"You don't have poles, and it's going to be really, really, F*ing hard for you, man. The patroller questions the decision, pointing out the obvious logistical flaw: without poles, how exactly is this skier planning to get out of a flat section?"
"Ski patrollers spend their days managing risk, handling emergencies, and keeping terrain safe. So when they see a skier making questionable decisions, they are likely gonna call them out."
"To be fair, skiing without poles isn't unheard of. Some riders ditch them for park laps, beginners sometimes learn without them, and a handful of skiers just prefer the minimalist feel. But context matters. If you're heading into terrain with long traverses or flat exits, poles aren't just accessories."
A ski patroller at Copper Mountain, Colorado spots a skier attempting to enter newly opened terrain without poles and intervenes with a blunt warning about the logistical challenges ahead. The patroller points out that without poles, navigating flat sections will be extremely difficult. While skiing without poles occurs in certain contexts—park riding, beginner lessons, or personal preference—terrain with long traverses and flat exits makes poles essential equipment. The humor reflects classic ski patrol culture: dry, direct, and rooted in practical mountain experience. The skier proceeds anyway and immediately falls, losing both skis in a preventable accident that poles likely would have avoided.
Read at Unofficial Networks
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