The Pole as a Brake1

This chapter demonstrates how to use the pole as a brake. In the forest or on rough and unfamiliar terrain, one will often need one's poles to decrease speed and for steep turns. In this situation, the skier should join them together and hold on with either one or both hands, either in the front or to the side, with the ends pointing backward. The most useful pole for this is one fitted with an iron disc. Sometimes on a difficult slope, the skier has to lean on the pole to keep from losing their balance. During a mountain descent, the poles are not used as much. To brake, the chapter instructs to hold the pole either between the skis or to one side of them.