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The poles debate!

March 2nd, 2007

CHARLIE: We found this video recently of Tom Wallisch a 4FRNT skis rider, in a video segment without poles. I think it just looks a lot less clumsy, and more laid-back. Check it out:

TIM: Well….this is where I’m supposed to argue the case for poles. Watch the show to see loads of examples of nausious riding with them. I think I might just show this video…..you’ll get the point!

What do you guys reckon??

Comments

  1. Richard March 2nd, 2007 at 7:37 pm

    poles rule because they r osum.. you look better with them..keep up the gd show it is osum

  2. nate bell March 2nd, 2007 at 11:54 pm

    my girlfriend skiis without poles and she looks like a fool…dont tell her i said so : P

  3. johnnyh March 5th, 2007 at 5:57 pm

    of my two sons one aged 6 skis without poles and one aged 9 skis with them - they’re also handy for attacking people.
    I think the pole plant is still part of good technique so would be daft to ski without them.
    You may as well just get a snowboard of you ditch the poles - they’re part of the ski kit!

  4. Bigmac March 6th, 2007 at 12:30 pm

    The UK has seen a big influx of poles….czhech, romanians, lithuanians and they are good for doing all the jobs we hate. So i reckon they are a good thing.

    cheers

  5. rob March 7th, 2007 at 6:54 pm

    i think skiing with out poles is silly. personally i feel weird when i dont ski with poles, it feels like im naked

  6. Greggles March 8th, 2007 at 4:29 pm

    I don’t really know why but there’s just something about skiing without poles that just looks incredibly homosexual. screw you Charlie, what do you know, you’re a snowbaorder

  7. GiaNt BeN March 8th, 2007 at 6:12 pm

    Right Snowfix 33 you talked about the Oregon scientific head cam and had a few reservations about the quality being that it has no wires etc. I am here to tell you that it is 100% incredible. I got one for Christmas and took it skiing in Austria we shot some awesome footage a few totals and the odd attempt at jumps but mostly our first tastes of off piste and progression through the week. It is excellent. We also took it ice carting…sick! I will try to work out how to add some footage if not ill email it and you techy guys can sort it out.

    Yours Giant Ben

  8. Petey March 9th, 2007 at 8:38 pm

    hmm, ive skied twice before.. i found it extrmely easy i was hitting jumps my first day, so i converted to the one plank.. more of a challenge. but whn i did ski i did like ti mroe with poles

  9. Tim March 14th, 2007 at 4:58 pm

    what is the helmet he’s wearing?

  10. Craig March 19th, 2007 at 7:01 pm

    If i had a pole on my snowboard i won’t ever need to take one foot out again! Isn’t that all they’re useful for?
    I think there’s a market for a retractable pole that fits in your pocket until you need it.

  11. Andy March 20th, 2007 at 12:30 pm

    Maybe though the park skiing without poles is acceptable, but trying skiing through the deep stuff without them, then you’d be in trouble!
    Also; I’m constantly lending my poles to boarders on the flat bits so that they can push themselves along. Darn snowboarders always slowing us skiers down ;-p

  12. James H March 21st, 2007 at 4:00 pm

    I agree with Charlie - it looks a lot more fluid without poles than with - dare I say it may even look quite vomiscious! Yes, I am a snowboarder, but I just say what I see.

    As soon as he’s got poles in that vid it looks awkward, and he doesn’t even use them for any discernable purpose. Aren’t poles left over from cross-country skiing anyway? Did someone forget to ditch the poles along the way or summat? As far as I can see the only use for poles is just to stop bearded geography teachers falling down crevasses!

    … and can is open … let the worms commence!

  13. Megan March 22nd, 2007 at 11:58 am

    i ski with poles and it looks and feels so much better with them….when i think of people with no poles i think of the learners on the nursery slopes doing snow-plough.

  14. jamie March 23rd, 2007 at 12:05 am

    i think if charlie can show us a good video of someone riding the whole mountain(CLIFFS AND DEEP POWDER) perfectly without poles, maybe ill accept the no poles side of the debate

    but being a skier, poles are the way to go

  15. Geoff March 24th, 2007 at 10:56 am

    ach you skiiers are all alike i ski as well as board and i dont really like poles i dont know why but it just bugs me and in the vid he looks 100% better without poles maybe even as cool as a snowboarder? oh and i think he’s wearing a capix helmet but im not 100% sure

  16. Charlie March 25th, 2007 at 6:09 pm

    Wait. Geoff, your saying that the guy doing grinds and shit with no poles looks better than the girl that cant ski and is screaming? I beg to differ.

  17. Charlie March 25th, 2007 at 6:10 pm

    (not charlie from show)

  18. Fred March 25th, 2007 at 6:30 pm

    Having no poles is great for beginners and in the park. However they are needed for proper technique otherwise you encourage rotation. Trust me I’m a ski instructor!

  19. Dave in Reading April 4th, 2007 at 8:14 am

    Check out Andy and Pep in Park City, riding with hands in pockets!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uef31X3QGSQ

  20. Kenner May 8th, 2008 at 2:02 am

    I’m damn sure it’s a k2 rant, i think he probably painted it brown

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