West Mountain, Wednesday Telemark Nights 2011

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I tend to run my poles a little shorter. I already have way too low a stance, but I feel the shorter poles bring me a little more forward and makes me commit better on the steeps. Last weekend, I started and ended the day at the bottom of the Hudson (chair) and so knew I would be doing more flat work then usual, I brought my adjustables (Usually I don't because of their comparative flimsiness) and it was so nice to be able to lengthen them for the skating and flat area poling. FYI, For DH use I have them set at 120-125 cm and I'm 6' tall.

Adk Jeff wrote

When I arrived, I remembered I had broken a pole (Leiki, probably 12 yrs old) over the weekend, and I grabbed my wifes' poles which are several inches shorter than mine.  Although they were too short, I liked what they did to my ski stance:  lower and a bit wider.  Got me thinking I'll ski with my adjustables this weekend, experiment with length, and perhaps settle upon replacement poles that are just a tad on the shorter end of "normal."  Anybody have experience with stepping down slightly with their pole length?

 
This is funny. My pole story is reversed. Zelda an I use the same BD poles but she runs hers longer.  I accidentally grabbed hers and found that the longer length did some good things for me.

I have been using mine ridiculously short — 105 cms when I am skiing steeps, or ice or trees — which is most of the time. Basically whenever I am intimidated. Zelda's poles are set at 110 or 115 I think.

My biggest problem is that I am always too far back, and this little bit of extra length, somehow has forced me forward. Jeff - you are 5'10" (?) ... what length are your poles and what length are Beth's?

FYI adjustable poles are the best. The BD's that I have are incredibly strong and super easy to adjust. When you have to do a little Gore shuffle on something flat, just lengthen those bad boys to maybe 135 cms and skate away.

Keith - glad you end up at the bottom of the Hudson Chair and not the River.

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I dropped about 2 or 3 inches off my Alpine pole length when I made the transition to tele skiing.  In the bc I use adjustables for the reasons burger man suggested.  

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shorter poles make sense for tele skiing  you are not as tall when making that turn.i have gone to taller poles tho forces me to ski taller less knee bend translates to more edge hold

I didn't read this thread, but I was wondering if the natural snow trails are all open at West Mt. I use to chaprone a school group there on wed. nites and the ones you could see from the chair looked fun.

None of the natural snow trails are lit, so not open at night.  Cover on the natural snow trails looks very good though, but I haven't skied there during the daylight hours this year.

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