The Coaches and I have been talking about Pole Plants!

Pole Plant Fundamentals
The Pole Plant is one of the more fundamental issues relating to performance skiing.
Three things come to mind as primary factors in our performance skiing. They are: the pole plant, Balance on the front portion of the foot (ankles flexed forward to the front of the ski boot), and a transition of balance and carving very early in the arc of the turn…
I think today we will talk primarily about the pole plant….
While the feet are the most primary functional component to skiing (after-all they do control the skis directly) the pole plant is a VERY large part of the transition from one foot to the next.
Our need to teach, solidify, improve and maintain the pole plant for our skiing athletes is based on a very real need to assist in the working of the feet and in particular the transition from the dominant foot of one turn to the dominant foot of the next turn.
So…what does this pole plant do? Well, it does a bunch of things and much of it is difficult to recognize or point out; as it (especially as the athlete matures) becomes an almost artistic tool that is used in very impromptu situations to save the skier from difficulty. OK then; if this is the case, then a strong pole plant MAY just save our bacon at times…
Some of the things that we CAN count on the pole plant doing are:
1) It marks the beginning of each turn. As such; it helps us to determine rhythm and each race course, slope or bump run has its own rhythm that a skiing athlete needs to attune to.
2) It helps the athlete to move and move forward at the beginning of each turn…
3) When used properly, it helps to maintain a “stacked and square” stance that promotes a balanced position on the skis. (a double pole plant is particularly good in this order)
4) It aids in the balance change from foot to foot and in difficult transitions it helps to secure the upper body in its best balance movements from turn to turn. (AKA a bacon saver…)
What the heck does a good pole plant look like? Hmmm…Well then; it looks as though it will depend on 1) needs and 2) the pole planting ability of the skier…
1) The strongest pole plant will occur somewhere around the beginning of the turn and will only be actuated by the wrist. It will allow the hands to stay in the best “zone” for balance. The pole will angle forward and touch the snow actively (though not excessively) near the tip of the skis
2) Aggressive and accelerating turns may allow a slightly modified pole plant that touches slightly ahead of the boot, but still promotes movement and forward balance with the proper rhythm.
3) GS pole plants can diminish a bit, and they often flourish as the “double pole plant”, but again; if you need to save your bacon, I hope you own a strong forward placement pole plant!

Skiers can progress to some degree without a strong pole plant, but they will be severely limited in how far they can progress.

Though it seemingly is a small and easily learned skill, The pole plant is so varied in its use and necessity, it is best learned at an early age. With early development of the pole plant skill, athletes have much more opportunity to develop a variety of uses and strengths for that skill.

We know there will be many questions, so do not hesitate to ask…
Thanks,
The Coaches…