Carbon GS race poles with the deep bend that lets a racer hold a tuck without the tips swinging wide. That bend is what separates a GS pole from a straight pole: in a tuck, a straight shaft puts the tips out in the wind and the hands in the wrong place.
- Carbon shaft, 12.3 mm, for low weight
- Race grip for secure hold
- Race strap with fastening to prevent accidental tear-offs
- Sizes from 100 cm to 140 cm in 5 cm steps
Sizing: the usual starting point is to turn the pole upside down, grip it under the basket, and look for roughly a 90° bend at the elbow with the pole tip on the floor, then size up slightly for GS, because the bend and the tuck position both eat length. Discipline matters as much as height: a GS pole runs longer than the same athlete's slalom pole.
The 5 cm increments matter for juniors, who will move up a size most seasons. Buy the right length now rather than a long pole to grow into: an oversized GS pole is hard to keep clear of the snow in a tuck.
Carbon vs aluminum: carbon is lighter and stiffer, so it transmits better and swings easier. Aluminum bends where carbon can break, and is more forgiving for a racer who is hard on equipment.
See GS and Super-G poles, pole guards and replacement baskets and straps.
