How long is yours?

Geof Smith asked an interesting question. Yes the pole length is determined initially based on skiers height. That is the famous 90 degree forearm position.

Then within this range skiers "adjust" the length for their needs. As mentioned some skiers wish a slightly shorter pole to have weight in front. It puts you into a more "attacking" position.

After Ellistine's message I realized that I did not know my pole length so I measured it. I then realized that I really did cut it short!!!

Sorry too ashamed to post it on net.

Geoff Smith wrote:Hi folks,

Don't our heights have something to do with appropriate pole lengths?

Geoff Smith

That's why there's the common test that ellistine mentioned. Given those classic proportions Leonardo used in the Vitruvian man drawing I think your optimum pole length is going to be 70% of height, which should place the pole length at around your centre of gravity, how does that sound? :D (just for fun)

Geoff Smith is a real Renaissance man showing us all how skiing, math and art can be related.

I think we could take skiing and have a complete course on:
math, physics, art, and of course abnormal psychology!

The world of knowledge does converge!

Did you know that the fastest time between two points on ski course is NOT a straight line. A great physics university final exam question.

cool photos ellistine

i wonder how they got all those people to look the same :?

mine are 130cm but after reading Ise's point about shorter poles to get the weight forward I may well be retreating to the garage to amend them by 5cms!!

ise wrote:

bandit wrote: I was advised recently that I should buy 120cm poles and have them cut down to around 118cm. That seems too much like hard work!
:D

which goes to show you know some strange people :D

So it would seem :lol:

The touring poles I have will now give me the chance to try out this theory, as they extend between 95cm and 145cm :D

One of the very best sites for honest, to the point evaluation on skiing is Realskier. Here is their "opinion" on the ski length issue.

"

Traditional pole sizing was determined by donning boots, inverting the pole, placing the hand grip on the ground and grasping the shaft below the ring, with forearm parallel to the ground.

Modern technical skiers use poles about 1" shorter than traditional length.

Bumps skiers, hyper-carvers or extremely fast skiers may use a pole up to two inches shorter than traditional length.

But, be careful. Lifters and high-rise bindings add about 1.5" to the stand height of the ski. Simply using plates could make the pole effectively too short. Try to measure length while simulating stand height?the distance the sole of the foot is above the ground. Any competent shop can assist in this measurement."

Hmmmm? hadn't thought about the riser plate issue. My new skis have a riser plate but the old ones didn't. Perhaps I'll hold off amending the pole length until I've tried them with the skis on then????

Thanks Pavel

I'm not sure how long my poles are but I know they are shorter than what they were. A ski instructor recommended that I shorten them to help keep my weight forward.