newtoallthis 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Exciting things, so deserve another question. You know the small round thing at the bottom of the pole. (Does it have a name?) Some are really small, some are really big. What difference does the size (and design) of that make if anything other than it just looks different? Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Its called a basket. Its larger when using snow shoes to give you more resistance to move forward. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 we established on another thread earlier this year (or was it late last year?) that the poles are actually called poof sticks. As to what the "baskets" mean for resistance, well I'll leave that for someone else to answer... Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Also another advantage of the basket and spike at the end is when you fall you have something to impale yourself upon ready. Link to post Share on other sites
newtoallthis 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Author Share Posted February 5, 2007 Thanks YellowSnow. A basket, I did not know that. So for a beginner skier buying poles (or whatever you want to call them), any recommendations or --- just what looks nice Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 well since they are purely "ornamental" and have no real use (as demonstrated by the skiiers in the half pipes and on the jumps) just go for something that makes you feel and look nice. Link to post Share on other sites
eskimobasecamp 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 big baskets are powder baskets, very useful for hiking up or out Link to post Share on other sites
number9 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 They can be useful when not skiing down courses though. Like getting extra leverage when skating past boarders on flat connecting trails, blocking branches in your face when doing tree runs, etc. The rule of thumb was something like less than 2/3 your height, but may depend on use.. Link to post Share on other sites
eskimobasecamp 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 ha yes ok just buy the ones that look nice, yes good idea. spud would love this... i'm off to TGR forums. l8r sk8rs Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Buy a snowboard or snowblades instead. Or you could use a Unipole. Joking aside, when I was a beginner skier I tore my thumb from its socket, I have fallen so many times and wrecked rental poles I have to hide it when giving them back to the shop. For a beginner I would say learn to ski without poles, if there is a need for them i.e. racing then shell out 2 man for a carbon fiber pair. Many ski schools with have you holding them with both hands outstretched to learning how to shift your weight to turn. Link to post Share on other sites
newtoallthis 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Author Share Posted February 5, 2007 A hot topic I see thanks for the feedback and fun Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 a unipole? What's that? Like a skiers equivalent of a monobrow? Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Just checked wikipedia, it seems they evolved from walking sticks. Who here needs two walking sticks to make a 90degree turn while walking down the street. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 who here needs one walking stick to make a 90 degree turn while walking down the street?? Skiers are Geriatrics are they? Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Read wikipedia for a good laugh about what a skipole is. No skiing is pretty cool especially extreme skiing. I only took up snowboarding this year, and last year I was on snowblades. But if I was going back to skiing I wouldn't carry them. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Last year a friend and I made a documentary on the effects of "alcohol on one's ability to ski". We'll have to make another film this year. Perhaps a short public service announcement from the "International Society for the Preservation of Ski Poles". Ski poles kick ass. So many uses... Functional and fasionable... On or off the slopes... Seriously. Link to post Share on other sites
quattro 1 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 unipole = lurk. lurk a single pole about 6 feet long. They were used before the dawn of time. Real old school. Great for whipping borders from a distance Link to post Share on other sites
snobee 0 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Poles apart, Poles apart. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 quick search on unipole and lurk didn't yeild any resutls --at least none with pics. Sounds very 'goth'. Link to post Share on other sites
SirJibAlot 0 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 after a long day on the slopes, the ski poles can also be used to roast marshmellows over an open fire....the number of uses is countless Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Poles scare me. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Me too. But only when they are 6'10" and very drunk... Link to post Share on other sites
quattro 1 Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 ger http://www.ehow.com/how_14603_lurk-telemark-skiing.html how to use a lurk. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Cheers quattro. I found this too. Gotta love those crazy New Englanders. Link to post Share on other sites
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