Cross Country ski poles for adults

Guide to buying a cross-country ski pole for men or women

You want to buy new sticks but you don't know how to do it. At Simon Fourcade Nørdic we offer you a wide selection of cross-country ski poles and accessories. Carbon, composite or aluminium poles, the choice is yours!

How do you choose a cross-country ski pole according to your level?

In Nordic skiing, the ski pole allows you to transfer the energy created by your arms during the pushing phases and allows you to move forward. For beginner skiers they also help to keep your balance. Each skier does not have the same needs and we have understood this very well, this is why we have created 3 categories to allow you to place yourself in this very large choice.

The "Leisure" category presents cross-country ski poles, most often made of aluminium and affordable. They have the advantage of being very sturdy, which is not negligible when you start the activity and are looking for balance. They are perfectly resistant to the torsion generated when the skier's entire weight rests on them. They are highly recommended for skiers who are just starting out or who ski occasionally. Regular skiers will find what they are looking for in the "Sport" category of poles. Resistant while offering a very good quality of inertia and often equipped with top-of-the-range accessories, these Nordic ski poles allow you to have a high-performance tool in your hands for maximum pleasure while remaining relatively sturdy.

The Race/Expert category brings us into the world of lightness and performance. Made of 100% carbon, they are ultra-light and offer an exceptional swing (pendular return of the ski pole). The use of carbon is explained by the fact that it is a very rigid material that reduces energy losses during the pushing phases. However, it is necessary to take care of them, especially during transport, as they are very fragile. If you choose to purchase one, it may be useful to select a cross-country ski pole cover.

What size Nordic ski pole should I choose?

It's no secret that Nordic skiing offers two very different techniques, classic and skating. And each technique has its own specific equipment. As far as ski poles are concerned, the difference is in the size.

• - For the classic, the size of the pole must be 30 cm smaller than the skier's height. Visually it must be at shoulder level. And for those of you who want a ski pole with millimetre precision, you just have to multiply your size by 0.83.
• - In skating, the cross-country ski pole is slightly larger. It should be 20 centimetres shorter than the skier and stop at the chin. For a more accurate size you just have to multiply your height by 0.89.

And what does the accessory level of the cross-country ski pole look like?

There are a multitude of accessories for cross-country ski poles and Simon Fourcade Nørdic references all the gear needed to cope with breakage or change of activity.

• - Straps: In general, skiers prefer the straps supplied with the poles because they are very ergonomic, comfortable and allow efficient energy transfer. But for biathletes we have the biathlon straps. They are quicker to remove when the shot is fired, which is very useful to keep pushing on the ski poles as long as possible.
• - Ski wheel tips: Ski wheel practice requires specific tips that are more resistant to hang durably on the asphalt.
• - Cross-country ski pole covers: They are very useful during trips to avoid breaking poles but also to easily carry several pairs of poles.
• - You will also find handles and spare baskets just in case.