At first glance, classic, or diagonal, cross-country skiing seems simple. You just slide your feet forward and push off with your poles to assist your forward motion. Although classic cross-country skiing can make for a family-friendly tour over snow, it's also a competitive Olympic sport and, when done with the proper intensity, offers a punishing aerobic workout. No matter what sort of classic skiing you're doing, you won't get very far, very fast, without properly sized ski poles.
Step 1
Stand up straight. Rest the point of the pole on the floor and tuck it just in front of one shoulder. The pole should be straight, parallel to your body.
Step 2
Note where the top of the pole handle falls in relation to your armpit. In general, the longer the classic ski pole, the faster a skier it's intended for. Ski gear retailer REI recommends a pole that reaches to your armpit, or slightly higher, for general touring. Nordic Skier Sports recommends that racing poles should reach from the floor to your collarbone.
Step 3
Experiment to find your preferred pole length. The general guidelines listed above will get you in the ballpark, but they're just that--guidelines. After a few practice sessions, you'll discover whether you feel comfortable with a pole of a given length.
Tips and Warnings
- If you can afford only one set of poles, or don't have time to worry about exchanging poles, purchase a set of telescoping poles. Not only can you fine-tune these to your preferred length and share them with other family members, you can also shorten or lengthen telescoping poles to suit variable backcountry snow conditions and terrain. If you're ordering ski poles off the Internet and can't check their size against your body, ask a friend to help you measure from the floor up to your armpit to determine the best pole length for you. If you already know that you prefer a slightly longer pole, measure up to where you want the pole's handle to fall, then use that measurement for ordering.
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