 Poster: A snowHead
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At first blush  this would seem a topic for the Equipment forum.
The primary evidence gathering thus far, however, revolves around watching ski movies so I thought I'd put it here.
Some time ago I had the thought that sizing your ski poles just a bit longer (4cm say) than advised by shop clerks would positively contribute to keeping the upper body still in powder snow. This seemed to be borne out when I tried monoskiing, so I somehow wound up with an extra pair of long poles with big baskets on them. 
Now, looking around on the hill, I was wondering why no one else was doing this? One specific (monoski) occasion involved a total whiteout at the top of Snowbasin, and, by dragging the inside pole along the snow, I was able to fairly sense the snow/air boundary and thus carve without panicking.
So, I thought I'd look at ski films to see what the -really- good skiers were doing. I -think- I see exactly what I speak of.
For example, in the Chamonix segment of Warren Miller's *IMPACT*, Hillary O'Neill's poles appear significantly longer than normal shop sizing. ?
She is not skiing on powder in that segment.
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Could this also be applicable to skiing in super steep (50-60 degree terrain)?
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Could this be a visual artifact of filming of skiing on super steep terrain (the skier is so far back from the ski tips that the poles, by comparison, seem longer?)
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Could we therefore be able to estimate the steepness of filmed terrain (notoriously difficult otherwise), by looking at this phenomenon?
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What do you think?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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comprex, my understanding was that poles too long would make you too upright and more likely to lean back (like here), while the correct Skier's Stoop was encouraged by poles at elbow height (like here).
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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comprex, The thing to do is buy a pair of adjustable touring poles, then you can find the best length for a particular set of skiing conditions.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I ski a lot of steep and deep and you cannot do pole plants on steeper slopes (unless you actually bend down a bit to do it) unless your poles are a bit longer than standard (Mine are an inch or so more, perhaps 4cm, as you say). I don't find them any problem on gentler slopes, and steep slopes are when I most want to pole plant.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| snowball wrote: |
| I ski a lot of steep and deep and you cannot do pole plants on steeper slopes (unless you actually bend down a bit to do it) unless your poles are a bit longer than standard (Mine are an inch or so more, perhaps 4cm, as you say). I don't find them any problem on gentler slopes, and steep slopes are when I most want to pole plant. |
I have no doubt whatsoever that you are a better skier than I - but I would like to sort this one out.
Certainly I have to stoop when I pole plant in steep ground - but I have tended to think this good. Leaning down the slope for a good pole plant almost forces me into good transition, which I might otherwise tend to be too timid to initiate. I guess I am asking whether it might not be a good thing to have to do this, and hence stick with my normal length poles?
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Nick Zotov, It is advisable to have longer than normal poles for steep ski-ing. It's often not practical to stoop sufficiently to plant your pole on really steep slopes as you would start to fall!pistemeister, has a good suggestion if you're going to do lots of different types of ski-ing, but I would recommend 2 pairs (poles are not that expensive after all), with the off piste/steep pair having larger baskets as well. I use Scott racers and find them a major pain off piste, pushing is useless too.
From the point of view of regular ski-ing, if your poles are too long then you will be too upright (read far back). Ideally, for balance and biomechanics you should have your centre of mass over the middle of your feet and your centre of gravity over your toes/balls of feet. If your shoulders are further back then you may start to stand on your heels instead of the balls of your feet, and thus get aching thigh muscles.
On very step terrain (especially in deep snow) the impression is that the skier is further back, and this is because the tips of the skis are not actually travelling down the line of the slope, but are "floating" in the snow. The skier may very well be in a good position in relation to his skis, but appear to be leaning back in relation to the pitch.
I'm sure this is as clear as mud! 
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| easiski wrote: |
| centre of mass over the middle of your feet and your centre of gravity over your toes/balls of feet. |
Centre of mass/gravity are the same thing to physicists. I know you must be making a good point, but I'm not sure what it is at the moment! (Understood the main points, particularly the aching thighs, from which I'm a chronic sufferer for the reason you mention!)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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"Longer poles for inclement weather", The other advantage of adjustable poles is, when everybody in the office has hung their brolley on the office hat stand, you can whip your (suitably shortened) poles, out of your pocket hook them on the stand, and gain valuable office/street/slope cred!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Nick Zotov, Loosening up the top buckle on your boots might help you out a bit. with the deep-pow aches.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I always keep my top buckle on its loosest setting: gives me more flexibility and spring.
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Hmm, I'm learning more and more. Normally have had my higher buckles moderately tight.
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