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May, 2025

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Ditching poles

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ModMommy
Posts: 10877 - Karma: 58,291
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
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kim_jong_ill
Posts: 1019 - Karma: 3,147
This spring I stopped using poles because I found it more fun to be able to grab off anything and it made trying new tricks easier. It's also a lot of fun to bomb runs without them...
11 years ago
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hippy.
Posts: 3106 - Karma: 14,374
Just leave the poles at home so you have to get used to the feeling! For Powder use em!
11 years ago
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SnowshoeThompson
Posts: 1095 - Karma: 1,431
I usually only use poles for hunting wild game and fighting off predators but if i'm in the park I'll go no poles because they hurt my thumbs when I fall.
11 years ago
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Volkl_One
Posts: 19 - Karma: 125
I like my poles. I have short park poles that help me maneuver the lift lines and give my hands something to do while cruising. I can see the argument for not skiing with poles in the park, but I like to ski all over the mountain. Poles help me immensely in the bumps and while charging hard lines. Skiing without poles just feels goofy to me.

11 years ago
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Z_Benesch
Posts: 2028 - Karma: 2,683
I dont know about anyone else but I am so mixed emotions about poles. Personally, I think no poles looks more steezy, but I cant get used to not using them.
11 years ago
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TheSkiingBlader
Posts: 131 - Karma: 993
Dude easiest transition ever! Your first hit or two on a feature will feel a little odd, but by the end of the day, you'll understand why so many people are going poleless nowadays.
11 years ago
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THEE_wizard
Posts: 304 - Karma: 1,842
I was at sports authority the other day looking at new poles (I'm too poor for real poles) and some random guy came up to me and says those are kidz poles and forced me to try longer pole sizes and like made me hold different poles to see what size I should have. I tried to explain I ski park and I wanted shorter poles and he just said that park and raily things are for losers. I quickly left and have not returned to that store. Well that's my pole story, carry on
11 years ago
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21108 - Karma: 8,626
andy maher is the only human that can make skiing big mountain lines without poles look good.
11 years ago
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T-Van
Posts: 388 - Karma: 2,575
For trying new shit in park i dont use them , but when casually riding i use them , they just kinda improve your style
11 years ago
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Noddard
Posts: 2662 - Karma: 3,916
ThaLoraxandy maher is the only human that can make skiing big mountain lines without poles look good.


False: Pep Fujas can also do that.
11 years ago
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snugs
Posts: 966 - Karma: 4,090
after a total of 8 thumb injuries, i still use poles. i cant shake them. ill lap park without sometimes because my buddies never use poles and they're always like ditch them its awesome! but i always come back. the pros of poles outweigh the cons. pushing for speed, lift lines, flat areas, etc. even the 4 pairs of poles a season i go thru bc of bending and breaking still doesnt convince me. no poles are definitely steezier tho but i dont care to much about that
11 years ago
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SwedishSteezeJDH
Posts: 60 - Karma: 314
I found myself only using poles in lift lines, backcountry, and in some cases, moguls, so I ditch when I'm just lapping or bombing groomers. One of my friends dad's (who's a ski instructor) told me that poleless will mess up my form, but Ima bout having fun, so idc
11 years ago
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,011
I nope about 80% of the time. If i'm ripping the tram or tight trees i'll use em but otherwise I like going full velociraptor arms
11 years ago
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21108 - Karma: 8,626
NoddardFalse: Pep Fujas can also do that.


Ok, I correct my statement. Two people.
11 years ago
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partyandBS
Posts: 5939 - Karma: 92,389
i never really have used poles myself. I feel goofy with them. I learned to ski with out them and just never picked them up. bought a pair for $20 t a rail jam once. they make my closet look a little better but thats the most i've gotten out of them.
11 years ago
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SkitheEast802
Posts: 64 - Karma: 413
Fuck ski poles they get in the way, i have ski poles but i dont use them its easy to do tricks without them
11 years ago
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-emile-
Posts: 6613 - Karma: 8,595
I broke my poles last year and I didn't bother getting new ones so I ski'd a while with no poles.

it's allright I guess , really easy to grab though.

so that's a plus
11 years ago
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Kygz.
Posts: 129 - Karma: 89
I've been running poleless for the last 4 years. Tried using them again, but they prettymuch just got in the way
11 years ago
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
I hate to be a dick here but honestly was a thread really necessary? Like couldn't you just try no poles for a day and decide on your own?
11 years ago
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veng_m
Posts: 1267 - Karma: 2,720
I skied all over the mountain without poles and thought it was okay but found poles help me balance on rails because they keep my arms up and in front of me, so I only drop them when I feel like it
11 years ago
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Logan.
Posts: 717 - Karma: 1,862
GnarbangalakazooAre there any pro's who don't use poles in Pow?


I was watching an old warren miller movie a while ago (either playground, or children of winter), and there was a guy that didn't use poles. They were in silverton, which if you didn't know is a backcountry style mountain (1 chair, choose your own way down). This pro, idk his name, decided skiing forwards was boring so he started doing everything switch, all the time, so he didn't need poles obviously.

Long story short, there is/was a pro in colorado skied pow only switch, thus didn't use poles.
11 years ago
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Z_Benesch
Posts: 2028 - Karma: 2,683
Logan.EI was watching an old warren miller movie a while ago (either playground, or children of winter), and there was a guy that didn't use poles. They were in silverton, which if you didn't know is a backcountry style mountain (1 chair, choose your own way down). This pro, idk his name, decided skiing forwards was boring so he started doing everything switch, all the time, so he didn't need poles obviously.

Long story short, there is/was a pro in colorado skied pow only switch, thus didn't use poles.


must see video
11 years ago
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DiskeRR
Posts: 37 - Karma: 50
poles all the way
11 years ago
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jca
Posts: 4180 - Karma: 6,366
I skied without poles for about 80 days a couple seasons ago due to my arm being in a sling. It was difficult at first for charging pow and lines but it really helped me learn to initiate turns from with my lower body (this is a much more powerful technique), rather than rely on a pole plant. In the end, my season in a sling definitely made me a stronger skier but I pretty much only ski with poles now unless I'm hiking a rail or fucking around.
On the other hand, you could develop some pretty shitty habits from riding without poles if you haven't already learned some solid technique.

If you're just skiing park then it really doesn't matter. Lift lines kind of suck without poles but it's a little easier to learn new grabs and handdrags.
11 years ago
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jca
Posts: 4180 - Karma: 6,366
GnarbangalakazooAre there any pro's who don't use poles in Pow?


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/681792/IDEA--Nimbus
11 years ago
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erica
Posts: 3457 - Karma: 24,099
with tow ropes I hate using poles so I got used to never riding them in the park. but once i go out west/ big mountain I'm always rocking them
11 years ago
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Logan.
Posts: 717 - Karma: 1,862
Z_Beneschmust see video


Try to find children of winter and playground, can be hard to find though... I'll try to find it tomorrow
11 years ago
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Lemuel
Posts: 14544 - Karma: 11,157
I ski probably half the time with and half without. Probably going to use them a lot more this year though.
11 years ago
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joesdapoes
Posts: 171 - Karma: 1,898
Can we just stop with the pole threads?
11 years ago
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steezewonton
Posts: 405 - Karma: 924
Ditched the poles for most of the this season and liked it so much better. like a bunch of people said before grabs are way easier and i like balancing on rails better without them
11 years ago
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mr-mcsteeze
Posts: 487 - Karma: 1,103
SFBno poles if just cruisin park.
poles everywhere else


this
11 years ago
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erica
Posts: 3457 - Karma: 24,099
YoungDaphI nope about 80% of the time. If i'm ripping the tram or tight trees i'll use em but otherwise I like going full velociraptor arms


I can just imagine you going full velociraptor arms bombing a run

...and I love it.
11 years ago
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amieastcoastyet
Posts: 172 - Karma: 173
Poles in POW
NO poles all the other time.
Be one with the ground
less stuff also to loose when I yardsale
11 years ago
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