While most students in HWS will not have poles, and I recommend no poles until We start learning parallel turns it is good to know how poles should be used.
Pole action promotes the proper timing and rhythm of turns, with the mechanics involving two components: the pole swing and the contact of the pole’s tip with the snow, which can be a pole touch or pole plant. Pole swing helps direct the upper body into the next turn. Pole touch (as opposed to pole plant) denotes light contact with the tip of the pole on the snow. The pole plant is a harder, more deliberate snow contact used to stabilized the upper body, manage momentum, and control rotation. Pole action varies, based on the intended outcome, turn type, speed, terrain, and conditions. To better understand pole action consider it in relation to skiing’s primary skills.
Pole Use and Pressure Control
In skiing that flows smoothly from one turn to the next, the pole swing and touch play key roles, complementing body movements to control pressure. Consider round, medium-radius turns. A skier needs to move his or her center of mass forward at the end of one turn to send pressure to the front of the skis and engage the tips early in the next turn. At the same time, he or she needs to move laterally, down the hill, to tip the skis on edge. To balance these requirements, a correctly directed pole swing helps move the body diagonally down the hill, toward the midpoint of the upcoming arc. In doing so, the skier maintains pressure toward the front of the skis. In instances where the CM is well behind the feet at turn finish, a skier may even swing both poles. The forward movement helps propel the CM ahead to regain balance and advance pressure along the length of the ski. In steeps, bumps, hop turns, and other turns where the skier may experience spikes in pressure at the end of turns, the pole plant is of primary importance. In these turns, the skier briefly plants the pole in the snow for stabilization, anchoring the old turn. This is particularly effective when the skier wants to decelerate the skis abruptly or the terrain forces such deceleration. Although the skier had the CM over the feet to begin with, the quick deceleration often results in the CM traveling well forward of the feet as the skier’s body continues to stay in motion. A pole plant slows the forward travel of the body, keeping pressure from moving too far forward on the skis.
Pole Use and Edge Control
In the transition between turns, skiers must accurately balance lateral with forward movements. This creates the right amount of edge to manage lateral forces with appropriate pressure on the front of the ski. Using a pole swing to direct the movement of the CM helps promote this fine balance. A common habit is for a skier to direct the swing along the path of the old arc (i.e., alongside the downhill ski). The skier’s CM follows this same path and, as a result, delays tipping the skis on edge for the new turn. Conversely, the skier may direct the swing too much down the hill toward the fall line. This can commit him or her to higher edge angles than are appropiate for the start of the turn. Instead, pole swing should be directed toward the apex of the upcoming turn. At turn finish, a strong pole plant is needed at times when a high edge angle is crucial for the ski to grip the snow and slow down. Without the aid of a pole plant, the upper body is more apt to continue down the hill, reducing edge angle. This deliberate pole plant helps slow the lateral movement of the CM over the feet, keeping the edge angle high enough to check to speed of descent.
Pole Use and Rotational Control
Improper arm action to swing the pole or the wrong location of the touch or plant causes unwanted rotation that starts from the upper body. A pole plant used to stop or control upper-body rotation is call a blocking pole plant. It’s used in short-radius turns to halt rotational movements of the upper body when anticipating a quick direction change. This abrupt plant slows the outside half of the body so that only the legs are turned. The blocking pole plant is often used where quick direction changes are needed, such as when skiing steeps and bumps. In these turns, leg rotation is the primary turning force. Active turning of the legs can be quick and powerful because the blocking pole plant lends stability and strength to the upper body.