How to Measure Ski Poles

For peak performance during ski season, determine your correct shoe size and ski pole length before renting or buying gear. This is especially important for beginners, as they will frequently use the poles for support. If ski poles are too short, you will lean over, affecting your forward balance. If poles are too long, you will lean back too far, and be more likely to fall back. There are ways to measure to ensure you can use your poles to turn easily and get up after you have fallen. This article will show you how to measure ski poles.

Steps

Method 1 For Alpine Ski Poles

1. 1 Stand up straight in a normal skiing stance with legs hip-width apart.
2. 2 Put your hands into fists and then put your elbows a 90-degree angle and parallel to the ground. Hold them close to your waist. Now, flex your biceps. This will simulate your comfortable skiing stance.
   • If you are having trouble finding your comfortable skiing stance, put on your ski boots and skis, if you have them, and then measure. This will also find the most exact measurement.
3. 3 Instruct your friend to measure the distance between your thumb and the floor. Take the measurement in inches and cm.
   • Make sure your thumbs are to the inside as if you are holding something and not pointing up.

Method 2 For Cross-Country Ski Poles

1. 1 Put on your ski boots and skis if you already have them. Stand up straight in your comfortable skiing stance, with your elbows at a 90-degree angle. Now, flex your biceps.
2. 2 Instruct a friend to place a ruler at the top of your shoulders, parallel to the ground. Ask them to measure from the ground to the ruler at your shoulders in both inches and cm. This is the appropriate length.