Pole position (excuse the pun)

Thanks for the advice pavel, I spent the last trip (between enjoying myself of course) on making sure I face down the mountain. No sooner had I ticked that off the list, then I have been given another problem to work on. That exercise with the open hand sounds just the ticket for me. I'm away to austria in a few weeks so I will make sure and focus on keeping a still upper body and keep those hands steady. Thanks again

I hope you weren't facing down the hill all the time! You shouldn't be separating the upper body on long radius turns, for instance.

Colin L wrote:

Iceman wrote:

What is the purpose of poles apart from push you along and stopping you from falling over on a green run?  

IS that a serious question or a wind-up? If it's serious, I'll give you an answer. 

Don't mean to troll, but for me, that's always a serious question

Trencher

Poles are for stability, a strong pole plant in short radius turns helps you recentre yourself for the next turn.

As for pole position, the main movement of the pole plant come from the wrist, the arms should only move to bring the pole forward, the plant itself is totally wrist movement (or at least should be!) Keep your arms and poles forward all the time, keeps you in balance.

Thanks for the explanation bennyboy. Just a few comments...

bennyboy wrote:

Poles are for stability,  

You'll fall over without them ?

bennyboy wrote:

a strong pole plant in short radius turns helps you recentre yourself for the next turn.  

You can't do this without a pole ?

bennyboy wrote:

the arms should only move to bring the pole forward, 

So the pole is determining the arm movement, not balance, weighting and rotation ?

Pretty much comfirms my contention that in most on piste situations using modern equipment, Instructors have come up with things to do with the poles because they're there, not because they're needed.

Trencher

I call them my rhythm sticks as they greatly aid my timing.

They are also great as a feeler - testing the state of the snow infront of you.

Trencher wrote:

Colin L wrote:

Iceman wrote:

What is the purpose of poles apart from push you along and stopping you from falling over on a green run?  

IS that a serious question or a wind-up? If it's serious, I'll give you an answer. 

Don't mean to troll, but for me, that's always a serious question

Trencher 

It was a serious question. I find them good for rhythm and 'feeling safe'.

When ppl learn these days they are tiught without poles. Is this to cvoncentrate on the skiing and not the rhythm sticks (I am sure there is a song about that....hit me with your rhythm stick,,,hit me

So everyone is fixated on rythem. Skiing with rythem goes with the feet together, bum twitching, skidded turn, style that has mostly died out. Skiing now should be about flowing down the hill, using the contours of the hill, not ignoring them for some artificial timing. It's the same as my argument against poles, your body movements are being dictated by rythem and not what is most efficient or appropriate for that moment.

Trencher