How do you properly use your ski poles in downhill skiing?

Answer

Downhill ski poles...oh how they are often misused in skiing. The purpose of your ski poles is to help provide balance. However, you don't lean on the them or rely on them too much. Ski balance should originate from your core abdominal muscles, buttocks, and legs. How you place your shoulders while skiing makes a difference as well. You want to keep your shoulders square to the hill or in other words, facing the bottom of the hill.

You plant your ski pole as you are initiating a turn. You plant one ski pole at a time. For example, you plant your left ski pole as you are turning to the left. And vice versa - you plant your right ski pole as you are turning to the right. Do not lift your ski pole high in the air. This is a waste of time and energy. Instead quickly and smoothly plant it into the ground and remove it at the completion of your turn.

This answer is closed to changes. This is done in rare cases when questions are being vandalized or answers have become debates. Email WikiAnswers @ Answers.com if you would like it to be reopened.

First answer by JillianG. Last edit by JillianG. Contributor trust: 334 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 89 [recommend question]