Reviews

Maybe you’ve noticed them while out carving turns: bamboo ski poles. At first they seemed like a novelty, but more and more skiers are swearing by them. “More stability,” has been the general consensus, along with an improved aesthetic from an environmentally friendly material. We set out to learn a few things about how bamboo is changing ski poles. We wanted to know why bamboo is a better choice, and the specifics about the models that are available. Founded by former U.S. Ski Team racers, this Park City company realized the simple fact that if there’s “no snow,” there’s “no ski.” With...

By ALEX C. PASQUARIELLO Poles are often an afterthought, but former U.S. Ski Team downhiller Bryon Friedman knows better. “Skiing is soulful,” he says, “and your poles should express that.” This season he launches Soul Poles, hand made from sustainable bamboo and mostly recycled materials (from $125). Acclaimed artist R. Nelson Parrish paints ski poles in the style of totem poles from his native Alaska. Schussers send him helmet cam footage, which he translates into an abstract work on three poles—the extra pole is for over the mantle ($1,000).