David Harris wrote:
"yunlong" wrote in
oups.com:


Also, if poles don't help balance, why do
downhill racers carry them?

Security crutches, maybe.

Okay, following along this increasingly silly thread, this line
jumped out at me.

First, I wouldn't restrict the question to downhillers, but include
ALL alpine racers. Every one of them. For ever.


Two main reasons,

1) to get out of the start gate.
2) (in slalom) to protect oneselfe from the slalom poles.

Chris *:-)