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June, 2024

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20 year old learning with or without poles?

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muffMan.
Posts: 2616 - Karma: 24,645
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
Jul 26 2021 9:53PM
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dant02
Posts: 250 - Karma: 2,333
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
Jul 26 2021 10:08PM
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WoFlowz
Posts: 7781 - Karma: 63,848
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
Jul 26 2021 10:13PM
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r00kie
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 59,559
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.
Jul 26 2021 10:36PM
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nmwninjart
Posts: 2944 - Karma: 14,621
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.
Jul 26 2021 10:44PM
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ASSholebomber22
Posts: 6594 - Karma: 69,728
Poles 100%. If not for anything but to lean against when standing. The forward lean in skiboots isn't comfy for newbies.
Jul 26 2021 10:56PM
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MastePoleWhacker
Posts: 600 - Karma: 5,405
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
Jul 26 2021 11:29PM
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r00kie
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 59,559
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.
Jul 26 2021 11:36PM
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,211
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.
Jul 26 2021 11:36PM
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muffMan.
Posts: 2616 - Karma: 24,645
Sick thank you guys, gonna surprise her with some tmr
Jul 26 2021 11:55PM
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WoFlowz
Posts: 7781 - Karma: 63,848
Coleg55Sick thank you guys, gonna surprise her with some tmr


Are you teaching her to ski?
Jul 27 2021 9:03AM
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muffMan.
Posts: 2616 - Karma: 24,645
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?
Jul 27 2021 9:12AM
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WoFlowz
Posts: 7781 - Karma: 63,848
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
Jul 27 2021 9:22AM
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skierman
Posts: 8211 - Karma: 6,589
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.
Jul 27 2021 2:43PM
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dant02
Posts: 250 - Karma: 2,333
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.
Jul 27 2021 3:55PM
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skierman
Posts: 8211 - Karma: 6,589
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.
Jul 27 2021 5:02PM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2095 - Karma: 10,529
No poles
Jul 27 2021 6:01PM
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CT_CREW
Posts: 658 - Karma: 3,439
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.



Jul 28 2021 9:29AM
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