How to choose ski poles according to your height?
Not only professional athletes, but also amateurs know that ski poles need to be selected according to the height of the person who will use them. This is necessary in order for sports to be not only comfortable, but also safe. There are certain criteria for choosing ski poles. These must be taken into account when purchasing the appropriate sports equipment.
Features of the selection for skating skis
It is known that there are several walking techniques in skiing. For each of them, it is necessary to purchase the appropriate sports equipment. So, for skating, you need to choose a certain type of poles. The main thing is to correctly determine the size of the accessory. The length of the sticks depends entirely on the height of the person who will use them.
An important point! You cannot buy ski poles one for two people of different heights and weights, since some of them will be inconvenient to use a sports equipment.
In order to choose the right ski poles for skating skis, you can use the table (column 1).
If you look closely at the data, you will notice that the height of the ski poles directly depends on what size there is. In this case, all parameters are rounded up to five whole points. So, in adults, the size can be: 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190 or 195 cm. If the height of the skier is more than 2 meters, then sticks that are defined for 195 cm will be suitable for him.
In children, the size starts at 120 cm, and then continues: 125, 130, 135, 140 and 145 cm. If the child is taller, then you need to focus on the markup for adults.If you look closely at the size table, you will notice that the ski poles should be 15-20 cm lower than the height of the athlete himself.
How to choose for classic skis?
If the athlete uses classic skis, then it is necessary to select the appropriate poles. In the case when equipment is required to be bought for an adult, you can use the same table (column 2).
An important point! If you buy sticks not in size, then it will be inconvenient to use them. In addition, the accessory can be broken, even injured during use.
If you pay attention to the data presented in the table, you will notice that the length of the ski poles should be less than the athlete's height by 25-30 cm. All the data presented in the tables are suitable for both children, adolescents and adults. But if the child's height is less than 115 cm, then you need to purchase children's sticks.
If there are none, some models can be shortened by yourself. When choosing, it is also important to pay attention to the material for making the sticks. So, for women and children, you can pick up a plastic accessory. If a man will use the sticks, then the accessory should be as strong as possible.
And also you need to focus on the material of manufacture, depending on the weight of the user. With the help of tables, each person can independently choose a sports accessory for their height. You just need to use a measuring tape or a construction tape.
Length selection according to FIS rules
If you pay attention to the selection rules developed by the FIS (International Ski Federation), you will find that there are certain restrictions. The developed rules primarily concern professional athletes taking part in international competitions. But it is possible that all ski lovers can be guided by them. The rules are as follows:
- for a classic move, those sticks are considered suitable that do not exceed 83% of the height of the athlete himself;
- for skating, not more than 100% of the height of the skier;
- if a classic rollerblading move is used, then the length of the poles is calculated as 83% of the skier's height plus the allowable 5 cm.
This rule must be strictly used by professional athletes when choosing equipment that will be used in competitions. Otherwise, if a discrepancy is found, the athlete may not be admitted to the competition or disqualified, and there is also a possibility of the result being canceled (in the case when the discrepancy was revealed after passing the route).
An important point! Sometimes in sports stores, the length of a ski pole is defined as the distance from one end of an accessory to the other. But this definition is considered erroneous. At the professional level, stick length is defined as the distance from the tip to the lanyard attachment point. In this case, the height of the athlete himself is measured with ski boots.
