when do kids use poles?

A snowHead

My little one is asking to use sticks like Mummy and Daddy. He's been skiing only once and is nearly 4 - not sure it's really time to introduce poles into the mix is it?!?

A snowHead

adance, Probably not yet. My 6 year old will be 7 when he next skis and has done 30 days full ski school plus kindergarten stuff before that. He will get to use poles this season.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

What level has he got to?

Once they have mastered controlled snowplough turns on easy terrain, then I'd start them taking poles. They clearly aren't going to be doing pole-plants at this stage, but poles are useful for so many other things, so get used to carrying them sooner rather than later. You can always leave them by the side of the run for a pole-less ski.

The above applies to adults as well as kids!

#1 son started was perfectly happy taking poles at three and half: http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo?photo_id=78045753&album_id=24872733

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He's mastered snowplough and turns quite well - managing to stop too which is a bonus!!! Maybe I'll look at it for the next holiday - see how it goes.

thanks

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adance, I'd agreestoatsbrother that it would be best for him to wait a while. However, if he's very keen to be a "grown up" skier I wouldn't want to spoil his enthusiasm. How about telling him that once he's learnt to carry his skis himself, he can add poles too? If he's already carrying his own skis, and is so keen, go for it!

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Our ski instructor friend tells us they are allowed to use poles when they stop using them to beat each other up in lessons

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genepi, but that happens in adult classes Laughing

After all it is free

My daughter used poles in February for the first time full time - she was 8 and was on her 4th yearly skiing trip and 4th week of 1/2 day ski school - she also had them a couple of days the previous year. My youngest who was 5 and on 2 full year of ski school (and one abortive week when he was 3 yrs) tried poles for the last few days this year, but got into a right pickle with them on the button lift at MK this year Embarassed

apologies if any snowheads were there that day. He got on much better when I took them away from him. His sister was fine and is a full time carrier, if not user of poles (a bit like me Embarassed

, but they are useful for rescuing kids from steep slopes. Laughing

)

sort of similar to the previous posters but I found poles to be a bit competitive. My youngest is 5 but in classes with a few years older than him and he was the only one without poles. He really wanted to be the same as the others but once he had them found them difficult to hold on the lifts etc. I would recommend not using poles until they have mittens or gloves which fit quite well so they can grip the poles properly when needed.

That said part ofthe deal to have poles as that would no longer need to push him along onthe flat bits so not all bad then.

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My younger brother has just turned 8, been skiing since he was about 3, and only started using poles towards the end of last season. He kept saying he wanted them because everybody else did, but we found they actually just complicated matters and he was a far better skiier without them, as it allowed him to focus a lot more on what his skis were doing, rather than trying to force himself to use poles for turns etc. In fact, he only really started using poles at all when we started taking him in little bits of off-piste!

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Actually they took on the safety message pretty well. It was more a case of banging swords together at foot level whilst waiting to take to the piste. Stopping the fifteen year old girls from smoking weed in the changing rooms was another matter altogether hehehe

Scarpa, if you can't beat them... Laughing

You know it makes sense.

poles at this age actually used for poling- that is pushing along in flat/uphill bits. If no poles then instructor has to push the little darlings-

so if junior is getting out and about on the mountain- s/he needs poles.....

or a very kind father/instuctor....(not me then)

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

edsilva, I must admit that even given my youngests ineptitude with poles on the lift I will still let him try with them on holiday next Feb purely because it does help them get up the slight inclines that seem endemic in most places. The eldest has been far more independant since having poles. I favour the self approach myself - if they want to ski then they carry their own skis to the slope and if I can get poles in their hands then they get themselves up inclines unless I am feeling incredibly benevolant or I know they are tired. My own skis weigh enough to carry without having to carry theirs too, and I still find negotiating uphill sections myself awkward enough let along trying to shift them as well unless I take my skis off and stack them somewhere until the kids are on the level.

A snowHead

Best thing about letting them have poles - they can push themselves along on the flat Toofy Grin

Ended up completely sh@gged pulling my twin boys along before they had poles

A snowHead

Our kids were desperate to have poles. I think they got them on their 3rd ski hol when they were 7, possibly 8, by which time they were skiing pretty much any marked run. Fortunately there was only one bit of poling needed at Sunshine, where we skied at that time, but as Boris suggests that's enough; my arms were so stretched that I could undo my ski boots without bending over.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Does everyone feel that their little ones should be carrying their own skis Puzzled

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When in Poland

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adance, I think your kid is far too young to be carrying poles. However they all want them. It's easy to disabuse them... make them put on the wrist straps properly and take them off properly every lift you come to - they soon decide the sticks are not worth the effort! They should carry their skis, and of course carrying the sticks too is just too hard. I carried my own skis since I was 3 - never did me any harm! Basically no-one should have poles until they can ski without waving their arms around .. so with kids this is later than with adults. Also they will learn to skate on the flats which is a good skill to have, will get better independent balance - I coud go on, but I won't. Good luck, and be firm. Very Happy

Help!!

when do kids use poles?

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