles to help move around at the bottom and get on the carpet and stuff. Going without there can be really frustrating for a first timer which will hurt the actual learning/skiing. Have hold them parallel to ground like a lunch tray while actually working on ski stuff. 3 years of instructing here if you want some credibility.
4 years ago
13 0
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nmwninjart
Posts: 3090 - Karma: 15,857
I learned as an adult and did my whole first year of skiing with poles. ( I ditched them when I started going into the park, but still use them on occasion when not in the park) I remember they felt like an awkward extra set of gear to fumble with but They were certainly helpful with the getting around on the flat areas, lift lines, and learning turns.
4 years ago
4 0
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7387 - Karma: 78,997
Poles 100%. If not for anything but to lean against when standing. The forward lean in skiboots isn't comfy for newbies.
4 years ago
3 0
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MastePoleWhacker
Posts: 608 - Karma: 5,460
poles definitely help build good form by planting them, plus new skiers arent able to skate so they really need them to get around flat spots
4 years ago
2 2
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r00kie
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 59,591
MastePoleWhackerpoles definitely help build good form by planting them, plus new skiers arent able to skate so they really need them to get around flat spots

Poles don't do squat until a skier us getting parallel before the appex of a turn. If you're lucky a kid will get there on the first day but its very rare for an adult to progress that fast. No sense in adding in poles onto of what can already feel overwhelming to a first timer when they don't even do anything. Just keep them in hand for moving around in line.
4 years ago
2 1
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,213
POLES. Skiing without poles is a niche thing for people who either want to look dumb or want to not fall on them and hurt themselves. She will be like a fish out of water trying to move through lift lines and shit without poles and also you can’t *actually* ski properly without poles. It’s an essential part of skiing unless you are just lapping park.
4 years ago
10 0
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muffMan.
Posts: 2891 - Karma: 27,580
Sick thank you guys, gonna surprise her with some tmr
4 years ago
3 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8084 - Karma: 64,390
Coleg55Sick thank you guys, gonna surprise her with some tmr


Are you teaching her to ski?
4 years ago
0 1
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muffMan.
Posts: 2891 - Karma: 27,580
Nah probably like a half day and see how she does. Then I’ll just cruise greens and easy stuff. Practice switch
WoFlowzAre you teaching her to ski?
4 years ago
3 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8084 - Karma: 64,390
Coleg55Nah probably like a half day and see how she does. Then I’ll just cruise greens and easy stuff. Practice switch


Ahh ok that’ll keep your relationship together
4 years ago
3 0
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skierman
Posts: 8597 - Karma: 9,467
dant02Poles for sure. Gonna help her to be a better skier. Besides, she probably doesn’t want to become a park rat but anything is possible


Oh look, another jackass gaper thinking poles make you a better skier!


If Andy Mahre and Pep Fujas have taught us anything, its that poles don't fucking matter. Anyone saying otherwise are either shitty skiers, mogul skiers, baby boomers or Tom Wallisch after finishing 12th in the US Open for skiing without poles.


You'll notice a trend... All the assholes who say you need poles to ski cannot provide ONE fucking reason why poles are necessary for skiing. Its because they're not.
4 years ago
1 3
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dant02
Posts: 254 - Karma: 2,346
skiermanOh look, another jackass gaper thinking poles make you a better skier!


If Andy Mahre and Pep Fujas have taught us anything, its that poles don't fucking matter. Anyone saying otherwise are either shitty skiers, mogul skiers, baby boomers or Tom Wallisch after finishing 12th in the US Open for skiing without poles.


You'll notice a trend... All the assholes who say you need poles to ski cannot provide ONE fucking reason why poles are necessary for skiing. Its because they're not.

*watches idea once*


Bruh this is such a shitty argument. U think that Mahre or Fujas got to where they are by never picking up poles? No you fucking idiot. Name one non-park skier who consistently skis without poles.

Ah yes skierman. You know more than everyone. This also proves that you are a shit skier. Anyone with half a brain cell or any skiing competence would agree that anyone who prefers to ski outside the park benefits from skiing with poles. Why do you think park skiers are literally the only skiers who ski without poles on a regular basis?

You can only ski competently without poles once you learn how to fucking ski the right way. Poles help with Balance and timing, two of the most important things to skiing. also, poles do help beginners move around the flats. Good luck trying to get a beginner to move forwards in a lift line on the slightest uphill angle without poles.

poles aren’t necessary but they sure help.
4 years ago
4 0
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skierman
Posts: 8597 - Karma: 9,467
dant02*watches idea once*


Bruh this is such a shitty argument. U think that Mahre or Fujas got to where they are by never picking up poles? No you fucking idiot. Name one non-park skier who consistently skis without poles.

Ah yes skierman. You know more than everyone. This also proves that you are a shit skier. Anyone with half a brain cell or any skiing competence would agree that anyone who prefers to ski outside the park benefits from skiing with poles. Why do you think park skiers are literally the only skiers who ski without poles on a regular basis?

You can only ski competently without poles once you learn how to fucking ski the right way. Poles help with Balance and timing, two of the most important things to skiing. also, poles do help beginners move around the flats. Good luck trying to get a beginner to move forwards in a lift line on the slightest uphill angle without poles.

poles aren’t necessary but they sure help.


"You'll notice a trend... All the assholes who say you need poles to ski cannot provide ONE fucking reason why poles are necessary for skiing. Its because they're not."


Thanks for proving my point, simpleton.
4 years ago
1 1
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,552
No poles
4 years ago
1 0
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CT_CREW
Posts: 672 - Karma: 3,532
skiermanOh look, another jackass gaper thinking poles make you a better skier!


If Andy Mahre and Pep Fujas have taught us anything, its that poles don't fucking matter. Anyone saying otherwise are either shitty skiers, mogul skiers, baby boomers or Tom Wallisch after finishing 12th in the US Open for skiing without poles.


You'll notice a trend... All the assholes who say you need poles to ski cannot provide ONE fucking reason why poles are necessary for skiing. Its because they're not.


OP is not asking if poles are "necessary" for skiing, he is asking if it would be better for his friend to try and learn with or without....


If you really think about it, eye protection, hard boots, releasable bindings, edges, and most other things are not necessary for skiing...

I recommend she tries this.....Maybe Skierman will allow the use of one pole.



4 years ago
3 0
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