How to Shorten Ski Poles

How to make ski poles shorter.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ski Poles
• Vise Grip
• Towel
• Heat Gun
• Marker
• Tape Measure
• Metal Cutting Saw
• Rubber Mallet

1. 
   Supplies (Not Pictured: towel, vise grip, rubber mallet.)

   Gather the supplies listed above.

2. Place the ski pole in the vise grip with the towel wrapped around were the pole meets the vise grip (So you don't scratch the ski pole).

3. 
   Heat Gun

   Warm the grip of the ski pole with the heat gun just enough to make the grip slide. Then pull and twist to take the grip off of the ski pole.

4. Measure the length wanted with the tape measure and mark with the marker.

5. 
   Saw over a trash can.

   Use the metal cutting saw to cut through the pole at the marked spot. Make sure metal shavings fall into a trash can. Don't breath in metal shavings. Also wear safety goggles to keep metal shavings out of your eyes.

6. 

   Put the grip back on the pole and hit with the rubber mallet. Don't be afraid to hit it hard.

7. Once the grip is all the way on, REPEAT these steps for the next pole.

Tips & Warnings

• A hair dryer may be used insted of a heat gun, but it will take much longer for the ski pole hand grip to come off.
• Wear Safety goggles wile cutting the pole.
• Wear gloves to make sure you don't burn yourself on the warm hand grip or the heat gun.
• I am not responsible for any injuries, complications, or damage done to equipment while using this method . This is how I myself and ski shops in my area shorten ski poles.

[insidestory]

on 1/25/2009 Good idea and thanks for sharing!

[VirtualWorker]

on 1/25/2009 Interesting read! Thanks

VirtualWorker

[gauer]

on 1/25/2009 I was trying to find anywhere on the Internet that would give instructions for this, but I finally gave up and called the local ski shop to get instructions so I could do this myself. Now hopefully this helps some people out.

[Upon-Request]

on 1/25/2009 Sounds simple enough - thanks for the ski pole shortening instructions. :)