How to Repair a Ski Pole

When the winter months come around and the weather starts to turn cold and icy, the enterprising sportsman's (or woman's) gaze turns to the mountain for their adrenaline kick. Skiing is one of the most fun and accessible of the winter sports, and it can make for a memorable weekend for people of all ages. Still, to ski well, your equipment must be at its absolute peak, from the skis themselves to the ski poles, which help maintain your balance. If one is broken, you won't be able to ski properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Fiberglass tape
  • Waterproof glue
  • Pliers
  • Lubricant
  • Fine-grit sandpaper
  • Knife
  • Vice grip
  • Hammer or mallet
  • Replacement parts (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Diagnose the severity of the ski pole's damage. If it is a simple bend, it can be repaired. If it is broken in two, you're out of luck. You can tape the two pieces together with fiberglass tape for the pole to work in the very short term, but you should buy a new pole if you plan to ski again.

    • 2

      Fix the tip. If the tip of the pole is broken or lost, you need to replace it. Twist off the old tip, and add some waterproof glue to the base of the new tip. Then, screw it in place with pliers.

    • 3

      Replace the basket. Remove the old basket by pulling it off with pliers. Then, put lubricant such as hand soap on the inner ring of the new basket and press it onto the ring groove.

    • 4

      Replace the handle. Twist off the old handle with pliers;sand down the now-bare end with fine-grit sandpaper, wiping it clean when you are finished. Attach the handle by putting the glue on both the handle and the pole; hold them together until they stick.

    • 5

      Replace the wrist strap. Cut out the old strap with a knife, and remove the metal wedge. Put a new strap in, and put new wedge in to hold it in place. Pull the strap while the wedge is in place to tighten.

    • 6

      Fix the pole. Put the ski pole in the vice grip. As you lock it in, make sure that the bend in the ski pole is right at the edge of the vice, to ensure that you bend the pole back at the point where the bend has already occurred. Tighten the vice. Do this very slow and very gently, as you do not want to cause even more damage to the fragile ski pole.

    • 7

      Hammer the ski pole. Do not hammer as you would hammer a nail, which will only worsen the ski pole's condition. Tap the ski pole as gently as you set it in the vice grip. Use a mallet to give you finer control over how hard you hit. If you hit it too hard, you will break the pole beyond simple repairs.