When Is My Child Ready to Use Ski Poles?

When Is My Child Ready to Use Ski Poles?

Knowing when to introduce ski poles can be tricky. There isn't one specific age when every child should start using them. It depends more on their skiing ability, balance and confidence.

When should children start using ski poles?

Most young children don't need ski poles when they first learn to ski.

For beginners, skiing without poles allows them to focus on the basics:

• Balance

• Stopping

• Turning

• Controlling their speed

• Getting on and off the lift

Adding poles too early can be distracting and give children something else to think about while they're still learning the fundamentals.

What age should a child start using poles?

There is no fixed age, but many children start using ski poles around 5–7 years old, depending on their development and skiing ability.

Some confident children may be ready earlier, while others may benefit from waiting longer.

Your child's ski instructor is usually the best person to decide when they're ready.

Signs your child is ready for ski poles

Your child may be ready if they can:

Control their speed confidently

They should be able to slow down and stop without relying on their poles.

Turn in both directions

They should be comfortable making controlled turns on an easy piste.

Maintain their balance

They should be able to stay balanced while skiing without constantly falling or needing assistance.

Follow instructions

Using poles correctly requires coordination and an understanding of when and how to use them.

Feel confident on their current ski runs

If your child is still struggling on beginner slopes, there's usually no need to introduce poles yet.

What are the benefits of ski poles?

Once your child is ready, poles can help with:

• Balance and rhythm when making turns

• Timing during more advanced skiing

• Pushing along on flatter sections

• Getting around lift queues and flatter areas

• Developing skills for more advanced skiing

What are the disadvantages of starting too early?

Introducing poles before your child is ready can cause problems.

They may:

• Rely on the poles to stop rather than learning proper technique

• Become distracted from their skiing

• Use them incorrectly

• Trip over them

• Find it harder to concentrate on balance and turning

For young beginners, no poles is often the better option.

How do you know if the poles are the right size?

When your child is standing in their ski boots and holding a pole upside down, their hand should sit underneath the basket with their elbow roughly at a 90-degree angle.

Alternatively, a simple guide is that the pole should reach approximately from the floor to just below the child's armpit when they're standing in ski boots.

Always check the manufacturer's sizing guide, as measurements can vary.

What should parents do?

Don't feel that your child needs poles just because other children have them.

If they're skiing confidently without poles, that's exactly what matters.

Speak to your child's ski instructor before introducing them. They can assess whether your child has developed the balance, control and coordination needed to use poles properly.

The bottom line

There is no rush to introduce ski poles.

For most young beginners, learning to ski without poles first is the best approach. Once your child can confidently stop, turn and control their speed, they can start learning to use poles as part of their skiing technique.

The goal isn't to give them poles as soon as possible – it's to introduce them when they're ready to use them properly.