On 2005-01-10, The Real Bev penned:
VtSkier wrote:

I've been dragging my poles for 50 years, don't worry about it.

Glad to hear you say that. Theory has it that you plant to provide some
sort of timing for the turn, but that sounds sort of like saying "oink"
before you take each step just to keep your walking, uhhh, something... Why
do I need to signal my brain before making a turn?

I've been told to plant in order to give myself a point around which to turn.
I tend to "shop around" in moguls, seeking that one perfect bump around which
to turn. The assertive plant is supposed to cue me to assertively turn around
that spot. Amazingly enough, it does work when I do it.

I find the tactile sensation of my pole tip moving through the snow to be a
cue which helps my balance. I certainly don't DRAG it hard enough to cause
any actual force against my body.

When turning to slow down, I tend to drag the poles assertively, in the
manner of one who sticks one's foot out of the car and drags it on the
ground when the brakes fail. (No, I didn't actually do it, but I THOUGHT
about it.)

Hrm, sounds like a good way to lose a foot without actually stopping the car.

I tend to drag as a feeler, kind of like vtskier is describing. It gives me a
sensation of "Oh, there's the mountain." I'm sure it doesn't look all that
dignified or cool, though.

I'm also one of those guys who put their hands behind the back with the
thumbs locked, body slightly bent forward and with skis fairly wide apart
when trying to make time on a flat runout. Don't know why, been doing it
since I thought it looked Kewl 30 odd years ago. Now it's a habit.

Definitely kewl, especially if you have one of those elf hats.

I've started doing that, only because my husband does and he always gets
across the flats faster than I do, so I thought maybe that had something to do
with it ... but really ... probably not.

I've said a lot about hands. Putting them and keeping them where they
belong and actually using them very little will cure many of the "problems"
you are describing.

Yes. Need lighter poles :-)

I got lighter poles. Didn't help =P They do have a very high "kewl" factor,
though (leki's with detachable straps).

--
monique
Longmont, CO