Find Your Perfect Ski Pole Length

Find Your Perfect Pole Length

This calculator is formulated off the exact height I use for my ski poles, my poles are noticeably shorter than what most ski shop charts recommend but their lengths are incorrect if you want to ski well at any level. There are two reasons for shorter poles, they force you to stand in a stacked athletic stance which helps you ski easier and with proper technique, it also prevents injury to your wrists from pushing using your poles - this is a leverage situation, too long and you strain your wrists. Finally there is one more reason which is more of an expert reason, when you ski steep trails, the trail is actually closer to you and therefore long poles can make you off balance which you don't want.

This uses a shorter, performance-focused ratio to keep you in a strong, knee-bent stance. It will recommend shorter poles than old-school rental charts, on purpose.

Why Ski Pole Length Matters More Than You Think

Poles don’t turn your skis — you do. But the wrong pole length can absolutely change the way you move. When your poles are too long, your body has to stand taller just to reach the snow. That means:

• You lose knee bend and ankle flex.
• Your hips stop moving over your feet.
• Your upper body gets stiff and “tall” instead of athletic.

Watch a clip of Ted Ligety or any high-level racer in a turn: their knees are deeply bent, hips are stacked over the outside ski, and their poles are there for timing and balance — not as crutches to lean on.

What Happens When Poles Are Too Long?

Long poles are one of the most common silent technique killers on the mountain. Here’s what they do to your skiing:

• Teach “tall” skiing: You stand straighter just to reach the snow with your basket, which kills knee bend and ankle flex.
• Hammer your wrists on flats: On cat tracks or lift lines, pushing with long poles loads your wrists and hands in a bad angle. Over time, this can cause real irritation.
• Slow down your rhythm: Long poles take more time and space to swing and plant, so your upper body rhythm lags behind your skis.
• Make you lean back: When your upper body is “reaching down” with long poles, it’s even easier to fall into the back seat.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re skiing “okay” but can’t seem to get that strong, stacked, modern stance — your poles might be quietly working against you.

Why a Slightly Shorter Pole Helps Everyone (Beginners Included)

A lot of people think shorter poles are only for park kids or super aggressive skiers. Not true. A properly short pole is actually beginner-friendly, because it teaches the same athletic posture great skiers use:

• You naturally bend your knees to reach the snow.
• You stay centered over your feet, not in the back seat.
• Your upper and lower body move more naturally together.

Bad skiing is standing straight up and riding your tails. Good skiing is a stance that feels like you’re ready to jump or change direction at any moment. Shorter poles help your body find that shape without you overthinking it.

Quick At-Home Check: Do Your Poles Support an Athletic Stance?

Here’s a simple way to see if your poles are in the right ballpark:

1. Put on your ski boots and stand on a flat surface.
2. Hold your poles in your normal grip, baskets on the floor, arms in front of you.
3. Bend your ankles and knees into a strong ski stance — not a squat, but definitely not straight legs.

In that stance, your elbows should be roughly around a right angle or slightly more open, and your shoulders should feel relaxed. If you can only touch the ground when you stand up tall, your poles are too long.

How to Fine-Tune for Different Ski Styles

Start with the calculator recommendation, then adjust a little if you fall into one of these specific buckets:

• All-mountain / frontside (most skiers): Use the exact calculator value. This is the sweet spot for strong, athletic skiing.
• Park / freestyle: You can go slightly shorter (one size down) if you like a low swing weight and less pole involvement.
• Race / carving: Stay right at the calculator value or one size down. You want aggression and knee bend without losing reach for high-tempo pole plants.
• Touring / uphill-focused: You may size up slightly for long flats or skin tracks, but don’t undo all the stance benefits with a giant pole.

Common Pole Length Mistakes to Avoid

• Copying the rental chart blindly: Most charts are conservative and biased toward longer poles.
• Measuring in street shoes: Always think in terms of how you stand in ski boots, not barefoot.
• Only checking on a flat floor: Poles feel different on snow and in a turn, which is why the athletic stance test matters more.
• Upsizing “for later”: Buying longer poles so you can “grow into them” is one of the fastest ways to teach kids bad habits.

FAQ: Ski Pole Length & Technique

Should beginners really use this calculator, or is it only for experts?

Beginners might benefit the most. A shorter, more athletic pole length teaches the right stance from day one, instead of locking in straight-legged habits that are hard to fix later.

Why does this recommend shorter poles than my shop did?

Many shops and charts prioritize standing height over ski stance. This guide and calculator are tuned around how you actually move when you ski — knees bent, ankles flexed, and stacked over your outside ski.

Can pole length really affect my wrists?

Yes. On flats, lift lines, and traverses, long poles force you into a poor push angle. Over a season, that repeated motion can irritate your wrists and hands. Shorter poles let you push more naturally and with less strain.

What if I’m between two pole sizes?

Go shorter. Very few people ski better because they went longer, but lots of skiers instantly feel more athletic and balanced when they step down a size.