Pole Plant and Touch
Shiffrin/P. Lundah/TT News Agency/Alamy
Overview
8. Plant or touch your outside pole on the snow and return to the Athletic Stance ready to start your next turn.
This description is the last of eight modules included in the Ski Technique module, describing how elite skiers and racers carve turns.
The pole plant and touch are fundamental skills in alpine skiing that enhances balance, control, and rhythm.
A good demonstration of the poling actions is provided by this video.
Video by Joshua Duncan-Smith
How to Pole Plant or Touch
‘Planting’ and ‘touching’ your pole to the snow refer to two distinct techniques, each serving different purposes and used under different circumstances on the slope.
Pole Planting is a more aggressive and deliberate action where the skier firmly drives the pole tip into the snow. It helps in quickly changing direction, particularly on steep slopes or in technical disciplines like slalom.
Pole Touch is used in Giant Slalom and Speed events. It’s a lighter, more subtle technique, involving the use of the wrist to gently tap or brush the snow with the pole’s tip. This action focuses less on stability and more on maintaining rhythm and flow through turns.
Where to Plant or Touch
When skiing longer, arced turns, aim your pole towards the front and beside of your skis.
For short turns and on steep slopes, aim to plant or touch your pole down the hill, in line with your boots, as demonstrated in the accompanying picture of Mikaela Shiffrin skiing slalom.
Image by Pontus Lundah/TT News Agency/Alamy/Graphics by ARM
When to Plant or Touch
Perform your polling action when you start releasing pressure from the outside ski.
Keep your arm in the forward position after the poling action, avoiding letting the arm drop behind your body.
No Pole Plant or Touch is Sometimes Appropriate
Sometimes, it is not necessary to plant or touch the pole to the snow. When skiing fast longer-radius turns, touching the snow with your pole could put you out of balance.
In these situations, focusing on moving your core forward while building pressure against the outside ski is more effective and safer than planting or touching your pole tip on the snow.
Ski Poles
View the Learning Module about Ski Poles and Straps for helpful information and videos.
Key Takeaways
Both pole planting and touching are essential skills in alpine skiing, with their appropriate use depending on the skier’s speed, the terrain, and the desired turn dynamics.
In different turn shapes, adjust your pole plant or touch. In short slalom turns and on steep terrain, target your pole plant downhill in line with your boots. For longer arced turns, aim further towards the front of the skis.
Suggested Learning Modules
Return to Slalom or Ski Technique
To learn how words were selected to describe ski technique, tap on Word Choice.
Important Message: Skiing and ski racing involve inherent risks. It’s essential to ski responsibly and stay within your skill level and personal comfort limits.