03Nov 2019 by DS News Team
Mixed Bag – Who Uses What Poles In Men’s Top 10

Mixed Bag – Who Uses What Poles In Men’s Top 10

Gear News, Newsfeed
As noted, every single one in Women's Top 10 in 2018–19 FIS Cross-Country World Cup was competing with Swix Triac poles. 10-0 for the Norwegian company's racing department & marketologists! But we can't but wonder why things are so different in Men's Top? The virtual "Constructors' Cup" in poles department in 2018–19 went to Leki! Three Norwegian starts, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo ( Number 1 in overall standings), Simen Hegstad Krüger ( 4) and Didrik Tønseth ( 5) use HRC Max poles from Kirchheim unter Teck which happens in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. [caption id="attachment_13526" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Johannes Klaebo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13528" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simen Krüger[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13525" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Didrik Tønseth[/caption] The second place was taken by Swix Alexander Bolshunov ( 2) Emil Iversen (6) and Sergey Ustiugov ( 10) use the Norwegian…
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31Oct 2019 by DS News Team
Natalia Nepryaeva Becomes Chairwoman Of Regional Ski Association

Natalia Nepryaeva Becomes Chairwoman Of Regional Ski Association

Leaders, Newsfeed
#2 in the last season's FIS World Cup standings got an interesting additional role in her life and career. Natalia Nepryaeva was elected today a chairman of the regional ski association ( the Russians call them "regional federations" ) in her native Tver in a highly unusual move that we assess as both positive and promising. Tver is a region of some 1.3 million people and long established skiing traditions. To put it in perspective, Alex Bolshunov being born in Bryansk is quite a bit of a fluke - Nepryaeva coming from Tver is something to be expected. Traditionally, a title of the regional association boss went to either well-respected coach or top local ski philanthropist. In other words, somebody with a lot of experience and gravitas. The things started…
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30Oct 2019 by DS News Team
Guess Which Poles Won

Guess Which Poles Won

Gear News, Newsfeed
We are not sure why but a fact's a fact and we want to you to mull it over together with us: Every single one of Women's Top 10 in the FIS World Cup 2018/19 went to use Swix Triac poles. No exceptions! Here they are, Women's Top Ten 2018/19 [caption id="attachment_12508" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ingvild Flugstat Oestberg [/caption] [caption id="attachment_12905" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Natalia Nepryaeva [/caption] [caption id="attachment_10607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Therese Johaug[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Krista Parmakoski [/caption] [caption id="attachment_11484" align="alignnone" width="4176"] Stina Nilsson [/caption] [caption id="attachment_9791" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessie Diggins[/caption] [caption id="attachment_11182" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ebba Andersson [/caption] [caption id="attachment_10938" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yulia Belorukova ( and Anastasia Sedova, another Swix poles user) [/caption] [caption id="attachment_13415" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maja Dahlqvist[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13414" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maiken Caspersen Falla[/caption] We could only congratulate…
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28Oct 2019 by DS News Team
Review: Best Poles Money Could Buy, Part 2

Review: Best Poles Money Could Buy, Part 2

Gear News, Newsfeed
This is continuation of Review: Best Poles part I We follow an alphabetic order and continue to present you the very best poles, used by the very best of skiers. Some poles manufacturers ( we are talking about you, Rex, Start, RCS, SixTen and USSPC ) do produce quality 100% UHM carbon fiber poles - but do not sponsor any World Cup athletes. Whether they are not good enough for the very best or their respective owners have other ideas as to how to advertize, we simply would not know. The matter is, we can't show them for the lack of self-taken photos at the top events, sorry. But even without aforementioned, the field of the World Cup club pole makers is rather crowded with at least 11 companies vying…
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25Oct 2019 by DS News Team
Review: Best Ski Poles Right Now, Part 1

Review: Best Ski Poles Right Now, Part 1

Gear News, Newsfeed
A few words before we start: All poles in our review are top-of-the-crop from their respective producers, all are made of 100 % Ultra High Modulus Carbon Fiber - and all are World Cup quality ( the fact that reflected in many a model's name) We don't differentiate among Classic and Skating poles - we simply see no reason as models only differ in size, not in construction. Some skiers in our photos have changed poles' sponsors since but all the sticks pictured are still produced & sold. Except for one model that we have doubts about - of which more later. As with the skis, there are two distinct categories: poles used by many a top skier - and those used by only a few or even one WC-class…
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