How to Plant Your Poles While Telemark Skiing

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Pole plants are a crucial aspect of telemark skiing. Poles are useful for timing, balance and body positioning.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Start skiing downhill.
Step 2

Compress your hips, knees and ankles toward the ground and start a turn.
Step 3

Reach downhill and plant a pole while your body is fully compressed. Plant your left pole when turning left, and your right pole when turning right.
Step 4

Turn around your pole plant, extending your hips, knees and ankles upward at the end of the turn.
Step 5

Swing the hand that has just planted the pole quickly back in front of your body. The pole plant is a quick jab-and-redraw motion that keeps your hands in front of your body most of the time.
Step 6

Get ready to start a turn in the opposite direction, planting your other pole.

Tips & Warnings

To quickly reset your hand and pole after a pole plant, punch your hand across your body, toward the downhill side. This will set up your pole and body position for the next turn.
Telemark skiing is a physically demanding sport that could result in serious injury. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.

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