Ski poles are an important piece of equipment and you need poles that suit your type of skiing. Poles are used to improve your balance, speed and acceleration. They have circular baskets attached near the bottoms to stop them sinking into deep snow. Straps are attached to the top ends, which are slipped over the wrist to prevent losing the poles in case of a fall. While skiing in wooded areas, the wrist straps shouldn’t be used as you could injure your wrist if the poles catch on a branch or root. However, there are alternatives to straps, which will release the grip on your wrist in case of an accident. Carbon fiber poles are generally the lightest, are flexible and will usually bend without breaking. Make sure your poles are the right length and weight for you and that they are comfortable in your hands. Poles are available in various materials, lengths, and weights.
