Clemens M. Hutter, in his book Wedeln (“wedeln” in skiing is a series of short, linked turns wherein the lower body swings side-to-side, resembling a lazy tail-wagging (or “wedeln” in German) of a dog) in 1960 describes pole action:
‘…[W]edeln is built up on the mechanical elements of heelthrust, uplift, and pole action, [and] the combination must be fused together by natural rhythm…When you have perfected heelthrust, you have become familiar with the very foundation of wedeln…
- Start straight down a gentle…slope…Hop smoothly…Repeating these hops in quick sequence will improve your rhythm considerably.
- Later on, plant the left and the right pole alternately before each hop.
- As you hop (after having planted the pole), push the heels of your skis slightly to the side. Make sure…to hop to the left if you plant the right pole…’ 22
1960 – Photo sequences demonstrating the Sprungwedeln (short rhythmic turns with a hop) with use of pole. Clemens M. Hutter, Wedeln, Garden City, NY: Hanover House, 1960, 46-47
1960 – Tracks of “wedeln” skiers in powder, leaving points of punctuated pole use. Clemens M. Hutter, Wedeln, Garden City, NY: Hanover House, 1960, 45