Skistock

Whether it's a dusty memento from the attic or a much-loved piece of equipment that has just done its last duty. Instead of disposing of the old slats in the bulky waste, we are resurrecting them as stylish interior elements. In order to protect our beloved winter, the trend is towards a circular economy, and with it the upcycling of ski equipment. We at PowderGuide have put together our own projects to show you what a little time, creativity and sweat can do. Let's start with the wardrobe.

It's clear that we all use poles when splitboarding and that it's unfamiliar at first when switching from snowboarding. We learned how to use them on the descent from Tobi last season. However, there are also the foldable poles not mentioned in his article, which are used more for hiking. But how do the folding poles compare to the telescopic poles when splitboarding?

As you know, you shouldn't judge by appearances - because these new ski poles from the now renowned Swedish manufacturer from Åre almost flew to the ceiling when I picked them up for the first time. KANG has rightly reinvented the wheel and designed sustainably produced aluminum telescopic poles, which I now affectionately call 'fat boy slim'.

Who hasn't experienced it - cold fingers or slipping on the ascent and traverse because the pole has no grip extension or it has already come off. I have found a simple and functional solution to this problem.

Today's GotW introduces a tool that is attached to the ski poles as a sticker and enables precise and quick measurement of the slope inclination. The sticker set is called PoleClinometer and Clinopole. The former is already sold in the USA, the latter is an invention from Finland.

January 2025, the year starts with beautiful snow, lots of sunshine, sometimes heavy snowfall and some great tours with our speedy splitboards. Splitboarding has been around for a long time now. But if you want to go on a tour with a splitboard, you first need to clarify a few things. How does it even work? Which splitboard is right for me? Which boots do I actually need? Do I really need poles? Where can I go splitboarding? Which terrain is suitable? What tricks and tips are there? Who can I ask? Well, us! From now on we'll be writing smaller and easily accessible articles from the life of a splitboarder every other week. We'll try not to get too bogged down in nerdy details. On the one hand, these articles can be helpful to answer the questions mentioned above, but on the other hand, we would also like to encourage experienced splitboarders to post their opinions and join in the discussion.

First things first: I am positively biased - because the Bamboo Freeride ski poles presented here are not the first poles from the Swedish manufacturer Kang from Åre that have accompanied me in the mountains. I was so impressed by the entry-level Kang Bamboo model that I quickly went into raptures about the freeride version. But now let's get down to the nitty gritty and the hard facts about the GEAR OF THE WEEK:

I was delighted when I received a replacement for my already very old ski poles from our partner K2. But I couldn't be satisfied with that! My long-serving poles needed to find a new home.

You need all kinds of equipment for ski touring and freeriding, and often the first thing you think of is skis, ski touring boots and skins. But you shouldn't neglect the ski poles either, as these also contribute to a successful ski tour. That's why our Gear of the Week this time is the "Traverse Pro" poles from Black Diamond.

The G3 GEAR Via Carbon telescopic ski poles have proven to be loyal companions on several ski tours this season.

Splitboarders are more likely to be on the red list of endangered species among ski tourers, although it is certainly more common to encounter a splitboarder or snowboarder with short skis or snowshoes than to spot a mountain eagle.

The Black Diamond Expedition Ski Poles are first-class all-round poles. These telescopic poles made of aluminum combine functionality, robustness and weight in a balanced way. An all-round talent for any backcountry adventure.