The Most Crucial Keys to Selecting Good Skiing Poles
When you are initially learning to ski and are focused so hard on what to do with your feet, your skiing poles make seem like a bother and an annoyance. Of course, if you are going cross-country skiing, your poles play an important role in propelling you through the snow. But alpine and downhill skiers sometimes consider them needless. The truth is, as you being to ski steeper landscapes and to learn more advanced skiing skills; the choice of your poles becomes more and more crucial.
Countless people only consider skiing poles as an afterthought when they are making their equipment purchases. Usually, you’re so focused on finding boots that fit, skis of the right length, and bindings to go on the skis, that you only consider ski poles because the salesperson in the shop reminds you!
It all boils down to this: ski poles have three parts. First, there’s the grip and strap at the top where you clutch the pole. Next, there is the shaft. That is the metal tube that makes up the main component of the pole. Third and finally, there’s the basket near the base of the shaft that prevents the pole from sinking into the snow.
Selecting Your Pole Grips
The grip of the pole is the most important issue when choosing a good ski pole. After all, this is the area you will touch the most. Usually, your grip will have indentations for the fingers and wider ends to supply extra hand support. The strap is simply an adjustable loop of leather or plastic that is connected to the top . Make sure the strap is slack enough to slither your hand through while you’re sporting gloves or mittens, but snug enough so that the underside of the strap supports the base of your hand.
Note that wrist and thumb injuries are very common in skiing, and are often coupled with a skier falling and not letting go of the pole! Then you’ll find you will need to start some ski exercises at home to mend the damage!
Skiing Pole Shafts
Second in significance is the shaft of the ski pole. If you are looking for something durable and cost-effective, choose an aluminum shaft. Aluminum is a little bit heavier than some contemporary materials, but it makes for a high-quality shaft. If fact, most rental poles you find at high-priced resorts are constructed of aluminum. Some of the more contemporary materials used in shafts include graphite, graphite/carbon, and composite materials. These are much more lightweight than aluminum models, but they are more apt to break.
One other factor to take into account with ski pole shafts is the shape of the pole.
Deciding on a Basket for Your Ski Pole
Finally, as for the pole basket, this is basically a disk a few inches above the tip of the ski that keeps the pole from dropping into the snow when you stand the pole . Baskets are usually made of some kind of resilient plastic and come in a mixture of shapes and sizes depending on your skiing requirements. For example, if you’re a deep snow skier, you might pick a basket with a larger diameter.
Some of the more admired brands of ski poles are Rossignol ski poles, Swix ski poles, and Leki poles. So, as you go shopping for all your ski equipment, remember to give some thoughtful deliberation to your ski poles. Remember these 3 points: Pay heed to the feel of the grip in your hand, the composition of the pole shaft, and what kind of basket you need for the type of snow you will usually come across.
By the way, if you’re fretful about your total skiing fitness, then by all means, you should engage in some alpine skiing exercises.
About this Author: David Watson lives in Montana, where he is an ardent skier and ski coach to beginners. His desired place to ski is in Montana, with Vermont a close second!