When I told the Rental guy that I was a beginner skier, he didn't give me poles?

Question

I would imagine a beginner would need the poles more than a pro no? I mean the poles can help you balance and you can get up easier when you fall with the poles right?

Answer 1

I've been teaching for 40+ years and I prefer my beginners to ski without poles. It forces them to use their feet. Too many beginners will try to hold on to something without thinking. The poles give a false sense of security, and they will hold their hands in the wrong position.

Answer 2

No, poles aren't a good idea for beginners.   you need to learn to rely on your skills rather than poles.  "Pros" use skis for their high-level skiing and racing.

I, as an instructor, do not suggest poles for beginners.  Rental people usually don't give them to first-timers either.

Answer 3

to add to what Jim W said:

The basic skills of skiing begin with foot control, learning to ski using nothing but your feet is the most efficient way to learn the basic skills needed. Poles have many uses, but a major use is confidence. Poles provide beginners with a false sense of confidence because they do not have the basic skills. A more experienced skier already has the basic foot skills, the poles merely help the skier make that drop into the cliff. Having something to hold on to makes a person a lot more mentally clear to overcome any doubts. They do also provide balance, but that is negligible while learning because if you're on the edge of falling, you will probably fall whether or not you have poles.

Answer 4

When you rent, you have the right to get poles if you want them. However, they're are some methods of ski instruction that start their skiers without using poles & there's good reason for this. Most often, very young skiers are taught without poles & the reason for this so learn to gain balance just using their body. When they learn this way, they improve very quickly. It can also help quite a bit learning to turn since you have to use your body weight & not your poles. Poles can help you balance & you can use them to guide yourself into a turn by planting the pole in front of the ski before you turn, i.e., if you're going to make a left turn, then you want to plant your pole right near the left tip & just outside the ski. This will lead you into a turn. Although, some experts ski a lot without poles. I would say, get poles, unless you're very young or short. One other thing to do if you're a beginner is to get your skiis a little shorter than normal, keep them no higher than your chin or a little bit shorter. A shorter ski ski is easier to turn on & they're also slower so you stay under control.  This is more important than the poles since it's the skis you have to control when downhilling & make sure you're boots fit comfortably or your feet will be sore very quickly & you ski very long. Go to the lodge & take some breaks during the day. Good Luck & I'm sure you'll do just fine since your asking questions. Stay on the beginner runs (green circles) for awhile.

Answer 5

Yeah, poles will be useful, but I dont think beginners really need them because that is the level where you work on stopping, wedge turning...you know the basics.